Day 1: Eurostar to Paris Early morning departure on Eurostar (St. Pancras Station) from London to Paris with breakfast included on board. Transfer to Gare de l’Est, where you join a new TGV Est to Strasburg, then continue to Mulhouse, where you stay two nights at a three-star hotel. Day 2: Jura Railway A coach will take you from Mulhouse to Glovelier, where you join the narrow-gauge Chemin de Fer de Jura Railway. An ex-Portuguese Mallet locomotive will take you on an exhilarating run to La Chaux de Fonds. Return to Mulhouse for dinner and overnight. Day 3: French National Railway Museum; Bern Tram Tour After breakfast, visit the French National Railway Museum at Mulhouse to view their extensive collection of steam locomotives and vintage rolling stock. The coach then takes you to Basel, where you board an Intercity train Bern. Upon arrival, enjoy a two-hour tour of Bern’s tramway system aboard a chartered vintage steam tram. The tram, with an open-balconied trailer, runs along cobbled streets past famous arcades and decorated facades. Continue the journey by mainline train to Interlaken, where you overnight. Day 4: Brunig Steam Round trip journey over Brunig Pass, steaming out of Interlaken along sparkling Lake Brienz to Meiringen, changing to a rack-fitted steam locomotive for the long climb over the Brunig Pass to Giswil. Return over the Brunig Pass to Interlaken, still steam-hauled, and stay overnight in Interlaken. Day 5: Furka Bahn Steam Railway Travel by service train from Interlaken via Spiez and the Lochberg Pass to Brig. Here, board a specially chartered steam-hauled train along the Glacier Express route as far as Oberwald. Some of the journey is over rack railway. On arrival at Oberwald, join an electrain train for the 20-minute journey to Realp, where the steam-hauled train of the Furka Bahn Steam Railway will be waiting. Enjoy perhaps the most exhilarating steam ride in Switzerland: a two-hour climb towards the Rhone Glacier at Gletsch. Return to Interlaken by coach. Day 6: Schynige Platte & Brienz Rothorn Railways After breakfast, join the meter-gauge train at Interlaken for a short ride to Wilderswil, where you join a specially chartered steam-hauled train on the 800mm-gauge Schynige Platte Railway. Climb to the summit at Schynige Platte through some fantastic scenery and return on the steam train to Wilderswil. Transfer by service train to Brienz; free time for lunch. In the afternoon, join a vintage steam train on the Brienz Rothorn Railway up the wonderfully scenic rack railway to Rothorn Kulm. On arrval back at Brienz, return to Interlaken by lake steamer. Day 7: William Tell Express This morning, travel by meter-gauge train over the scenic Golden Pass Express route to Lucerne. On arrival at Lucerne, join a vintage, first-class steam paddle steamer. Steam across Lake Lucerne to Fluen in 3-1/2 hours. Lunch will be served on board in the restaurant. Look out for sleepy bays, picturesque villages and historic landmarks. At Fluen, join the first-class train, which runs along the scenic Gotthard line through the Reuss Valley, climbing over 3,600 feet above sea level at the Gotthard Pass. At Goshenen, change to a local train to Andermat, traveling to Chur along the Glacier Express route. Dinner and overnight in Chur. Day 8: Steam to Davos and Filisur A special, steam-hauled charter train takes you for a spectacular journey through the Alps. The locomotive will be a Rhaetian Railway 2-8-0 to Klosters (of royal fame) and through more stunning scenery to Davos, a mountain resort with a funicular railway. Lunch included at the station hotel. Continue the circular steam tour back to Chur. Dinner and overnight in Chur. Day 9: Eurostar Morning departure for Basel; board midday TGV train to Paris via Mulhouse and Strasburg. On arrival at Paris, transfer to Paris Gare du Nord, where you board an early evening Eurostar to London St. Pancras. Dinner with wine will be served at your seat. |