the railway touring company - main brochure 2011

The Railway Touring Co.Great Railway Adventures 2011

The Railway Touring Company

Who are we?We are one of very few worldwide railway tour operators to charter our own trains. We offer the unique experience of travelling in many countries by private vintage steam hauled train giving you the time and opportunity to view and enjoy the scenery. There may be the chance to stand on an open balcony, or open the window and smell the countryside.

We include most meals, many served in our own restaurant car on the train or served al fresco at an old station. Most of our charters are day-time only and we use hotels for overnight stays. Some tours - including the Russian tours - feature vintage hotel trains providing overnight accommodation, with hotel accommodation at our destination.

Where we use predominantly service trains, as in Switzerland and Norway, we devise unique itineraries and include special steam hauled programmes to complement the tour.

Our Steam Charter TrainsWhenever possible we hire steam trains for our exclusive use. This allows us the flexibility (within operational parameters) to run to our requirements, thus enabling us to organise stops for photographs (the scenery or the train) and run pasts. We can often arrange for you to ride on the footplate if you want to (at your own risk). Since we are often around 40 in number we have often had access to older trains with limited capacity, and sometimes to facilities not normally available to large groups or individuals.

Scheduled TrainsWith few exceptions we travel First Class in reserved seats or carriages. This has proven to be much better value for money since the additional space, comfort and lack of crowding are obtained at a worthwhile supplement compared with Standard Class travel.

Alternative Airports, Independent Travel and ExtensionsOur clients come from throughout the UK and overseas. Wherever possible we choose flights which allow connections from local airports, starting at around £89 return. Many European tours offer overland and air options. Most overseas tours allow for independent travel arrangements: you may extend your stay, stop en route or make any travel arrangements you want to. All tours can be quoted `ground only’ for overseas clients and independent travellers to make their own way to the joining point.

Extra Tours and Tour UpdatesThroughout the year we keep pace with an ever-changing world. It is often possible to initiate new tours after the brochure has gone to press and make alterations to published information. Everyone who receives our brochure will receive at least one supplement later in the year.

See the frequent Website Updates - www.railwaytouring.co.ukHere you will find amendments and additions to our programme, news of tours that are becoming fully booked and reports of tours already completed. Don’t forget to bookmark it amongst your favourites.

When you return from a tour we welcome photographs from you that we may publish.

Booking Conditions and AgreementPlease ensure that you read our Booking Conditions and Booking Agreement before placing your booking with us. They can be found at the rear of this brochure.

The Travel Trust AssociationThe TTA is a trade association of travel agents and travel organisers, established to provide financial protection for the traveller. The TTA lays down strict guidelines on how your funds should be handled, and each member must adhere to these guidelines. Every TTA member pays your funds into a designated trust account which is supervised by an independent trustee; a Banker, Chartered or certified Accountant or Solicitor.

Why your travel arrangements are totallysafe with the Travel Trust AssociationAt the Travel Trust Association (TTA), we recognise that for many people a holiday is the one chance to really relax – so it’s important that you are able to feel completely confident about your arrangements from the moment you make your booking. By choosing an approved TTA Member, you can be sure that your travel plans are totally secure. These arrangements exceed the statutory levels of consumer protection. Your funds are secured in Trust by the Travel Trust Association Trustees.

3rd Floor, Albion House, Chertsey RoadWoking, Surrey, GU21 1BF0870 8890577www.traveltrust.co.uk

The air holidays in this brochure are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority.Our ATOL number is T7149.ATOL protects you from losing your money or being stranded abroad. It does this by carrying out financial checks on the firms it licenses and requiring a guarantee, called a bond, to be lodged with us. If a firm goes out of business, the CAA will make a refund to you, or if you’re abroad, we’ll arrange for you to finish your holiday and fly home.

Dear Customer,

We welcome you to our 2011 collection of railway tours. This year’s programme is set to be yet another exciting steam filled year! We hope that with our huge selection of destinations there is something to suit everyone’s taste. Whatever it is that you may be looking for in a steam holiday, we are proud to offer you a range of fantastic destinations to choose from.

There is the mystical backdrop of the Hill Stations of India, or the Black Sea resorts of Odessa and Varna, or South America – where we offer a wide variety of tours to Peru, Chile and Argentina. One of our favourite destinations is the Middle East, where in Jordan and Syria we travel back in time, steam hauled along the Hedjaz Railway, which was built for pilgrims journeying to Mecca. Java was a great success in 2010 due to the huge variety of steam observed and the fact that we travelled around the island by rail and not road. Our overseas programme is bursting with a range of culturally diverse locations and scenic landscapes in abundance!

Our European programme boasts an extensive journey throughout the continent. For our food and wine lovers whet your appetite with a week’s tour to the beautiful Island of Sardinia, or perhaps marvel at the truly breathtaking scenery and mountainous landscape of the tours in Switzerland or the Rails and Fjords of Norway tour. Our fascination with Eastern Europe continues with tours to the Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Serbia.

For those looking for a tour exploring the beauty of the United Kingdom’s countryside, our West Highlander, Summer Highlander, Cock O’ the North, Snowdonia and the Northern Fells, The Western Isles, and Great Britain IV - from John O’Groats to Lands End - are perfect for experiencing the rich treasures that our homeland has to offer.

For many years the Railway Touring Company has offered its clients a superb range of destinations. Many of our tours use specially chartered trains just for our group, allowing more time for photo opportunities and leisurely lunches. A tour manager will accompany all of our tours to ensure that everything runs smoothly and to help answer any questions.

We look forward to welcoming you on one of our tours soon and we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for 2011.

Nigel Dobbing, Managing Director

UK The Great Britain IV April 4 – 7

UK The Western Isles May and August 8 – 9

UK The Cock O’The North June and September 10 – 11

UK The Summer Highlander July 12 – 13

UK Snowdonia and the Northern Fells August 14 – 15

UK The West Highlander Steam Express September 16 – 17

Europe Snow, Ice and Steam in the Balkans March 18 – 19

Europe Alpine Adriatic Express to Split April 20 – 21

Europe Steam in Tuscany April 22 – 23

Europe The Bohemian Steam Safari April 24 – 25

Europe The Swiss Steam Safari May 26 – 27

Europe Sardinia and the Emerald Coast May 28 – 29

Europe Steam in Slovenia Bosnia and Serbia May 30 – 31

Europe Belarus and Ukraine May 32 – 33

Europe Rail and Fjords of Norway July 34 – 35

Europe Classic Trains of Switzerland August 36 – 37

Europe Austria and the Czech Republic August 38 – 39

Europe Bulgarian Mountains Steam Express September 40 – 41

World The Hill Stations of India February 42 – 45

World Java July 46 – 49

World The Trans Siberian Express July – August 50 – 51

World Hedjaz Railways September 52 – 53

World Peru and Bolivia October 54 – 57

World Eritrea October 58 – 59

World The Old Patagonian Express November 60 – 63

World Spring and Cherry Blossom in Japan March – April 2012 64 – 67

Booking Conditions and Information 68

Booking Agreement 69

Pre-Booking and Travel Insurance 70

Railtour Reservation Form 71


Rail Adventures 2011 Programme

THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY, 14A TUESDAY MARKET PLACE, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 1JNPhone: 01553 661500 • Fax: 01553 661800 • E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.railwaytouring.co.uk•

Saturday 16th AprilAn A4 to York and a Royal Scot to EdinburghOurtraindepartsLondonKingsCrossataround08:20hauledbyA4Pacific60019Bitternwith2tendersandwillpickupcustomersatPeterborough.AcelebratoryglassofchampagnewillbeservedtoallcustomersondeparturewithafullEnglishbreakfastforcustomerstravellinginpremierclass.LeavingPeterboroughourtrainisnon-stoptoYorkbeginningwiththeclimbtoStokeSummit,whereanotherA4Pacific,Mallard,achievedtheworldrecordforsteamat126mph,inthesoutherndirection.AtYorkwesaygoodbyeto60019Bitternandwelcome46115ScotsGuardsman,oursecondsteamlocooftheday.ContinuingalongtheEastCoastMainLineournextstopisNewcastle,whereourlocomotivetakeswater.NorthofNewcastleourtrainfollowstheruggedNorthumberlandcoastlinewithfineviewsofpicturesqueAlnmouthanddistantviewsofLindisfarneandtheFarneIslands.SoonwepassoverthemagnificentRoyalBorderBridgeatBerwick-upon-TweedheadingfortheScottishborder,DunbarandDrembeforeourScotsGuardsmansteamsintoEdinburghWaverley.WehaveovernightaccommodationinEdinburgh.

