Northern France Narrow-Gauge Steam

DAY 1

Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille, then onwards to Amiens and our hotel for four nights, the Moxy Hotel, where we check in and enjoy our first evening at leisure.

DAY 2

After breakfast, we travel by road to Crevecoeur and the metre-gauge railway created by the MTVS for an exclusive steam charter aboard their historic train journeying to Rotangy and, on our return, we visit the locomotive depot. Afterwards, we continue to Chanteraines Park for another exclusive charter over their narrow-gauge line winding its way around the park before viewing their extensive collection of steam and diesel locomotives.

DAY 3

Today, we travel to the Froissy Steam Festival with at least two steam locomotives in action on an intensive service plus diesel and freight trains, a miniature railway, and a model exhibition. We ride the first train of the day over the full length of the line featuring a tunnel, switchbacks, and roadside running before watching the action along the canalside of this former WW1 railway. We enjoy our lunch in the museum where we have the opportunity to view their unique collection before returning to Amiens.

DAY 4

This morning, we travel by rail to Noyelles for our full day aboard the metre-gauge Baie de Somme Railway. We experience a ride behind steam to the historical town of Saint-Valery where we have some time at leisure to explore and take lunch before we journey to the opposite end of the line to the seaside town of Le Crotoy. On our return to Noyelles, there will be an opportunity to photograph the double departure of the two engines in action today before we return by rail to Amiens.

DAY 5

After breakfast today, we journey by road to Saint Amand les Eaux for an exclusive steam charter on the rarely visited Scarpe Steam Railway running alongside the canal to their locomotive shed where we can view their superb collection of narrow-gauge equipment. Afterwards, we continue to Lille for our last charter using two vintage trams over the fantastic AMITRAM line alongside the Deûle at Wambrechies. Finally, we bid farewell to France, continuing the short distance to Lille Station where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch