Railtrail A4 STEAM Brochure 2018

N E W T O U R

Swiss Maximum Steam

This unique steam-packed ten days includes more highlights than we could have ever envisaged when we started to plan it! Six steam train excursions, 5 paddle steamers, a steam tram, Lucerne’s excellent Transport Museum, Swiss Vapeur Park, and a historic electric train with accompanying absinthe Schnapps! Even our visit to the Brienz Rothornbahn is different, with a guided visit of the depot and the special ‘sausage train’. Oh, and there’s also the Brünig Pass, Voralpen

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

★ ★ Bauma to Hinwil Steam train ★ ★ Schinznacher Baumschulbahn steam excursion ★ ★ Voralpen Express train to Lucerne ★ ★ Visit to the Swiss Transport Museum ★ ★ Paddle Steam boat trip on Lake Lucerne ★ ★ Paddle Steam boat trip on Lake Brienz ★ ★ Brienz Rothornbahn ‘sausage train’ & guided depot tour ★ ★ Paddle Steam boat trip on Lake Thun ★ ★ Tour of Bern by Bern Steam Tram ★ ★ Golden Pass Line train to Montreux ★ ★ Paddle Steam boat trip on Lake Geneva ★ ★ Visit to Swiss Vapeur Park ★ ★ Steam excursion on the famous Furka Steam Railway ★ ★ Paddle boat trip on Lake Neuchatel ★ ★ Historic electric train from Neuchatel to Travers with ‘Green Fairy’ schnapps ★ ★ Steam excursion from St Suplice to Travers ★ ★ Blonay Chamby Steam Excursion DAY 1 Relax as we let the European train system transport us through France to Winterthur for two nights at the 3* Hotel Krone. (D) DAY 2 Our first steam excursion is on the Bauma to Hinwil line. Formerly part of the Uerikon- Bauma Railway, 11 km of track is preserved, operating steam trains hauling vintage heritage carriages dating from the 1900s. Our day continues with a visit to the Schinznacher Baumschulbahn, whose steam locos operate on Switzerland’s only 600mm gauge track on a 3km round trip through the tree nursery. (B,D) DAY 3 The scenic Voralpen Express heads south to Lucerne, where we visit the excellent Swiss Transport Museum. A short paddle steam trip transports us to Lucerne, continuing by train over the beautiful mainline Brünig Pass for three nights in Interlaken at the 3* Hotel City Oberland. (B,D) DAY 4 Another paddle steamer transports us to Brienz. Here we have a guided depot tour before joining the wonderful Brienzer Rothorn

Express and Golden Pass Line to top off our ultimate steamy, scenic Swiss spectacular!

Fares From £2699

Brienz Rothorn Railway

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DEPARTS Saturday 1 September 2018 10 DAYS

Railway, Switzerland’s oldest steam cog railway for the special “Steam Sausage Express”! The railway steams and smokes its way up the mountain now as it did when it opened in 1892, climbing from Lake Brienz for 7.6km to Brienzer Rothorn Alp summit station at a height of 2,244m. Our special excursion halts during the ascent at Planalp, where your driver and fireman cook sausages in the locomotive’s original steam kettle. (B,L,D) DAY 5 Today’s paddle steamer heads across Lake Thun to Thun. In Bern, Switzerland’s handsome capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site, we enjoy a city tour Railtrail style on the Bern Steam Tram, dating from 1894. (B,D) DAY 6 The scenic Golden Pass Line transports us across the mountains, descending through the vineyards to Montreux. Transferring to paddle steamer on Lake Geneva, we enjoy time at Swiss Vapeur Park, one of Europe’s most prestigious miniature railways. We continue for four nights at the 4* Moevenpick Hotel in Lausanne. (B,D) DAY 7 Travelling by train to Realp, we join the Furka Steam Cog Railway on an excursion high into the mountains to Oberwald along the original route of the Glacier Express, crossing viaducts, passing through tunnels and alpine meadows full of flowers. Marvel at the Rhone Glacier, viewed between snow-covered mountain peaks. (B,D)

FARE From London St Pancras International: Standard Class rail travel to/from Switzerland, £2699 including Standard Eurostar First Class rail travel to Winterthur/from Lausanne, £2999 including Standard Premier Eurostar Single Traveller Supplement £499 9 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal Eurostar and rail travel to and from Switzerland in the class of your choice All excursions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager GUARANTEED FARE DAY 8 Travelling by train and boat, we arrive in Travers to ride the historic electric train from Travers to St Suplice, with an aperitif on board. Why not try the ‘Green Fairy’ absinthe schnapps! After a visit to St Suplice steam depot, we return to Travers on the Val de Travers steam train. (B,D) DAY 9 Our final steam excursion visits the Blonay Chamby Railway, with a return steam ride from Vevey to Blonay and a visit to the Blonay Chamby Museum, commemorating its 50th birthday with a Mega Bernina exhibition this week and the visit of ‘Crocodile Bernina’ RhB

182. (B,D) DAY 10

We return by train across Switzerland to Paris, changing stations for our Eurostar journey to London. (B)

Furka Steam Railway

Lake Lucerne Paddle Steamer

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

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