Sunday 17th AprilOver the Forth and Tay Bridges to Aberdeen and InvernessThesecondA4ofthetour,60007SirNigel

Gresley,willbereadytodepartEdinburghWaverleywithourtrainataround09:00.WecrossoverthemagnificentForthBridge,withsuperbviewsovertheFirthofForth,andenterFife.ThejourneythroughFifeisbothscenicandfascinating;wehugtheseashoreforsomeoftheway.OurtrainleavesFifeandcrossesoverthewideexpanseoftheFirthofTaybythefamousTayBridge,beforearrivinginDundeewhereourlocomotivetakesonwater.OnleavingDundeethelineskirtstheseashoreonitswaytoMontrosebeforecontinuingthroughStonehaventotheGraniteCity,Aberdeen.OurA4leavesushereandtwoBlack5’s,44871and45407takeusfromAberdeenthroughHuntley,Keith,ElginandNairntoarriveinInvernesslateafternoonwherewetransfertoourhotels.

Monday 18th AprilTo the Far North with two Black 5’sAfterbreakfast,wejoinourspecialsteamhauledtrainatInvernessStation,hauledbyformerLMSclass54-6-0’s44871and45407.WeleaveInvernessbywayofRoseStreetJunctionandsoonaftercrosstheClachnaharrySwingBridgewithfineviewsovertheFirth.WepassthroughDingwall,Alness,Fearn,TainandInvershintoLairgwheretherewillbeabreakwhileourlocomotive’stakewater.OnleavingLairgweclimbuptoLairgSummitbeforedroppingdowntotheseaatGolspieandthentravellingalongsidetheseatoBrora.Wecontinuetoheadnorth,with

fineviewsovertheseauntilweturninlandagainatHelmsdalewhereweclimbthroughKinbraceandForsinardtotheline’ssummitatCountyMarch.WepassthroughGeorgemasJunctionandweheadnorthtoWick,Britain’smostdistantrailwayterminal.OvernightaccommodationinInverness.

Tuesday 19th AprilA free day in InvernessTodayyoucantakesometimeforyourselforjoinouroptionaltrip.

Tuesday 19th AprilOptional steam trip to the Kyle of LochalshHauledbyaformerLNERK42-6-061994,you’llenjoyafullScottishBreakfastsilverservedatyourseatsoonafterdeparture.PassingovertheCaledonianCanalontheClachnaharrySwingBridge,wetaketheKylelineatDingwall;possiblythemostsceniclineinthecountry.TheroutetakesusupRavenRockSummitandLuibSummitbeforetakingwateratAchnashellach,thendowntotheshoreofLochCarronforfineviewsofthelochsandmountains.AttheKyleofLochalshyou’llhavemorethantwoandahalfhoursfreetoexplore.There’salsoacoachtourtothefairytaleEileanDonanCastleandtoPortree,capitaloftheIsleofSkye.WereturntoInvernessintheafternoonandyou’llbeserveda2-courselunchatyourseatonthe

UK Tours - The Great Britain IV

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The Great Britain IV

The Great Britain III railtour was a great success despite the problem caused by the threatened strike. Although we had indicated that this may be the last one, we promised our customers on the train that we would run at least one more.We have re-introduced the original concept by running from John O’Groats to Lands End and all points in between. In 2011, for the first time, we run through to Wick.

Saturday 16th April to Sunday 24th April 2011

returnjourney.ArrivalinInvernessaround17:30foranovernightstay.Pleasenotethatthisoptionaltriphaslimitedaccommodation.

Wednesday 20th AprilInverness to Glasgow over the Highland Main LineWedepartInvernessafterbreakfasthauledby44871and45407doubleheaded.WebegintheclimbuptoSlochdSummit(1315ft)immediatelyonleavingInverness.Thisispossiblythemostgruellingclimbonthewholenetworkweclimbfor13milesat1in60followedbyanother10milesatmostly1in60,wedropdownthroughAviemorebeforecommencingtheclimbuptoDruimuachdar(1484ft),thehighestsummitonBritain’sRailways.WecontinuedownhillthroughBlairAtholandPitlochrytoPerth.OnleavingPerthwetaketheGlasgowmainlineclimbinguptoGleneaglesandDunblane.WewillenjoyfineviewsofStirlingCastle.OurjourneycontinuestoGlasgowCentralviaCumbernauld.WearriveinGlasgowlateafternoon.

Thursday 21st AprilGlasgow Central to Preston via the South WesternWedepartGlasgowmidmorninghauledbyRoyalScot4-6-046115ScotsGuardsmanandheadforPaisleyalongthelinetoAyr.ItisafastmainlineandweshouldmakegoodprogresstoNewton-on-Ayr.HerewejointhefreightonlylinetoMauchlineandwethenjointheGlasgowSouthWesternmainlineandtheoldstampinggroundoftheThamesClydeExpress,regularlyhauledinsteamdaysbyarebuiltRoyalScot.WethenclimbuptoDrumlanrigTunnelbeforedescendingdowntoDumfires.WewillcontinuealongsidetheSolwayFirthtoGretnaJunctionandontoCarlisle.OnleavingCarlisle,theScotsGuardsmancommencesitsassaultonShap.OnreachingthesummitwedescendthroughTebayandenterthepicturesqueLuneGorge.WearriveinPrestonlateafternoonandtransfertoourhotels.

Continuedoverleaf.


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Tour Summary

Premier ClassPrice per person: £2155 Single Supplement: £365

First ClassPrice per person: £1595 Single Supplement: £310

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £145 per person. (subject to availability)

Premier class includes:

• 8nightsovernightaccommodation andbreakfastin3and4-starhotels

• 8lunchesservedonthetrain

• 4breakfastsservedonthetrain

• 5dinnersand1Afternoontea silverservedatyourseatonthetrain

• SeatswillbeinFirstclassopen coacheswithcomfortabledeep cushionedPullmanstyleseats

• Apartfrombreakfast,othermealsat thehotelswillbeatyourownexpense

First class includes:

• Overnightaccommodation andbreakfastin3-starhotels

• CoffeeorteaandDanishpastries

• Afternoonteaandbiscuitsserved atyourseat

• SeatingisinFirstclassopencoaches withtablesfortwoorfour

• Apartfrombreakfastothermealsin hotelswillbeatyourownexpense

Lord of the Isles Optional trip to Kyle - 19.04.11Price: £167

ThisincludesaFirstclassreservedseat,fullScottishBreakfastand3-courselunchwithteaorcoffee.

Firstclassseatsarealsoavailableat£119includingmorningBreakfastBap,orangejuice,teaandcoffeeandafternoonteaandbiscuits

April 2011

M T W T F S S

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4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 1

Friday 22nd AprilThe Welsh Marches with a ScotAfterbreakfastwetransfertoPrestonstationwhereourtrainwillbewaitingforus.HauledbytherebuiltRoyalScotclass4-6-046100.WeheadsouthfromPrestonpassingthroughWarringtonbeforeenteringtheRomancityofChester.HeadingsouthonthesinglelinetoWrexhamwepauseatChirkforwater.WepassthroughShrewsbury,whichtakesusontothescenicWelshMarchesroutethroughLudlowandHereford.Fromhere,wetakethedifficultclimbuptoLlanvihangelSummitbeforewedescendthroughAbergavennytowardsNewport.WepassthroughtheSevernTunnelbeforeenteringBristolTempleMeads.Hereweleavethetrainandcheckintoourhotels.

