Spring Steam in Saxony

DAY 1

Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Gotha for our overnight stay at the Hotel am Tierpark where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast, we depart Gotha by train to Dresden where we travel the short distance to Radebeul for a steam run on the 750mm narrow-gauge Lössnitzgrundbahn, a delightful 17km line which still operates a public service between Radebeul and Radeburg including some street running! Afterwards, we make our way to our hotel, the InterCity Hotel in Dresden, for our eight-night stay where we check in and explore our new surroundings.

DAY 3

Today, we travel by rail to Zittau where we ride behind steam on the Zittau Railway to Bertsdorf, a narrow-gauge railway offering many scenic and historic attractions such as the unique spectacle of a simultaneous departure of two steam trains. From here, we ride both branch lines along charming landscapes to Jonsdorf and Oybin before returning to Dresden in time for our evening meal together.

DAY 4

After breakfast this morning, a short local train ride takes us to Freital-Hainsberg where we join the steam-hauled service over the Weisseritztalbahn for a nostalgic ride on the oldest narrow-gauge railway in public operation along a narrow gorge, through woodland, and past lakes to Kipsdorf. This afternoon, we have time at leisure to use our included transport pass and explore the beautiful city of Dresden including a ride on the unusual, suspended monorail, one of the oldest suspension railways and a marvellous example of engineering and construction, plus the superb single-track funicular railway.

DAY 5

Today, we travel to Cranzahl for an exhilarating return ride behind steam on the Fichtelbergbahn, a steeply graded route climbing into the mountains and crossing the mighty 110m long, 23m high Hüttenbach viaduct to the highest town in Germany, Oberwiesenthal, situated at 3,000ft. Here, we enjoy a guided tour of the locomotive shed before retracing our steps to Dresden for an evening at leisure.

DAY 6

This morning, we make our way to Weisswasser for an exclusive steam charter on the extensive, narrow-gauge Waldeisenbahn Muskau. This nostalgic journey runs through beautiful woodland and alongside a vast open-cast mine and includes run pasts and fantastic photo opportunities. Afterwards, we enjoy a light lunch at the station before visiting the Museumbahnhof where we can explore the history of the railway through exhibits and stories.

Day 7

Today, we journey to Leipzig where we join a thrilling mainline steam excursion in historic coaches, departing from the city's iconic main station (full details to be confirmed).

DAY 8

After breakfast this morning, we travel by rail to Oschatz where we depart on the delightful Döllnitzbahn behind the lovely and historic Saxon Meyers. Our journey takes us through the town, past beautiful open fields to Glossen where the local Feldbahn Museum provides a short diesel hauled run and a chance to view their locomotive collection. Afterwards, we rejoin our steam train for the branch line to Kemmlitz before making the return journey to Oschatz and onwards to Dresden.

DAY 9

This morning, we travel by road to Schönheide for a return ride behind steam over their scenic, 3-mile, preserved line using classic Saxony Meyer locomotives. Afterwards, we continue to the superb Pressnitztalbahn, a scenic 750mm narrow-gauge railway line where two steam trains operate over this beautifully restored line following a river course through woodland to the village of Steinbach. This evening, we return to Dresden and gather for a farewell dinner at the hotel.

DAY 10

We bid farewell to Dresden and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, 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.

**Important Note: Timings for 2027 steam operations in Leipzig (Day 7) and on the Wilder Robert line in Oschatz (Day 8) have not been released at the time of tour compilation. The mainline steam run in Leipzig is scheduled in 2026 and we expect a similar pattern next year. We are monitoring updates from the railway operators closely and will share confirmed information when it becomes available.

B=Breakfast, LR=Light Refreshments, D=Dinner