Day 1: Fly London to Stockholm
Meet your tour group at London Heathrow and depart for a midday flight to Stockholm. On arrival, transfer to Stockholm railway station to join the train to Västervik, where you stay overnight. (D) Day 2: Narrow Gauge from Västervik to Hultsfred
You’ll have a free morning to enjoy the town. Alternatively join a visit to the locomotive depot before taking lunch at a local restaurant. About 2:00pm, a special charter train, hauled by a narrow-gauge steam locomotive, departs Västervik to travel the 45 miles to Hultsfred, arriving at around 6:00pm. This narrow-gauge railway was the first in Sweden to be listed as a national heritage site. It runs through a landscape typical of the region: dark forests, little lakes and tiny villages. On arrival at Hultsfred a coach will be waiting to transfer you to a four-star hotel in Vaxjo. (B,L,D) Day 3: Ohsabanan Antan–Grafnas Railway
After breakfast, leave Vaxjo by coach and travel to the 600mm-gauge Ohsabanan, where IRT has chartered their own train for the one-hour journey to Bor Norra. This is a pleasant ride, running through the forests. On arrival, re-board a coach and depart for Anten, where you join a chartered train. Hauled by a 4-6-0 tender locomotive on the Anten–Gräfsnäs Steam Railway, this runs on 895mm gauge, otherwise known as ‘Swedish three feet’, by Lake Anten on a 16-mile round trip. Refreshments will be served during the journey. Enjoy dinner and stay in a hotel in Vargon. (B,L,D) Day 4: Main Line Steam from Mellerud to Karlstad
Transfer to Mellerud to board a steam charter hauled by an E2 2-8-0 locomotive for a return trip to Bengtsfors. Lunch will be served in the restaurant car. This area is a haven for nature, and on this trip you will pass forests, working farms, small towns and pretty villages. On arrival back at Mellerud, join the main line and head north to Åmål. Here, change locomotives to an A7 class 4-6-0 and continue the journey to Karlstad, where you stay for the night. (B,L,D) Day 5: Main Line Steam from Karlstad to Lysvik
IRT has arranged a special train, hauled by A7 Class 4-6-0 1804, for the return trip from Karlstad to Lysvik. This is another line surrounded by typical Swedish scenery of quaint villages and twinkling lakes. Lunch is taken in the restaurant car. On return, transfer from Kil to Örebro, where you check into a three-star hotel for two nights. (B,L,D) Day 6: Tour of Örebro or Visit Nora Railway Museum
Today you’ll have the option of enjoying a city tour of Örebro, in the province of Närke. Örebro Castle dates to the 13th century, but the fairytale exterior was added during rebuilding in the Renaissance period. Lunch is arranged in a local restaurant.
For those favoring a rail option, transfer by coach to Loth Station. Here, join a special steam charter to Nora hauled by a Nohab 2-6-4 tank locomotive. On arrival, visit the locomotive depot and workshops and, afterward, continue with the steam charter to Gyttorp, then back to Loth. Lunch will be served on the train. The coach will have picked up the Orebo group by now, so you’ll travel to Grängesberg by coach to visit the railway museum, home to a large collection of Swedish steam locomotives including two steam turbine 2-8-0s, one of which will hopefully be steamed for your visit. From Grängesberg, continue to Fallun to visit the railway center where they have around seven steam locomotives, including three B class 4-6-0s. Then, dinner and overnight accommodations at the Grand Hotel Fallun. (B,L,D) Day 7: Mallet on the Narrow Gauge, National Railway Museum
After breakfast, transfer by coach to Jädraås, where you enjoy a splendid steam charter through some very nice scenery hauled by a Mallet 0-6-6-0 locomotive on the four-mile narrow-gauge line to Tallas. After lunch in Jädraås, continue by coach to Gävle where you visit the Swedish National Railway Museum with its magnificent collection of steam locomotives and coaches. After this visit, view the Swedish reserve collection consisting of a large collection of steam locomotives, some of which once formed Sweden’s military reserve. Check into the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,L,D) Day 8: The Uppsala-Lenna Railway
Transfer to Uppsala by service train for a steam trip on the narrow-gauge Uppsala-Lenna Railway with a 2-8-0 locomotive, plus a visit to the railway workshops at Faringe. This is a historic line, opened in 1876. The oldest of all 891mm railways in the region, it was originally built to provide the ironworks in Länna with a connection to the standard-gauge network. Light lunch is included. Tonight, stay in Stockholm. Please note that dinner is not provided tonight, giving you the chance to explore. (B,L) Day 9: Narrow Gauge Railway and Steamship Cruise
Travel to Stockholm station to join a high-speed train to Läggesta. Here, change onto a charming steam-hauled train on the Ostra-Södermanlands Jarnvag Railway. The journey, in delightful vintage coaches all the way to Mariefred, is on a 600mm gauge linethat enjoys a wonderful collection of locomotives from a bygone age. At Mariefred station you will notice that the buildings and waiting halls have been maintained in period style, true to the railway’s heyday. You have over three hours to visit the picturesque town of Mariefred, a lazy summer lake town with a fine castle, the Gripsholms Slott. This sturdy fortress was begun in 1370 and houses the royal portrait collection as well as a marvelous theater dating back to the late 18th century. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes for lunchtime snacks. At 4:30pm, take the steamship SS Mariefred back to Stockholm. Dinner will be served on board, and your overnight accommodations are in Stockholm. (B,D) Day 10: Tour Ends
The morning is free for a sightseeing tour of Stockholm, visiting the old town known as the Gamla Stan. Full of character, this medieval city center has cobbled streets and narrow lanes leading to chic shops and cafés. Later, transfer by coach to Stockholm Airport for an afternoon flight back to London Heathrow. (B) |
Featured Adventures
