Day 1: Travel London to Hannover
Board the morning Eurostar service to Brussels. Breakfast will be served at your seat on departure. At Brussels, change to a Thalys high-speed train to Köln. You have around one hour to explore Köln before you join the ICE train to Hannover. On arrival, transfer to the city center hotel. Dinner is on your own to try one of Hannover’s many restaurants. (B) Day 2: Mainline Steam to Wernigerode
Free time after breakfast before transferring to Central Station where the 41 class 2-8-2 No. 41096 will be waiting. Depart steam-hauled down the main line, branch off at Hildesheim and continue through Salzgitter, Goslar and Vienenburg as you skirt the Harz Mountains. Soon you will arrive in the historic town of Wernigerode, where you check into a four-star hotel for three nights. There will be time this evening to visit Wernigerode’s Christmas Market. (B,D) Day 3: Mallet to Brocken
Today, ride a special steam train hauled by Mallet No. 99.5902 to Brocken. Before your departure, IRT has arranged a visit to the steam depot at Wernigerode. It is a magnificent ride as you pass through the snow-covered (one hopes) Harz Mountains to the summit of the railway at Brocken (1129 meters/3,704 feet above sea level). Return to Wernigerode mid-afternoon, leaving ample time to return to the Wernigerode Christmas Market. The market place is bursting with decorated stalls, and the aroma of roasted almonds and Gluehwein (mulled wine) fills the air. (B,D) Day 4: Wernigerode to Nordhausen and Mainline Steam to Quedlinburg
Return to Wernigerode Harz Narrow Gauge Railway station, where IRT has requested a one-way charter with 2-10-2T No. 99.222. It is a very steep climb from Wernigerode to Drei Annen Hohne. Continue through forest beneath the mountain. On arrival at Eisfelder Talmuehle, reverse and tackle the steep graded line to Stiege and Hasselfelde. From Hasselfelde, continue downhill to Eisfelder Talmuehle and on to Nordhausen. On arrival at Nordhausen, walk across the road to the mainline station. Here 2-10-0 No. 50.3501 will be waiting with a special steam charter. A lunch will be provided on the train.
Travel northeast as you skirt the Harz Mountains on this very attractive scenic line. Pass through Walkenried, Herzberg, Seesen and Goslar. Continue through Vienenburg and Wernigerode to Quedlinburg, where you check into a hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (You will have the opportunity to continue with the train to Thale before returning back to Quedlinburg.) (B,L,D) Day 5: Ruebelandbahn
After breakfast, transfer to Quedlinburg station. There, join your special train pulled by 2-10-2T No. 95.1027A, a very powerful tank locomotive that was recently restored. Chug through Halberstadt to Blankenburg over the very steeply graded (1-in-17) Ruebelandbahn. From here the gradients are amazing; this will be one of the first steam-hauled trains on the Ruebelandbahn for many years. The spectacle of steam on this steep grade should be amazing.
Upon arrival in Konigshuette (the end of the line), a coach will be waiting to transfer the group to Hasselfelde. Enjoy lunch in Hasselfelde before joining a special doubleheaded train hauled by two 0-6-0 tank locomotives, Nos. 99.6101 and 99.6102. Continue with both locomotives to Alexisbad, where the train will be split to recreate the famous double departure spectacle. Continue your journey to Quedlinburg at the very end of the narrow-gauge system. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations in Quedlinburg. (B,L,D) Day 6: Mainline Steam to Klostermannsfeld and Narrow Gauge
After breakfast, take a short walk to Quedlinburg station where a special steam-hauled train should be waiting. It is hauled by doubleheaded 50 class 2-10-0s Nos. 50.3501 and 50.3708. Depart for Klostermannsfeld via Halberstadt. On arrival, join a special narrow-gauge steam train (750mm) of the Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn, enjoying a trip over their line and visiting the locomotive depot. After a visit to the workshops, No. 50.3708 takes you on a trip down the branch line to Wippra. Return to Quedlinburg by coach. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Quedlinburg. (B,D) Day 7: Stassfurt and Quedlinburg
After breakfast, depart to Halberstadt (12.5 miles) with No. 50.3501. On arrival, join a special steam-hauled train headed by large 44 class 2-10-0 44.1486 (requested). Your charter today takes you to Stassfurt, where on arrival you visit the locomotive depot and museum. Return to Quedlinburg steam-hauled on a special train. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Quedlinburg. There will be plenty of time to visit the Christmas Market in Quedlinburg, a medieval Christmas delight. Also, you can visit the biggest Advent Calendar in Germany, consisting of 24 festively decorated houses. (B,D) Day 8: Tour Ends
Depart by coach to Bad Harzburg where you board a regional train to Hannover. Hannover to Köln will be by ICE, then Köln to Brussels by Thalys. Finally, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar. A dinner with wine will be served at your seat on the train, which will arrive at London St. Pancras mid-evening. (B,D) |
Featured Adventures
