Steam in Saxony and Dresden Steam Locomotive Festival

Discover the timeless charm of eastern Germany on this delightful spring holiday, where idyllic narrow-gauge railways, exhilarating main line steam locomotive journeys, and elegant paddle steamers combine to create an unforgettable experience. A highlight of the tour is the spectacular Dresden Steam Locomotive Festival, showcasing magnificent steam engines in one of Europe's premier railway celebrations. Perfect for railway enthusiasts and lovers of scenic travel alike, this tour offers a wonderful blend of nostalgia, engineering heritage, and picturesque landscapes.

• Exploring some of Saxony's hidden narrow-gauge gems. Discover the former quarry railways at Meuselwitz and Bad Muskau, where working steam locomotives, fascinating industrial heritage and beautifully restored landscapes combine to create a truly unique railway experience.
• Experience Germany's premier steam locomotive event, the renowned Dresden Dampfloktreffen. Enjoy full access to the festival and its historic roundhouse, together with the opportunity to travel on a selection of main line steam-hauled excursions behind an impressive variety of powerful express tender locomotives.
• Relax on a scenic paddle steamer cruise along the River Elbe from Dresden to Königstein, taking in the breathtaking landscapes of Saxon Switzerland. Your journey also includes rides on Dresden's unique mountain monorail and historic funicular railway, offering spectacular panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside.
• Experience the excitement of a narrow-gauge 'Plandampf' event on the renowned regional railway from Freital to Kurort Kipsdorf, hauled by impressive 1920s-built 2-10-2 tank locomotives in authentic steam operation.
• Witness the remarkable revival of the Schwarzbachbahn, the only narrow-gauge railway in Saxon Switzerland, and enjoy an exclusive private steam charter at Lohsdorf behind a beautifully restored four-cylinder Meyer tank locomotive.

Saturday 3 April
London to Leipzig 

Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, before continuing by German high-speed rail via Frankfurt to Leipzig. On arrival, transfer to your hotel, where dinner will be served. (D)

Sunday 4 April
Meuselwitz mining railway and Leipzig Park Railway

Today you visit the fascinating Meuselwitz mining railway, a remarkable industrial history complex with fascinating buildings and a special collection of tank engines as well as giant electric steeple cab locomotives. Your narrow gauge train will either be hauled by the resident tank engine or the green steeple cab electric, both authentic to the line and remnants of the former industrial heritage of the site. Photo stops and filming opportunities will also be included. In the afternoon you return to Leipzig with time to still visit the attractive 15 inch park railway which loops around Lake Auensee on a 2 km long circuit and normally has its 4-6-2 ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 2 in springtime service. The evening you may then spend at leisure in the city, where you might care to sample one of the famous brewhouses, like the Augustiner on the main market square or the brew pub at the historic Bayerischer Bahnhof from 1841. (B)

Monday 5 April
Leipzig at leisure and train ride to Dresden

Spend the morning at leisure to enjoy the celebrated city of Leipzig at leisure and visit its beautifully preserved Old Town, where historic market squares, elegant churches and impressive civic buildings reflect the city's rich cultural heritage. There is also time to take the local tramway to the monumental Napoleonic battle from 1913, which commemorates the ‘Battle of Nations’ from 1813, the largest military engagement in europe before the First World War. In the afternoon, travel by direct DB Intercity service to Dresden. On arrival, check in to your centrally located hotel before enjoying dinner. You will also receive a local public transport travel pass, valid for the remainder of your stay, providing unlimited travel on Dresden's extensive network of trams, buses and ferries. (B D)

Tuesday 6 April
Paddle steamer cruise on the River Elbe to Königstein in Saxon Switzerland 

After a leisurely breakfast, you embark on a relaxing paddle steamer cruise for a ride upriver past the iconic ‘Blue Wonder’ bridge to Pillnitz Palace and further afield to Saxon Switzerland. You pass the delightful town of Pirna with its Baroque architecture and then sail through the heart of Saxon Switzerland with its cragged sandstone rock formations and tabletop mountain. At Königstein, framed by one of Germany’s mightiest hilltop fortresses, you alight from the paddle steamer and can still film its departure, before taking the S-Bahn back from the adjacent railway station. Now you will have fine views of the entire river scenery from the train window. (B)

Wednesday 7 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 8 April
Steam to Radeburg with a Saxon VII K locomotive and Dresden Mountain Monorail

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. In the afternoon you then visit the historic Dresden funicular from 1895, 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)

Friday 9 April 

Steam at the new Schwarzbachbahn at Lohsdorf in Saxon Switzerland and evening roundhouse show at the Dresden Steam Locomotive Festival

Today a real tour highlight awaits, as you visit one of the most exciting and newest narrow gauge steam railways in Eastern Germany, specifically the Schwarzbachbahn at Lohsdorf in Saxon Switzerland. This historic branch line from 1897 is currently being reconstructed and the first two kilometres are now open for public use and special. Best of all the local preservation society now has its own 4-cylinder ‘Meyer’ tank engine, 99 585 of 1912 vintage. You will enjoy your own private steam charter with 99 585 and make ample photo and film stops to see the current state of this reconstruction project, which can be likened to the current rebuilding of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in Devon. Lunch is included today at the railway. In the late afternoon you return to Dresden, with time at leisure before visiting the grand opening event of the Dresden steam locomotive festival, with the signature turntable show and illuminated photography session at the historic roundhouse. (B L)

Saturday and Sunday 10 and 11 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 12 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)