Steam in Saxony and Bavaria

Idyllic narrow-gauge railways, exhilarating main line steam locomotives, paddle steamers and the Dresden steam locomotive festival are the signature attractions of this delightful Spring holiday to southern and eastern Germany.

• Start the holiday in the beautiful city of Nürnberg and enjoy a private steam charter at the nearby heritage railway ‘Dampfbahn Fränkische Schweiz’ in northern Franconia, hauled by a historic tank engine dating from 1923.
• Enjoy main line in Bavaria from Gunzenhausen to Nördlingen with a large 2-10-0 freight engine, with an ensuing private charter on an archaic tank engine from the late 19th century, including museum visit and sightseeing of the walled medieval city of Nördlingen.
• Visit Germany’s premier steam locomotive gathering and round-house festival, with the “Dampfloktreffen” in Dresden, including access to the festival grounds and rides on the different main line excursions with various big tender locomotives.
• Relax during a beautiful paddle steamer cruise on the River Elbe from Dresden to Pillnitz Palace, as well as excursions on the city’s unique mountain monorail and funicular.
• Experience narrow gauge ‘Plandampf’ on the regional lines from Radebeul to Radeburg and Freital to Kurort Kipsdorf with the impressive 2-10-2 tank engines.

Friday 3 April
London to Nürnberg

You travel from London St Pancras via Brussels and Frankfurt to Nürnberg on Eurostar and ICE high speed services. You check into your hotel for 3 nights and dinner will be served at the hotel. (D)

Saturday 4 April
Steam in northern Franconia at Ebermannstadt
A beautiful German heritage railway awaits you for your first full day in Bavaria, as you visit the Dampfbahn Fränkische Schweiz ab Ebermannstadt. This line passes through lovely hillside scenery and is marked by several impressive rock formations. A classic tank engine will haul your train, with cake, tea and coffee included for mid-day refreshments. Photo stops and run-pasts will also feature. In the afternoon you return by service train to Nürnberg. (B L)

Sunday 5 April
Steam at the Bavarian Railway Museum in Nördlingen
Today you visit the historic city of Nördlingen in western Bavaria. You arrive there on the Easter steam special with the main line train from Gunzenhausen, travelling in a reserved coach with a large 2-10-0 tender locomotive over ‘freight only’ track through picturesque countryside. Nördlingen is famed for its circular medieval ramparts, timber-framed buildings and is home to the Bavarian Railway Museum, with one of the largest steam locomotive collections in Germany. You will see a number of exhibits and enjoy an additional steam train ride with one of the museum’s smaller tank engines, which will shunt your coach off the main line directly to the museum sidings. At the museum there will be opportunities for turntable photography and a chance to see the rest of the extensive collection. You return to Nürnberg in the late afternoon and have your final evening dinner at the hotel. (B D)

Monday 6 April
Nürnberg at leisure and train ride to Dresden
In the morning you are able to enjoy the celebrated city of Nürnberg at leisure and visit its beautiful old town, full of historic squares, soaring spires and the impressive landmark castle. Enjoy Germany at its best and most iconic. In the early afternoon you then catch an ICE train and travel over the high speed line via Erfurt and Leipzig to Dresden, arriving there in the late afternoon. After checking into your hotel for 7 nights, you enjoy dinner. (B D)

Tuesday 7 April
Paddle steamer cruise on the River Elbe and Mountain Monorail in Dresden
After a leisurely breakfast, you have some free time to explore Dresden and your Tour Manager will be glad to introduce you to the principal landmarks. In the early afternoon you then embark on a relaxing paddle steamer cruise for a ride upriver past the iconic ‘Blue Wonder’ bridge to Pillnitz Palace. On the return, you alight and Blasewitz and ascend on the local funicular to the hilltop, before capping the day with one more highlight on the unique ‘dingle-dangle’ mountain monorail from 1901, taking you to a spectacular vantage point high above the city and with some of the best views in all of Saxony. (B)

Wednesday 8 April
Steam at the Muskau Forest Railway and Pückler Park visit
Today you have an exciting private steam charter on the 600mm gauge Muskau Forest Railway near the Polish frontier. You’ll cover the two different branch lines to Bad Muskau and Kromlau, with run-pasts along the way.
At lunch time, there’s time for refreshments in the namesake town of Bad Muskau with its charming local chateau and the famous UNESCO World Heritage Pückler Park. In the late afternoon you return from Weisswasser by service train to Dresden, via Görlitz (B L).

Thursday 9 April
Steam to Radeburg with a Saxon VII K locomotive and Leisure in Dresden
After breakfast, you visit the local narrow-gauge railway at Radebeul, where a 2-10-2 Saxon VII K tank locomotive takes you down the 16.5 km long line to Radeburg, pausing at Moritzburg Castle. The train returns to Radebeul by midday, from where you return to Dresden Hbf on a DB service train. You can then explore Dresden at your own pace and make good use of your complimentary public transport rover ticket to explore the extensive tram network or visit the famed landmarks and museums. (B)

Friday 10 April
Steam at the at the Weisseritz Valley Railway to Kurort Kipsdorf and Dresden steam locomotive festival
Today you have a morning excursion to the recently reopened narrow-gauge Weisseritz Valley Railway. You’ll be steam-hauled through Saxony’s ‘canyon landscape’ from Freital-Hainsberg via Dippoldiswalde to Kurort Kipsdorf, along the river Weisseritz. Enjoy the panoramic views from the open balconies of your vintage carriage. You return to Dresden in the afternoon and in the evening join the opening of the steam locomotive festival with the special illuminations evening locomotive show at the Dresden Altstadt roundhouse and steam shed, one of the most atmospheric shows of the festival. (B)

Saturday 11 April and Sunday 12 April
Dresden steam loco festival and main line steam excursions
This festive weekend is entirely dedicated to the sounds and sights of Germany’s premier annual steam gala and locomotive gathering, which typically includes a variety of both express and freight type steam locomotives. Throughout the festival weekend there are several main line steam excursions departing Dresden’s main station and featuring parallel running. You will join one of these spectacular excursions each day with seats in a specially reserved coach.
The main line steam special also includes a vintage 1930s Dining Car for refreshments. Enjoy continental main line steam at its best. On Sunday evening there is a farewell dinner at the Dresden hotel (B D)

Monday 13 April
Dresden to London by rail
Today you travel on high-speed services from Dresden via Frankfurt to Cologne and then continue to Brussels, where you board a Eurostar train back to London (B)