Northern Germany Steam Explorer

Enjoy a superbly relaxing holiday with like-minded travellers as we meander across Northern Germany on a sojourn of discovery to enjoy the very best of the steam railways from town, countryside to seaside!

This is a great Railtrail summer steam tour that has much to offer as a wonderful holiday for enthusiasts and partners alike. Whilst we include an amazing variety of steam lines, a plethora of differing gauges, locomotives and rolling stock, it is achieved in a relaxing style, enabling everyone to unwind and enjoy themselves on a magnificent holiday - escorted by our very experienced and ever popular German Tour Manager, Martin Kirschner.

DAY 1 Wednesday August 4th: If choosing to travel throughout by train, we depart London St Pancras International circ 13.00 hrs via Brussels and Koln (Cologne) to Bremen for three night’s B&B at the 4 star Inter City Hotel adjacent to the station. We meet at the hotel clients who have chosen the flight option. DAY 2 Thursday August 5th: A free day for sightseeing in historic Bremen where there is also an excellent tram museum; a public transport ticket for all day free travel is included. DAY 3 Friday August 6th: Our exploration of Northern Germany’s heritage railways commences with a private steam charter with photo run-pasts on the rarely visited 22 kms standard gauge Delmenhorst-Harpstedter Eisenbahnfreunde e.V. (It is possible that in the afternoon we may be able to take the charter onto the mixed gauge at Bruchausen-Vilsen for a supplementary fare which we will advise when known.) DAY 4 Saturday August 7th: We have timed the tour to coincide with the railway festival at Bruchausen-Vilsen where the metre gauge line became Germany’s very first heritage line on its opening in 1966. A full day rover facility for the line will enable you to enjoy this super line and its excellent collection of locomotives and rolling stock journeying between Bruchausen-Vilsen and Asendorf. On return to Bremen we transfer by train to Hamburg and two nights at the 4 star Best Western Queens Hotel at Hamburg City Nord. DAY5 Sunday August 8th: We commence our day at Germany’s northern-most heritage line with a return steam hauled journey along the scenic route between Kappeln and Süderbrarup on the Angelner Dampfeisenbahn, probably with Scandinavian loco and rolling stock. We then travel by steam between Schönberger Strand and Schönberg for the rail and tram museum. We are also negotiating to hopefully include a steam hauled journey between Schönberg and Kiel. DAY 6 Monday August 9th: View the Harz Mountains to America, at Hamburg’s amazing “miniatur-wunderland”, the largest model railway in the world, which has cost 10 million Euros! Or you may wish to spend your day sightseeing before we take the train to Rostock and four nights at the 3 star Inter City Hotel at the main station. DAY 7 Tuesday August 10th: Travelling by train to Prora and Putbus for an extended day of steam on Rügen Island including running through into the evening. We include steam in both directions from Putbus, a visit to the Eisenbahn & Technik museum at Prora and a guided visit to the loco shed at Putbus. DAY 8 Wednesday August 11th: We conclude this sojourn of discovery at probably the most popular line in Northern Germany as we travel by train from Rostock to Bad Doberan for a full day on the Molli, with unlimited train rides between Bad Doberan and Kühlungsborn. Plus in the afternoon we have made a special arrangement with the railway whereby the train will ‘perform’ at selected points for photographers in our private lineside bus. DAY 9 Thursday August 12th: A free day to enjoy local sightseeing or perhaps take a paddle in the sea. You may, of course, choose to make the journey back to either Rügen or Bad Doberan to enjoy more steam. DAY 10 Friday August 13th: After breakfast we return by train (to Bremen for those on “own flight” option) via Hamburg, Koln and Brussels arriving London St Pancras International at 19.03 hrs.