Autumn in Alsace 42

century. A powerful early 20th century steam tank locomotive hauls you over this preserved line on a privately chartered train at a time when there is no regular traffic, so numerous run pasts can be staged. A typically French buffet lunch will be served at the station building in Burnhaupt, where you’ll visit the shed and see the railway’s extensive collection of historic rolling stock. At the end of the return journey you travel by road coach to Colmar via the ‘Alsatian Wine Route’ on the way to the historic town of Breisach, Germany, where you board a stylish motor vessel for a welcome sunset cruise on the River Rhine, with coffee and cake included. (B L)

Monday 9th October Steam in the Black Forest of Germany; visit to historic Freiburg The German theme continues today as you visit the Kandertalbahn, located on the very tip of Southern Germany, near Basel. This 12.9 km (8 mile) long branch line runs through rural scenery in the Kander Valley. Your train comprises an early 20th century German steam tank locomotive with matching period carriages, and a buffet lunch of regional delicacies will be served when you reach the end of the line at Kandern. There will be plenty of photo opportunities before returning to Colmar by road coach later, stopping to visit the historic city of Freiburg im Breisgau, a German city noted for its medieval university and cathedral. (B L)

Tuesday 10th October Museums and trams in Mulhouse Today you travel by train to Mulhouse, famous for its outstanding museums, especially the ‘Cité du Train’ and ‘Cité de l’Automobile’, respectively the largest railway and automobile museums in Europe. You’ll receive a rover ticket for the city’s urban tram network, which you’ll use to travel to the ‘Cité du Train’, the national railway museum of France and one of the largest and most amazing collections of technically unique steam locomotives in the world. The Electropolis Museum is also an option available where you can immerse yourself in the great adventure of electricity. The vast collection of classic cars in the nearby ‘Cité de l’Automobile’ is also worth a visit. The remainder of your time in Mulhouse will be free to explore its medieval city centre, with both French and Swiss architecture, the pedestrianised Place de la Réunion main square, and St. Stephen’s church. In the evening you return to Colmar by service train. (B) Wednesday 11th October Steam at the Abreschviller Forest Railway Today you make a side-step from Alsace and visit nearby Lorraine. At Abreschviller you will find a remarkable ‘hidden gem’ in the form of the local forest railway, which operates steam locomotives on the unusual 700 mm gauge. You are comfortably accommodated on the railway’s ‘Belle Epoque’ luxury coach and hauled by a 0-4-4-0T Mallet type steam locomotive dating from 1906. Running through dense forests and crossing the Red Saar River, the train will pause for photos and run-pasts near the village of Grand Soldat. At the terminus of the line, you will also see an old saw mill. Once back in Abreschviller, you still have time to visit the local steam shed and see the other stored steam locomotives, before returning to Colmar. In the evening you have a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B L D)

Thursday 12th October Colmar to London You say a fond ‘au revoir’ to Alsace today and return to Paris by TGV express train. You transfer from Paris Gare de l´Est to Gare du Nord and board a Eurostar service to London St. Pancras International. (B)

Tour Summary

First Class £1995 Includes First Class on Eurostar, TGV and other SNCF service trains. Single supplement £225 Ground only £1575 (Colmar – Colmar)

Price includes:

• 7 nights accommodation with breakfast • 5 lunches and 2 dinners • All specially chartered steam trains as detailed in the itinerary • All rail, road, tram and boat trips as detailed in the itinerary • All visits as detailed in the itinerary • Rail travel from London to Colmar and back • Rover ticket for the Mulhouse urban tram network • All seat reservations and transfers • The services of a tour manager

All prices shown are per person based on two persons sharing. Please be advised that First Class travel will be allocated in Standard Premier carriages on Eurostar services. Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner

October 2023

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Andrew Thompson

Andrew Thompson Andrew Thompson

Czech and Polish Steam Safari

Thursday 5th October to Sunday 15th October 2023

The historic cities of Prague and Brno and the rural landscapes of the Czech Republic create a superb backdrop to this unique tour, packed with main line and narrow-gauge steam highlights. • Sample an eclectic line-up of unique steam locomotives, including big tank engines that have only just returned to service after decades out of use. • Experience lots of ‘rare track’ excursions with private charter train trips on scenic countryside routes and unusual branch lines. • Visit the huge collection at the Czech railway museum in Luzna u Rakovnika before embarking on a main line steam charter on the remote branch line from Luzna to Kralovice. • Visit the Kolin, Mladejov, Zbysov and Osoblaha narrow-gauge railways on private steam charters, using the largest tank and tender locomotives available on both lines. • Explore the Polish narrow gauge steam railways at Rudy and Bytom, where steam has only recently been reintroduced.

Thursday 5th October Arrival in Prague Following a direct flight to Prague you book into your central hotel for a welcome lunch. The rest of the day you are free to explore this fascinating city. A complimentary public transport rover ticket makes getting around by tramway or underground easy and enjoyable. (L)

Friday 6th October Classic Prague by luxury tram and steam at the Kolin Sugar Beet Railway This morning you board a luxury tram for a sightseeing tour of Prague, inclusive of onboard drinks. See the city’s premier landmarks while criss-crossing the River Vltava on its famous bridges. In the early afternoon you transfer to Kolin in Central Bohemia, where you ride the entire length of the re-opened 600 mm narrow gauge railway, including the most recent extensions. Upon arrival, refreshments will be served, including drinks. This delightful railway runs through fields and forests and will also pause for run-pasts. Motive power is provided by a rugged industrial tank engine and, weather permitting, your private charter train will be formed of semi-open ‘fresh air’ summer coaches. After a visit to the local steam shed, you return to Prague by service train to spend the evening at leisure in the city. (B L)

Saturday 7th October Steam in Southern Moravia at the Zbysov heritage railway Today you make a day-trip to southern Moravia, travelling in First Class on a comfortable main line express from Prague to Brno, before changing onto the connecting local train to Zastavka u Brna. Here a private steam charter awaits you for the journey on the 600 mm heritage railway to the Zbysov museum and steam centre. Your train will be hauled by a CKD-built tank engine and pause for run-pasts. Once at Zbysov, lunch will be served. In the afternoon you return to Brno for a private sightseeing tram tour, before catching an early evening train back to Prague in First Class. (B L)

Sunday 8th October Steam in Central Moravia at the Mladejov narrow-gauge railway with giant Krauss No. 5 Today you visit the Mladejov heritage railway on a day-trip from Prague. You arrive in the town of Mladejov by service train and visit the local industrial museum, which holds an impressive range of tank engines, including the giant Krauss