Saturday 23rd AprilTwo Britannia’s to PenzanceAtBristolTempleMeadsourtwolocomotives70000Britanniaand70013OliverCromwellwillbewaitingtohaulourtraindoubleheadedtoPenzance.WeanticipateafastrunfromBristolacrosstheSomersetLevelstoTaunton.WethenclimbuptoWhiteballSummitontheborderof

SomersetandDevon.OnleavingExeterwefollowtheExeEstuarywithitspicturesquefishingboatviews,andrunontotheseawallnearDawlish.Fromhere,ourtwoBritanniaPacificswillbeabletodemonstratetheirtruepowerastheytacklesomeofthesteepestgradientsonmainlinesinthiscountry.FirstisthedifficultclimbofDaintonBankuptoDaintonTunnelbeforedroppingdowntoTotnes.HerestartstheequallydifficultclimbofRatteryBankbeforedescendingtoPlymouth.AfterPlymouthwecrossovertheTamarRiveronBrunel’smasterpiece,TheRoyalAlbertBridge.HedesignedthisbridgefortheCornwallRailwayCompanyafterParliamentrejectedhisoriginalplanforatrainferryacrosstheHamoaze.Itwasopenedin1859andhasfineviewsovertheEstuary.OurtraincontinuesthroughthewonderfulCornishcountryside,overhighslenderviaductsandthroughshorttunnelsflashingrefreshingviewsthroughourcarriagewindows.SoonwearriveatPenzancewhereyouhavealmosttwohourstoexplorethetown.WewillbeleavingourtwosteamlocomotivesatPenzance.AdiesellocomotivewilltakeusbacktoBristolTempleMeads.

Sunday 24th AprilReturn to London PaddingtonAfterbreakfastwejoinourspecialtrainatBristolTempleMeadsstationhauledbyGreatWesternCastleClasslocomotive5029NunneyCastle.WeheadeastwardsthroughBathandTrowbridgeandjointhescenicBerksandHantslinenearWestbury.FromPewseyweclimbtoSavernakeSummitbeforecontinuingthroughNewburyandReadingtoLondonPaddington-ourjourneysend!


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The Western Isles

MondayTo Scotland in StyleWewavegoodbyetoLondonKing’sCross,pickinguppassengersfromPeterborough,thenenjoyingathreecourselunchatourseats.WecollectmorepassengersatYorkandservetheirlunchondeparture.ThetraincontinuesitsjourneyalongtheEastCoastMainLineviaNewcastleandEdinburghandontoGlasgow.Fromthere,acoachtakesustoTheInverbegInnfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.ItsitsinbeautifulcountrysideonthebanksofLochLomondandenjoysstunningviewsofboththeLochandBenLomond,pridingitselfonitsexcellentcustomerservice.(LD)

TuesdayLake Cruise on Loch LomondWeenjoyaleisurelybreakfast,andperhapsastrollbytheLoch,beforeourcoachtakesustheshortdistancetoTarbetwherewehaveaprivatecruiseonLochLomondwithalightlunchprovided.WerejoinourcoachfortheshortdistancetoArrocharstationtocatchourtraintoFortWilliam,passingovertheremoteRannochMoorandarrivingat16:30tocheckintoourhotel.FortWilliamenjoysanenviablepositiononLochLinnhewiththemajesticBenNevis,at4,406feetBritain’shighestmountain,asitsbackdrop.(BLD)

WednesdayThe Jacobite and over the Sea to SkyeDescribedasoneofthegreatrailwayjourneysoftheworld,TheJacobitesteamtraintakesusfor42milesthroughsomeofthemostmagnificentscenerythatScotlandhastooffer.ApartfromthemountainandseaviewsitcrossestheworldfamoustwentyonearchGlenfinnanViaduct.ThefinaldestinationisMallaig,wherewehaveacoupleofhourstoexplorethetownandfishingport,findlunchandboardtheferryfortheIsleofSkye.AtArmadalewerejoinourcoachwhich,asalways,hasfolloweduswithourluggage,totraveltoourhotelinPortree.(BD)

ThursdaySkye and Harris IslandsOurcoachtakesusacrossSkyetoUig,pausingafewtimestotakeinthescenery.Ourferrydepartsataround14:00fortheoneandhalfhourcrossingtoTarbertontheIsleofHarris.WetravelonwardsthroughthebleaklandscapeofHarrisandLewistotheisland’scapital,Stornoway,wherewestayfortwonights.(BD)

FridayThe Isle of LewisTodaywehaveaguidedcoachtouroftheIsleofLewis,includingtheButtofLewiswithitslighthouseandtheCalanaisStoneCircle.Thesespectacularprehistoricstandingstones

formdramaticavenueswithacircleoflargemonolithsatthecentre,andwerealmosttotallycoveredwithpeatuntilthemid-19thcentury.Westopforlunchonourjourney.(BLD)

SaturdayLochinverThismorningwehavetimetoexploreStornoway.WejointheferryforUllapooltoreturntothemainlandbeforetravellingontoLochinver,apleasantvillagewithabeautifulharbourandamagnificentmountainbackdrop.WestayherefortwonightsattheluxuriousInverlodgeHotel,setonahillsideoverlookingthebay.Deeroftenappearoutside.Allroomshavesplendidviews.(BD)

SundayNorth West Scottish HighlandsOurcoachtakesustodiscovertheremote,impressivelandscapeoftheNorthWestHighlands,offeringdesertedsandybeachesandspectacularmountainscenery.ThetourpassesthroughScourieandLaxfordBridgebeforearrivingatDurness,wheretherewillbetimeforlunch.(BD)

UK Tours - The Western Isles

Scotland is just on your doorstep and it’s so beautiful! This wonderful tour explores the north west of Scotland, avoiding busy roads by making the journeys to and from the north by fast trains, travelling in comfortable first class. Highlights of the tour include visiting areas where other tours do not normally go, such as the Isles of Harris and Lewis and the beautiful region beyond Ullapool, plus a trip on The Jacobite steam train. A coach handling our luggage will accompany us throughout Scotland. We take advantage of the new contemporary First Class Lounge at King’s Cross offering you a peaceful space to relax prior to our journey.

Monday 23rd to Tuesday 31st May 2011 and Monday 1st August to Tuesday 9th August 2011

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MondayDunrobin Castle and InvernessWedepartbycoachalongmountainroadstoLairgandDunrobinCastle.DunrobinCastle,fromitshighterrace,looksoutacrosswonderfulgardenstotheseabeyond.Ahighlightofthevisitwillbethefalconrydisplay.WehavelunchintheCastlebeforetransferringtoGolspiestationwhereweboardthetraintoInverness.Uponarrivalwecheckintoourhotel.(BLD)

TuesdayThe Highland Chieftain back to LondonWeboardtheHighlandChieftainforaheartyScottishbreakfast,servedatourfirstclassseatsaswepassthroughtheHighlands;awonderfulexperience.OurtraincontinuesthroughPerth,Edinburgh,NewcastleandYorktoLondonKing’sCross.Lunchwillalsobeservedonourjourneysouth.(BL)

Approximate timings Depart ReturnLondonKing’sCross 11:00 15:50Peterborough 11:46 15:45*York 12:51 13:52Glasgow 16:25 -------Inverness ------- 07:55*ChangeatYork

UK Tours - The Western Isles

Tour Summary

Price per person £1375 Single supplement £280

Price includes:

• FirstclassrailtravelfromLondonto GlasgowandInvernesstoLondon withat-seatdining

• 8nightshalfboardaccommodationin 3-starhotels

• 8Dinners

• 5Lunches

• FirstclassrailtravelonTheJacobite fromFortWilliamtoMallaig

• StandardclassrailtravelbetweenArrochar andFortWilliamandGolspieandInverness (FirstClassnotprovidedonthesetrains)

• Theservicesofatourmanager

Mealsincludedeachdayareshownas:B=Breakfast-L=Lunch-D=Dinner

Pleasenote,FirstClassisNOTavailableontheothertrainswithinourprogramme.

