4 Seasons With Railtrail 2018/19 Brochure

Golden October Steam in the Harz Mountains & More

N E W T O U R

This special ‘Golden October’ tour is timed to be in the Harz for a Brocken steam Sonderzug. After further visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Rammelsberg mine complex and Goslar, plus a trip on the Thale cable car and scheduled Selketal steam, we head to the Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn for one of their rare ‘Infozug’ steam days. Finally, from Kassel we enjoy the Hessencourrier ‘Golden October’ steam excursion to Naumburg, another rarity from Railtrail.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 We depart London St Pancras by Eurostar, speeding across Kent and towards France. Our Eurostar terminates at Brussels, where we change onto a high-speed train into Germany. From Hanover we coach into the heart of the Harz Mountains and the Maritim Berghotel, our base for three nights. (D) DAY 2 Transferring by coach to Wernigerode, we enjoy an exhilarating ride aboard the Brockenbahn, a steam-hauled journey from Wernigerode through golden autumn landscapes up to the summit of the Brocken mountain to Germany’s highest narrow-gauge station and the Harz region’s highest peak. (B,D) DAY 3 A short transfer takes us to the historic and charming town of Goslar. At any time of year Goslar, with its imperial heritage and gorgeous Old Town, is worth a visit. With more than 1,500 half-timbered buildings, Goslar deserves its UNESCO World Heritage status. Goslar has more than one reason for its World Heritage listing, however, and we visit the Rammelsberg mine, Germany’s first UNESCO listed site for technology. We take the mine train into the Richt Shaft to see modern mining technology underground, whereas above ground is one of Europe’s most extensive mining museums. (B,D) DAY 4 An early start today, aswe transfer by coach to Alexisbad in the verdant Selketal Valley. Here we join the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen narrow-gauge steam journey to Gernrode on the Selketalbahn through the autumnal river valley. Our coach awaits at Gernrode to whisk us to Thale, where we enjoy an exhilarating round trip on the Thale cable ★ ★ Special ‘Sonderzug’ steam journey up the Brocken Mountain ★ ★ Guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Rammelsberg mine ★ ★ Free time in picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Goslar ★ ★ Round trip on the Thale cable car ★ ★ Steam on the Selketal Railway from Alexisbad to Gernrode ★ ★ Free time in UNESCO World Heritage Quedlinburg ★ ★ Excursion on the Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn Infozug with English speaking guide ★ ★ Return steam excursion on Hessen Courrier’s ‘Golden October’ to Naumburg

Fares From £1199

7 DAYS

car up to Hexentanzplatz. After free time in gorgeousUNESCOWorldHeritageprotected Quedlinburg, we head to Magdeburg, the state capital of Saxony Anhalt, for a night at the InterCity Hotel. (B,D) DAY 5 A rare treat today! We visit the Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn, Germany’s oldest narrow- gauge railway, which opened in 1880. This 750 mm railway is 11km long and operates through pleasant rural scenery along a former colliery line. Today is a special ‘Infozug’, a hop-on hop-off steam excursion with local English-speaking guide explaining the railway’s significance. From Klostermansfeld we then take the train into western Germany for a two night stay at the InterCity Hotel in Kassel. (B,D) DAY 6 Today’s exhilarating ‘Golden October’ steam excursion is on the infrequent Hessencourrier, also known as the ‘Kleinbahn Kassel Naumburg’. With leaves turning colour it is a great time to steam through the Habichtswald nature park on a 32km line to Naumburg, along a track that navigates several inclines, with the highest being 29% along a 5km section between Elgershausen and Hoof. After free time in the pretty town of Naumburg, whose small railway museum will be open in the station building, we return by steam to Kassel for our final evening. (B,D) DAY 7 Leaving Kassel, we change trains in Frankfurt and Cologne. In Brussels we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. (B)

DEPARTS Tuesday 2 October 2018

HOTELS Maritim Berghotel Braunlage This 4* hotel is located in the mountain resort of Braunlage at the foot of the Wurmberg mountain on the edge of the Harz National Park. Amenities include the Roof Garden café, with stunning views of the Harz, a restaurant, bar and Old English Pub, plus leisure facilities including a swimming pool. For this tour we have chosen Superior Rooms with balcony and views across Braunlage. InterCity Hotels 4* and 3* accommodation well-connected for rail travellers. Standard Class rail travel to and from Germany including Standard Eurostar Standard Class rail travel to Hanover/Kassel and return All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager GUARANTEED FARE FARE From London St Pancras International: Standard Class rail travel to / from Germany, including £1199 Standard Eurostar Single Traveller Supplement £125 6 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal

Book now – online at www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323

7