May 2011

M T W T F S S

25 26 27 28 29 30 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31 1 2 3 4 5

August 2011

M T W T F S S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 1 2 3 4

EdinburghGlasgow

Stirling

HelmsdaleStornaway

Ullapool

Inverness

Perth

Uig

MallaigFort William

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The Cock O’The North

ThursdayHighland Chieftain to InvernessTheHighlandChieftaintrainleavesLondonKingsCross,boundforInvernessviaPeterboroughandYork.AswespeedalongtheEastCoastMainlineatwocourselunchwillbeservedatourseats.ContinuingnorthwardswepassthroughNewcastle,EdinburghandPerthtoInverness.DinnerwillbeservedasweheadthroughScotland.AtInvernesswecheckintoour3-starhotelfortwonights.(LD)

FridayStrathspey Railway and the Keith and Dufftown RailwayOurcoachtakesustoAviemorewherewejoinasteamhauledtrainontheStrathspeyRailwaytoBroomhillandback.WiththeCairngormMountainscloseby,theareaisafavouritetouristattractionbecauseofitsnaturalbeauty.OurcoachtakesusfromAviemoretoDufftown,wherelunchwillbeservedintheBufferStop,arailwayrestaurantcar.TheKeithandDufftownRailway’sWhiskyLinerunsforelevenmilesthroughsomeofScotland’smostpicturesquescenery,takinginbeautifulforests,farmlandanddistilleries.Wemakethereturntripinavintagedieselmultipleunit.Tofinishtheday,wevisitatraditionalHighlandwhiskydistillerybeforereturningtoourhotelinInverness.(BLD)

SaturdayInverness to Kyle of Lochalsh by TrainAfteratraditionalScottishbreakfastweleaveInvernessforKyleofLochalshbytrain.WepassthroughforestsalongsidelakesoverlookedbymountainsthenrunalongtheshoresofLochCarron,aseainlet.ThelinehasbeenvotedoneofthemostscenicinBritain.Ourluggageistransportedbyprivatelycharteredcoach,whichfollowsourprogressoverthenextfourdays.TimetohavealookaroundKyleofLochalshbeforewecontinueourjourneybycoachovertheSkyeBridgetoPortree,themaintownandcapitaloftheIsleofSkye,knownforitspicturesqueharbour.WetransfertoTheRoyalHotelwhichwillbeourbaseforthenexttwonights.(BD)

SundayTour of SkyeOurtourguideforthedaywilltakeusonafascinatingtouroftheisland.WewillseetheBlackCuillins,mountainsofjaggedbarerockwithtwelvesummitsabove3,000feet.WereturntoPortreewheretherewillbetimetoexploreandhavelunch.Wewillvisitthenorthoftheisland,includingtheFloraMacDonaldMemorialCrossandtheromanticandhistoricDunveganCastle,ancienthomeoftheMacLeods.Skyeisrenownedforitsspectacularscenery,vibrantcultureandheritage,aswellasitsabundantwildlifeincludingthegoldeneagle,seaeagle,reddeerandotter.

Asalwayswewillstopthecoachtotakepictureswhenappropriate.(BD)

MondayFerry to Mallaig for Jacobite Steam Train TripAfterbreakfastwesayfarewelltoPortreeandheadsouthtoArmadalewherewecatchtheferrytoMallaig,aboatjourneyofthirtyminutes.OnarrivalatMallaigtherewillbetimetoenjoyapicniclunchbeforejoiningTheJacobitesteamhauledtraintoFortWilliamforanotherunforgettablejourney.Describedasoneofthegreatrailwayjourneysoftheworld,theJacobitetakesusforfortytwomilesthroughsomeofthemostmagnificentscenerythatScotlandhastooffer.ApartfromthemountainandseaviewsitcrossestheworldfamoustwentyonearchesoftheGlenfinnanViaduct.OnarrivalatFortWilliamwerejoinourcoachforthejourneytoInvernessthroughtheGreatGlenwithitsmanylochs.WewillalsotravelthewholelengthofthefamousLochNess.AtInvernesswecheckintoourhotel.(BLD)

TuesdayThe Highland Chieftain back to LondonWedepartearlyonboardtheHighlandChieftain,infirstclassseats,tobeservedaScottishbreakfastaswepassthroughtheHighlands;awonderfulexperience.OurtraincontinuesthroughPerth,EdinburghandNewcastlebackto

UK Tours - The Cock O’The North

This tour lets you explore Scotland avoiding busy roads, using fast trains and travelling first class to and from the North. Highlights of the tour include preserved steam railways, the spectacular train journeys from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and from Mallaig to Fort William, plus two nights on the Isle of Skye. A special coach handles our luggage, accompanying us throughout the Scottish part of our trip. We take advantage of the new contemporary First Class Lounge at King’s Cross offering you a peaceful space to relax prior to our journey.

Thursday 23rd to Tuesday 28th June 2011 and Thursday 1st to Tuesday 6th September 2011

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YorkandLondonKingsCross.Lunchwillalsobeservedonourjourneysouth.(BL)

Approximate timings Depart ReturnLondonKing’sCross 12:00 15:50Peterborough 12:47 15:45*York 14:02 13:52Aviemore 19:29 -------Inverness 20:08 07:55*ChangeatYork

UK Tours - The Cock O’The North

Tour Summary

Price per person London £1095 Peterborough £1070 York £1040 Single supplement £140

Price includes:

• London,PeterboroughorYorkto Invernessandbackwithat-seatdining

• 5nightsdinner,bedandbreakfast atgoodquality3-starhotels

• 4lunches

• OurowncoachforthedurationinScotland tocarrytheluggagewhileyouenjoythe trainrides

• Alltraintravel,transfersandtours

• Reservedseats



June 2011

M T W T F S S

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6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

September 2011

M T W T F S S

29 30 31 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 1 2

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Perth

Stirling

Boat of GartenKyle

Ft. William

Skye

Mallaig

InvernessBroomhill

KeithDufftown

Edinburgh

To the South

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The Summer Highlander

Thursday 7th JulyHighland Chieftain to ScotlandAtmiddaytheHighlandChieftaintrainleavesLondonKing’sCrossboundforInverness,stoppingatPeterboroughandYorktocollectfurtherpassengers.AswespeedalongtheEastCoastMainLineatwocourselunchwillbeservedatourseats.ContinuingnorthwardswepassthroughNewcastle,EdinburghandPerthtoAviemorewherewetransferbyroadcoachtoourhotelinFortWilliam.DinnerwillbeservedaswetravelthroughScotland.(LD)

Friday 8th JulyThe Jacobite and over the Sea to SkyeDescribedasoneofthegreatrailwayjourneysoftheworld,TheJacobitesteamtraintakesusfor42milesthroughsomeofthemostmagnificentscenerythatScotlandhastooffer.Apartfromstunningmountainandseaviews,itcrossestheworldfamoustwentyonearchGlenfinnanViaduct.ThefinaldestinationisMallaig,wherewehaveanhourtoexplorethisattractivefishingportandthenboardtheferryfortheIsleofSkye.AtArmadalewerejoinourcoachwhich,asalways,hasfolloweduswithourluggage.WetravelthroughKyleakinandBroadfordonthepicturesqueIsleofSkyebeforecrossingthefamousSkyeBridge,whichlinksSkyetotheKyleofLochalsh.AtKyleofLochalshweboardthelateafternoonservicetraintoInvernessalongoneofEurope’smostsceniclines.Runningalongside

LochCarron,enjoyingsuperbviewsoftheLochandmountains,wepassthroughforestsandbesidedelightfullakesbeforearrivinginInvernessaround19:00.Wetransfertoourhotelwhichwillbeourbasefor3nights.Dinnerwillbeservedatourhotel.(BD)

Saturday 9th JulyThe Far NorthBreakfastisservedinthehotelrestaurantbeforewedepartbycoachtoDunrobinCastle.Hereapiperwillgreetusandleadustothecastleperchedhighabovetheseashore.Atourofthecastleanditsgrounds,withafalconrydisplay,awaitsusbeforeweenjoyalightlunch.WerejoinourcoachandcontinuenorthboundtoJohno’GroatswithitstinyharbourandviewsacrossthePentlandFirthtotheOrkneys.WevisittheCastleofMeybeforecontinuingonboardourcoachtoThursoStation.HerewejoinourScotRailservicetraintoInverness.Therailwaytakesadifferentroutetotheroad,soyou’llenjoyafreshperspectiveontheregion’swonderfulscenery.OnarrivalatInvernesswetransferbacktoourhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Sunday 10th JulyThe Strathspey and Keith & Dufftown RailwaysOurcoachtakesustoAviemorewherewejoinasteamhauledtrainontheStrathspeyRailwaytoBroomhillandback.Oursteamlocomotivewill

takeusslowlythroughthecountryside,withtheCairngormMountainsinview;anareafamousforitsstunningnaturalbeauty.OnarrivingbackatAviemore,ourcoachtakesustoDufftownwherelunchwillbeservedintheBufferStop,arailwayrestaurantcar.TheKeithandDufftownRailway,alsoknownasTheWhiskyLine,runsforelevenmilesthroughsomeofScotland’smostpicturesquescenerywithforest,farmlandanddistilleries.Wemakethereturntripinavintagedieselmultipleunit.Towinduptheday,wehaveavisittoatraditionalHighlandwhiskydistillerybeforereturningtoourhotelinInverness.(BLD)

Monday 11th JulyThe Highland Chieftain back to LondonTheHighlandChieftainleavesInvernessat07:55.Wehavefirstclassseats,andwewillbeservedaheartyScottishbreakfastaswepassthroughtheHighlands,awonderfulexperience.OurtraincontinuesthroughPerth,EdinburghandNewcastlebacktoYorkandLondonarrivinginKingsCrossjustbefore16:00.Athree-courselunchwillalsobeservedonourjourneysouth.(BL)

UK Tours - The Summer Highlander

This tour allows us to explore Scotland, avoiding busy roads by making the journeys to and from the north by fast trains, made even more enjoyable by travelling first class. Highlights of the tour include preserved steam railways, the spectacular train journeys from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and from Mallaig to Fort William, and the Isle of Skye. We are accompanied throughout Scotland by a coach that will handle our luggage. We take advantage of the new contemporary First Class Lounge at King’s Cross offering you a peaceful space to relax prior to our journey.

Thursday 7th July to Monday 11th July 2011

DerekPhillips

13

Approximate timings Depart ReturnLondonKing’sCross 12:00 15:50Peterborough 12:47 15:45*York 13:58 13:52Aviemore 19:29 -------Inverness ------- 07:55*ChangeatYork

Pleasenote:AlthoughTheRailwayTouringCompanymakeseveryefforttoensurethatitstripsruntoschedule,alltimesaboveareapproximateandsubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice.

UK Tours - The Summer Highlander

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• FirstclassrailtravelintheHighland ChieftainandontheJacobiteSteamtrain

• Standardclassrailtravelbetween KyleofLochalshandInvernessand betweenThursoandInverness (FirstClassnotprovidedonthesetrains)

• 4nightsaccommodationina twin,doubleorsingleroom

• 4breakfasts,4lunchesand4dinners (1breakfast,2lunchesand1dinner willbeservedonthetrain,otherbreakfasts anddinnerswillbeservedinthehotels.)


July 2011

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25 26 27 28 29 30 31

14

Snowdonia and the Northern Fells

FridayExplore LiverpoolWemeetattheHolidayInnHotelinLiverpool,locatedoppositeLimeStreetStation,whichwillbeourbasefortwonights.Arriveatyourleisuregivingyoutime,ifyouwish,toexplorethisfinecity.DinnerandovernightaccommodationisattheHolidayInnHotel.(D)

SaturdayCumbrian Mountain ExpressTodaywejoinoursteamchartertrainthe‘CumbrianMountainExpress’atLiverpoolLimeStreet.WewillhaveanimpressiveexitfromLimeStreetStation,hauledbyamagnificentPacificlocomotive“DuchessofSutherland”or“DukeofGloucester”,andsoonafterwardsbreakfastwillbeservedatourseats.HeadingnorththroughPreston,weskirttheLakeDistrictbeforeenteringtheLuneValley.OursteamlocomotivewillbefullyextendedaswebeginourascenttothesummitofShapFell.DescendingthroughPenrithNorthLakes,wehaltatCarlisleforatwohourbreak.LeavingCarlislewejointheSettleandCarlisleRailway,climbingupthroughLangwathbyandCulgaithandpausingforwateratthemarkettownofAppleby.SpectacularsceneryfollowsasweclimbthesteepgradienttoAisGillsummitandpassthroughDentDale,withthePeaksofWhernside,IngleboroughandPen-y-Ghentdominatingthelandscape.Twentymajorviaductsandfourteentunnelsculminateinthemagnificent

24archRibbleheadViaduct.AswecontinuebacktoLiverpoolLimeStreet,weenjoyafourcoursedinner,silver-servedatourseats.WestayovernightattheHolidayInninLiverpool.(BLD)

SundaySteam along the North Wales Coast to BangorAfterbreakfastwejoinourspecialsteamhauled‘NorthWalesCoastExpress’trainatLiverpoolLimeStreetStationandtakeourreserved1stclassseats.Hauledby6201“PrincessElizabeth”,wetaketheLiverpooltoManchesterRailwayrouteof1830beforejoiningtheWestCoastMainLinetoWarrington.OnleavingChesterwecrosstheRiverDeeandenterWales,runningalongtheDeeEstuaryandthenbesidetheIrishSeaaswepassPrestatynandRhyl.Thiscoastlineisknownforitsstunningbeachesand,atColwynBay,wehavefantasticviewsoftheGreatOrme.RunningclosetotheIrishSeawethenpassthroughseveralsmallseasideresortsbeforearrivingatBangor.WetransferbycoachtoPenrhynCastle,adramaticneo-Normanfantasybuiltintheearly19thCenturyforawealthyWelshfamily.Itiscrammedwithfascinatingobjects,hasextensivegrounds,andastableblockwhichcontainsanindustrialrailwaymuseum,dollsandmodelrailwaymuseums.AfterwardsourcoachtakesusacrossAngleseytoHolyheadwherewerejoinoursteamtrainforthereturnjourneytoBangor.Wetransferbycoachto

Caernarfonandcheckintoour3-starhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BD)

MondayThe Snowdon Mountain and Welsh Highland RailwaysThismorningwetransfertoLlanberisStationforasteamtripontheSnowdonMountainRailway,withitswonderfulsummitviews.BackinLlanberistherewillbesomefreetimetoexplorethisdelightfulSnowdoniantownandtakelunch.IntheafternoonwetakeatriponthenewlycompletedWelshHighlandRailwayfromCaernarfontoPorthmadog,throughthemagnificentSnowdoniaNationalPark.Thisfantasticfortymilesteamhauledjourney,bytwofootnarrowgaugeGarrattlocomotives,beginsclosetoCaernarfonCastle,passesthroughspectacularmountainscenery,Beddgelert,andthefamousAberglaslynPass.WearriveatPorthmadogfromwherewetransferbycoachtoourhotelinLlandudno,fordinnerandovernightaccommodation.IftheWelshHighlandRailwayhasnotextendeditsoperationstoPorthmadog,wewilltakeyouascloseaspossiblebytrain.(BD)

TuesdayA Steam Spectacular up to Blaneau FfestiniogAfterbreakfastwetakearideonthe3’6”gaugeGreatOrmeTramwayfromLlandudnoVictoria

UK Tours - Snowdonia and the Northern Fells

This wonderful steam tour to Cumbria and around North Wales features four main line steam runs. We experience the magnificent Cumbrian Mountain Express, the exciting North Wales Coast Express, The Cambrian and The Welsh Mountaineer. As an extra highlight, we will travel over the railway wonder of the 21st Century, the rebuilt Welsh Highland Railway. We also travel on the Ffestiniog, Llangollen and Welshpool and Llanfair Railways. All in all a steam epic! With limited spaces available, we recommend early booking to secure a place.

Friday 5th to Thursday 11th August 2011 and Friday 19th to Thursday 25th August 2011

TobySmith(Age14)

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StationtoGreatOrmeSummitStation.AfterwardswegotoLlandudnoJunctionStationtojoin‘TheWelshMountaineer’specialsteamtraintoBlaenauFfestiniog.ItwillbehauledbyaformerLMSBlack5alongthisincrediblysteepbranchline,climbinguphillintoSnowdoniathroughBetws-y-CoedandPont-y-PanttoBlaneauFfestiniog.TherewillbeovertwohourstoexploreBlaneauFfestiniogandfindlunchbeforeweretraceourstepsdownhilltoLlandudnoJunction.OursteamhauledtraincontinuesalongtheNorthWalesCoasttoChesterwherewehopetoarriveby19:00.DinnerandovernightaccommodationisattheQueenHotelChester.(BD)

Wednesday Steam on Standard and Narrow Gauge Heritage Railways AfterbreakfastweleavetheQueenHotelbycoachandtraveltoLlangollen.HerewejoinaLlangollenRailwaysteamhauledtraintotravelalongthebeautifulDeeValleytoCarrogandback.WecontinuebycoachfromLlangollentothehistoricmarkettownofWelshpool,wherewebeginourjourneyonthepicturesque2’6”gaugeWelshpoolandLlanfairRailway.WetakeanenjoyablesteamhauledridethroughthedelightfulBanwyValleytoLlanfairCaereinion,andreturntoWelshpool.WethencontinuebycoachtoourhotelinShrewsburyfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BD)

ThursdayThe CambrianWetravelfromShrewsburybyservicetrainthroughMidWalesoverTalerddigsummittoMachynlleth.Hereweboard‘TheCambrian’steamhauledtrain,andheadnorthonthepicturesquelinealongtheCambrianCoast.WepassthroughAberdoveyandcrosstheAfonMawddachEstuaryonthewoodenBarmouthBridgewhereweenjoymagnificentviews,enroutetoBarmouthandPorthmadog.AtPorthmadogtherewillbetimetoenjoylunchbeforewejoinasteamhauledtrainontheFfestiniogRailwaytoBlaenauFfestiniog.FromherewereturntoLiverpoolbycoach,callingatChesterStationonthewayfortheconvenienceofcustomerswhomaywishtocatchatraintherefortheirhomewardjourney.(B)

UK Tours - Snowdonia and the Northern Fells

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• 6nightsaccommodationwith breakfastin3or4-starhotels

• 6dinnersand1lunch

• Allseatreservationsandcoachtransfers



August 2011

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BobGreen

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The West Highlander Steam Express

Friday 9th SeptemberA Royal Scot from Preston to GlasgowOurtrainwillbediesel-hauledfromCreweandcalltopickupmorepassengersatWilmslow,Stockport,ManchesterVictoria,Bolton,andPreston,wherepassengersfromotherpartsofthecountrycanjointhetrainbyconnectingservices.WeleavePrestonhauledbysteamlocomotiveNo.46115“ScotsGuardsman”andheadnorth,passingthroughLancaster.AfterOxenholmeLakeDistrict,thegradientbeginstoincreaseandoursteamlocomotivewillbegintoworkhardasweclimbuptoGrayriggSummit.WepassthroughthescenicLuneGorgeandTebaybeforecommencingourassaultonthedramaticShapFell,amajorobstacleinthedaysofsteam.OnarrivalatCarlisletherewillbeabreakwhileoursteamlocomotiveisserviced.WecrosstheborderintoScotlandatGretnaand,afterLockerbie,faceaformidableclimbuptoBeattockSummit.TheroutethendropsdownthroughundulatingcountrysidetoCarstairsandGlasgowCentralStation.WetransfertoGlasgowhotelsforovernightaccommodation.

Saturday 10th SeptemberThe Spectacular West Highland Line to MallaigWetransfertoGlasgowCentralStationforanearlydeparture,ataround07:00.Today,our

specialtrainwillbehauledbytwo“Black5”steamlocomotivesforthejourneytoFortWilliam.WetravelaroundtheoutskirtsofGlasgowtowardstheWestHighlandLine.WeshallsoonbepassingwithinsightofthefamousRiverClydebetweenDalmuir,Dumbarton,andCraigendoran.AfterabriefstopatArrocharStationwewitnessthetranquilbeautyofLochLomond.WeleaveCrainlarich,wheretheObanlinebranchesoff,andheadforthewildanddesolateRannochMoor.WepassbyLochTreigandthroughtheamazingMonessieGorge.ThehighestmountaininScotlandat4,418ft,BenNevis,comesintoviewasweapproachFortWilliamaroundlunchtime.Herewehaveashortbreakandadifferentsteamlocomotive,K1classNo.62005,comesontoourtrainforthejourneytoMallaigandback.WecrosstheimpressiveCaledonianCanalatBanavieandrunbesideLochLinnhe.ThesplendidcurvedGlenfinnanViaductisamasterpieceofengineeringfamousinitsownrightbutgivengreaterprominencerecentlythroughtheHarryPotterfilms.Taketheopportunitytophotographit,it’safabuloussight.WearetravellingthroughsomeofthemostbreathtakingscenerythatScotlandhastooffer.Thebeautifulcoloursoftheglensandlochsstandoutincontrastagainstthesombretonesofthemountains.ThereareviewsoftheAtlanticOceananddistantislandsbeforewearriveatMallaig.Herewe

haveabreakandanopportunitytoexplorethisfishingandferryport,totakealeisurelystrolltosamplethebracingseaair,tospendsometimeshopping,orenjoyingtheexcellenttraditionalfishandchips!WereturntoFortWilliam,makeourwaytoourhotelsforovernightaccommodationandmaybe‘aweedramortwo’!

Sunday 11th SeptemberFort William, Oban and GlasgowAt10:00,afteraheartytraditionalScottishbreakfast,weleaveFortWilliam,steamhauledbyourtwoclass5(Black5’s”)4-6-0locomotives.ClimbingoutofFortWilliamthroughthespectacularsceneryoftheMonessieGorge,wepassRoyBridge,andthentacklethesteepestpartoftheclimbuptoCorrour,thesecondhighestsummitonBritishrailways.WecrossRannochMoorandcontinuethroughTyndrumUppertoCrainlarichwhereourlocostakeonwaterand‘runround’ourtrain.WesetoffforOban,passingthroughTyndrumLowerandcontinuingthroughthemagnificentsceneryofLochAweandtheFallsofCruachan.SoonafterpassingTaynuiltwearriveattheterminusoftheline,Oban,wheretherewillbeabreakforlunch.AssoonasweleaveObanwebeginanawesomeclimbwhereour“Black5’s”willbeworkingflatouttoreachthesummit.WebeginourdescenttoConnelFerryandTaynuilt,retracingourroute

UK Tours - The West Highlander Steam Express

Join us for an exhilarating four day tour around the Western Highlands of Scotland on our own exclusive steam hauled chartered train, featuring four different steam locomotives. The tour begins in Crewe and picks up further passengers at Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester Victoria, Bolton, and Preston where there are good connections from London, Birmingham, The Midlands and the North of England. Our train will be hauled by an LMS Royal Scot class, two “Black 5’s”, and an LNER K1 class steam locomotives. It offers the option of travel in Premier Class, with a full meal service served at your seat, First Class or Standard Class. A buffet car will be included in the train.

Friday 9th September to Monday 12th September 2011

DerekPhillips

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toCrainlarich,whereourlocomotivesstopforwater.WefaceanotherstiffclimbuptoGlenDouglasbeforereachingGarelochheadwherewechangelocomotives.Wearediesel-hauledforthedescenttoHelensburghandtheClydeValleyandtheonwardjourneytoGlasgowCentral.

Monday 12th SeptemberJourney HomeWedepartGlasgowCentralat09:30hauledbyNo.46115“ScotsGuardsman”travellingbytheGlasgowandSouthWesternroutethroughPaisleyandDalrytoNewtononAyr.HerewetakethefreightonlylinetoMauchlineJunctionwherewejointheGlasgowandSouthWesternMainLine.WecontinuethroughKirkconnel,DumfriesandGretnatoCarlisle.WecontinuesteamhauledclimbinguptoShapsummit,andthendescendtopassthroughCarnforthandLancasterenroutetoPreston.AtPrestonadiesellocomotivetakesoverourtrainfortherestofthejourneytoCreweviaBolton,ManchesterVictoria,StockportandWilmslow.

The locomotives:TheWestHighlanderSteamExpresswillbehauledinturnbyfourdifferentsteamlocomotives.

LMS Royal Scot Class 4-6-0 No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” Preston–GlasgowandreturnGlasgow–Preston2 x LMS ‘Black 5’ Class 4-6-0 Glasgow–FortWilliam–Oban–GlasgowLNER K1 Class 2-6-0 No. 62005 FortWilliam–Mallaig–FortWilliam

Approximate TimingsFriday 9th SeptemberCrewe 07:00Wilmslow 07:20Stockport 07:30ManchesterVictoria 08:10Bolton 09:30Preston 10:20GlasgowCentral 17:55

Saturday 10th September GlasgowCentral 06:30Crainlarich 10:35FortWilliam 12:50–13:15Mallaig 15:00–17:00FortWilliam 18:50

Sunday 11th September FortWilliam 09:00Crainlarich 12:00–12:30Oban 14:00–15:00Crainlarich 16:30GlasgowCentral 19:30

Monday 12th September GlasgowCentral 09:30Preston 16:00Bolton 16:40ManchesterVictoria 17:00Stockport 17:20Wilmslow 17:30Crewe 18:00

UK Tours - The West Highlander Steam Express

Tour Summary

Price per person Premier Class £835 First Class £635 Standard Class £475

Premier Class price includes:

• 3nightshotelaccommodation inGlasgowandFortWilliam

• 4breakfasts,4lunchesand3dinners silverservedatyourseatonthetrain

• Firstclassaccommodationonthetrain

Singlesupplement£90.00Tablefortwosupplement£50.00perperson

First Class price includes

• 3nightshotelaccommodationand breakfastinGlasgowandFortWilliam

• DinnerinFortWilliam

• Firstclassaccommodationonthetrain

Singlesupplement£90.00Tablefortwosupplement£50.00perperson

Standard Class price includes

• 3nightshotelaccommodationand breakfastinGlasgowandFortWilliam

• DinnerinFortWilliam

• Standardclassaccommodationonthetrain

Singlesupplement£69.00


September 2011

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DerekPhillips

Bob Green

18

Snow, Ice and Steam in the Balkans

Saturday 5th MarchSofiaOurflightwithBritishAirwaystakesusdirectfromLondonHeathrow,departingapproximately08:00toSofiaarrivingabout13:00,wherewecheckintoour4-starhotel.Intheafternoon,wehavearrangedacitytourandatramride.Dinnerisatourhotel.(D)

Sunday 6th MarchSteam Train to VelingradWedepartSofiahauledbya4-6-2steamlocomotiveNo.05.01andheadforSeptemvri.Alightlunchwillbeservedintherestaurantcaronthetrain.AtSeptemvriwetransfertoourspecialnarrowgaugetrainhauledbyaverylarge2-10-4tanklocomotiveNo.609.76.Ourclimbintothemountainstakesusthroughdramaticgorgeswithfastflowingrivers,beforearrivingatVelingrad,awintersportsresorthighinthemountains.OnarrivalwetransfertotheHotelVelingradfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Monday 7th MarchTo DobrinishteWerejoinoursteamhauledtrainatVelingradStation.OndepartureNo.609.76willbeworkinghardasweclimbthroughthemagnificentsceneryofthesnowcoveredRilaMountains.AlongthewaywepassthroughthehigheststationintheBalkans(Avramavo1627metres),eventually

arrivingatBanskoandthenDobrinishtelaterintheafternoon.Wewillhaveapicniclunchenroute.Bansko,amajortouristresort,standsinabeautifulspotinthePirinMountains.WereturntoVelingradbycoachtoourhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Tuesday 8th MarchSteam through the Balkan Mountain RangeAfterbreakfastwereturntoSeptemvribycoachwhereourspecialsteamhauledchartertrainwillbewaitingforus,hauledbyPacificNo.05.01.OurlocomotivehaulsusviaPlovdivandDolnaMahalatoKarlovo.Wecontinuesteamhauledby05.01throughKilsuraandPirdop.ThelinerunsalongavalleybetweentheStrednaGoraandStaraPlaninaBalkanMountainRanges,andisveryscenic,withpotentiallyawesomewinterlandscape.WesteamintoSofiaStationandtransferbycoachtoour4-starhotelinSofia.(BLD)

Wednesday 9th MarchSteam south from Sofia towards GreeceAfterbreakfastwetransfertoSofiaStationwhereweboardourspecialsteamtrainhauledbya16class2-10-0.WetraveloutviathemountainlinethroughPernikbeforetakingthesteeplygradedGyueshevobranchatRadomir.WehopeforsomespiritedrunpastsbeforewearriveatGyueshevo.WereturntoRadomirwhereMikadoNo.01.23takesoverforoursouthbound

runthroughDupnitsaandStrumjandtoSandanski.OnarrivalatSandanskiwecheckintothe4-starInterHotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Thursday 10th MarchCrossing the Greek Border by Steam and on to VolosAfterbreakfastwerejoinourtrainhauledbythe01MikadoandwecontinuesouthtoKulatawherewegothroughcustomsandimmigrationformalitiesbeforeenteringGreece(asbothcountriesareEUmembersthatshouldbemucheasierthaninthepast).WecontinuesouthintoGreecethroughStrymonasandDoiranitoThessaloniki.Onarrivalwehavearrangedacitytouroravisittothelocomotivedepotandthedumpedsteamlocomotives.Dinnerandovernightaccommodationareina4-starhotelinThessaloniki.(BLD)

Friday 11th MarchSteam Train to SofiaAfterbreakfastwetransferbycoachtoThessalonikiwhereweboardourspecialsteamcharterbacktoSofiahauledbyMikado01.23.Thenorthboundjourneyissteeplygradedinparts.WetakethemainlinethroughoutarrivingintoSofiabyearlyevening.(BD)

European Tours - Snow, Ice and Steam in the Balkans

This new tour gives customers the opportunity to travel through some of the most scenic and mountainous areas of Bulgaria and Northern Greece.We expect there to be a reasonable amount of snow in Bulgaria particularly in the Bansko area, terminus of the narrow gauge railway line from Septemvri.This tour will also see the first trains hauled by newly restored German Pacific 05.01.

Saturday 5th March to Saturday 12th March 2011

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Saturday 12th MarchReturn to UKAfterbreakfasttherewillbefreetimetoexploreSofia.Ataround12:00wetransferfromourhoteltoSofiaAirportforourreturnflighttoLondonHeathrow.(B)

European Tours - Snow, Ice and Steam in the Balkans

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• 7nightshotelaccommodation withbreakfasts

• 7dinners

• 5lunches

• FlightsfromLondonHeathrow toSofiaandreturn



March 2011

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20

Alpine Adriatic Express to Split

Friday 1st April London to NurembergWehaveamorningdeparturebyEurostarfromLondonStPancrastoBrusselsforouronwardtrainjourneytoNuremberg,wherewetransfertoourhotelforovernightaccommodation.TheeveningmealisnotincludedthiseveningprovidinganopportunitytodineoutinthecityofNuremberg.(L)

Saturday 2nd April Alpine Adriatic Express through AustriaAfterbreakfastwejointhe1960’sSpecialNostalgicTrain“AlpineAdriaticExpress”.WetravelsouthwardsthroughGermanystoppingatvariouspointsenroutetoSalzburg,Austria.WecontinuethroughAustriacrossingtheAlpsbythefascinatingTauernbahn,amountainlinewithan8.5km(5.5miles)summittunnel,intoCarinthia,thesouthernmostAustrianstate.IntheeveningthetrainarrivesatVillach,alivelycityontheRiverDrava(Drau)whichhasretaineditshistoriccharacter.WestayovernightattheHolidayInn.(B)

Sunday 3rd April By Train to Llubljana, SloveniaWehavetheluxuryoftravellingwithoutourluggagefortherestofthejourneyasitwillbetransferreddirectlytoourhotels.Afterbreakfast,wecontinueonourspecialNostalgicTrainthroughtheKarawankenTunnelwherewecross

theborderintoSlovenia.WepassthroughtheValleyoftheRiverSavabeforearrivinginLlubljana,thecapitalofSlovenia.Wehaveaguidedtourofthecitywhichisdominatedbyitscastle,andwellknownforitsartandarchitecture,especiallyitscentralsquareandDragonBridge.ThereisanoptionalvisittotheSlovenianRailwayMuseum,whichincludesacollectionofmorethan60steamlocomotives.Dinnerandovernightaccommodationisatthe5-starLevHotelinLlubljana.(BD)

Monday 4th April Postojna Caves; Adriatic Sea at Opatija, Croatia Afterbreakfast,wetransferbycoachtoLlubljanarailwaystationwhereweboardourNostalgicTraintocontinueourjourneytowardsKarst-Gebirge.ThemostremarkableoriginalstructurealongtherouteisthecurvedJelenovViaductintheBorovniciarea.WebreakourjourneyinPostonjatovisitthelongestpubliclyaccessiblecavesystemintheworld.WetakeanelectricnarrowgaugetrainintothePostojnaCavestoseethestalactitesandanaquariumcontainingolms,thelargesttrogloditicamphibianintheworld.WerejoinourtrainforthejourneyovertheKarstHillstowardsPivka,andcrosstheCroatianborderbeforeSapjane.WebeginthefascinatingdescenttosealevelwithmagnificentviewsovertheGulfofKvarner.Laterintheafternoon,wearriveattheAdriaticseasideresortofOpatija.Herewe

transferbycoachtothe5-starHotelAmabassadorfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BD)

Tuesday 5th April By train through the Mountains to SplitToday,wetravelbycoachalongthecoasttoRijeka,theprincipalseaportofCroatia.WejoinourspecialtrainandonceitleavesRijekaStationitbeginsclimbingintothemountains,usingnumerousloops,fromwheretherearewonderfulviewsofthecityofRijekaandtheAdriaticSea.TheroutefollowstheRiverDobraandeventuallyreachesOgulinJunction.ThereisamarkedchangeinthelandscapewithfirandoaktreesinthewoodedKarstarea.WebreakourjourneyatVrhovineandtravelbycoachtothePlitviceLakesNationalPark,aUNESCOWorldHeritageSite,andconsideredtobeoneofthemostbeautifulnaturalsightsinEurope.Hereweenjoyanextensivecoachtouroftheparkwhichisworldfamousforitslakes,aswellasitsuniquefloraandfauna.WereturntoourtrainandcontinueourjourneyinasoutherlydirectiontravellingthroughLika,amountainousregionincentralCroatia.TheKarstlandscapeisbothimpressiveandvaried.IntheeveningwearriveatSplit,ontheAdriaticCoast,andtransferbycoachtothe5-starAtriumHotelfordinnerandthreenightsaccommodation.(BD)

European Tours - Alpine Adriatic Express to Split

This tour provides an opportunity for a one-off journey by special train through Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. It includes sightseeing tours of Lubljana, Split, and Zagreb together with visits to the Postojna Caves, Plitvice Lakes National Park, and Krka Waterfalls.We travel in reserved 1st Class seats (4 persons in a compartment) on the IGE Nostalgic special train “Alpine Adriatic Express” to Split and back.

Friday 1st April to Monday 11th April 2011

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Wednesday 6th April Exploring Split & TrogirAfterbreakfast,wehaveasightseeingtouroftheancientcityofSplit;itshistoriccentreisincludedintheUNESCOlistofWorldHeritageSites.SplitisfamousforDiocletian’sPalace,builtbytheRomanEmperor,andtheworld’smostcompleteremainsofaRomanpalace.Therewillalsobefreetimetodiscoverthelongsea-sidepromenade,orvisitthecathedral,amuseumorgallery.Intheafternoon,ourcoachtakesustothehistoricAdriatictownofTrogir,anotherUNESCOWorldHeritageSite,andthebestpreservedRomanesque-GothiccomplexinallofCentralEurope.Itissituatedonasmallislandanditsmedievalcore,surroundedbywalls,comprisesapreservedcastle,towerandaseriesofdwellingsandpalaces.WereturntoSplitbycoachforovernightaccommodationatourhotel.(B)

Thursday 7th April Historic Sibenik & Krka WaterfallsTodayweenjoyexcursionstotwouniquesightsinCroatia.Firstly,wetravelbyroadcoachalongtheAdriaticCoasttothehistorictownofSibenik,notedforitsMediterraneanclimate.HerethemostnotablebuildingisthedomedStJamesCathedral,Croatia’smostimportantarchitecturalmonumentoftheRenaissance.Secondly,wetravelinlandtothefamousKrkaNationalPark,namedaftertheriverKrkathatflowsthroughit.Inanarea400metresinlengththereare17waterfallsincludingSkradinskibuk,amassive,clear,naturalpoolwithhighwaterfallsatoneendandcascadesattheother.InsidetheparkistheislandofVisovac,hometotheFranciscanVisovacMonasteryfoundedin1445.WereturntoSplitfordinnerandovernightaccommodationatourhotel.(BD)

Friday 8th April Zagreb InthemorningwetransferbycoachtoSplitrailwaystationwherewerejoinourspecialNostalgicTrain.WeleavetheAdriaticCoastandonceagainpassthroughtheKarstlandscapeheadingtowardsPerkovic,GospicandKnin,animportantrailwayjunction.WecontinuethroughOstarjeandKarlovacbeforereachingtheCroatiancapitalcityofZagreb.ThecityliesonbothsidesoftheRiverSavaatthefootoftheMedvednicamountainrange.Wearriveduringtheafternoonandhaveaguidedtourofthecity.ThereisanoptionalvisittotheNationalTechnicalMuseumwithitshistoricalrailwaysection.Tonightwestayatthe5-starWestinStarwoodHotelwherewehavedinner.(BD)

Saturday 9th April Zagreb to GrazWetransferbycoachtoZagrebStationtocontinueourjourneywithourspecialNostalgicTrain.WecrosstheborderintoSlovenianearDobovava,aninternationalrailwaybordercrossing,andpassthroughthevalleyoftheSavatowardsZidaniMost,animportantrailwayjunction.WecontinuethroughCelje,wherethecastlestandsonthreehillsabovetheRiverSavinjatothesouth-east.WeheadtowardsMaribor,wherewecrosstheRiverDrava.InSpielfeld–Strass,wechangelocomotivesandthencrosstheborderintoAustria.DuringtheafternoonwearriveinGraz,thesecond-largestcityinAustriaandcapitalofthestateofStyria.Fromthestationwetransferbycoachtothe4-starWiesler/WeitzerHotelforovernightaccommodation.ThereisasplendidviewofthecityfromthehistoricOldTownandSchlossberg(castle),whicharenotfarfromourhotel.(B)

Sunday 10th April Return to GermanyToday,wecontinueourreturnjourneywithourspecialNostalgicTraintravellingalongthevalleyoftheRiverMurfromGraztoBruckanderMurandLeoben.WecrosstheEisenerzerAlpsbytheSchoberPassandpassthroughtheBosruckTunnel,whichliesbeneaththePyrhnPass.WethentravelthroughtheKalkalpenNationalPark,thelargestprotectedforestareainAustria,beforearrivingatWelsinnorthernAustria.FromWels,wetravelovertheWesternRailwaytoSalzburg,thencrosstheborderintoGermany.WetravelnorthwardsthroughGermanytoNurembergwherewetransfertoourhotelforovernightaccommodation.(B)

Monday 11th April Return to the UKAfterbreakfastweleaveNurembergbytrainforthereturnjourneytoBrusselsandonwardsbyEurostartoLondonStPancras.(B)

European Tours - Alpine Adriatic Express to Split

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• Eurostarandfirstclassrailtraveltoand fromNuremberg

• FirstclassaccommodationaboardtheIGE specialnostalgictrain

• 10nightsbedand breakfastaccommodation

• 5dinners

• VisittothePostojnaCaves

• VisittoPlitviceLakesNationalPark andKrkaWaterfalls

• Luggagetransferbetweenhotelsfrom 3rdApril–9thApril

• Allnecessarycoachtransfers

• TheservicesofaRailwayTouring Companytourmanager


April 2011

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22

Steam in Tuscany

Sunday 10th AprilFlight to BolognaWetakeadirectflightfromLondontoBologna.OnarrivalwetransfertoanInterCitytrainforRimini,thencheckintoacomfortable,luxurious4-starhotel.Dinnerwillbeservedthiseveninginthehotelrestaurant.(D)

Monday 11th AprilSteam Special from Rimini to FlorenceAtRiminiStationwejoinourspecialtrainforFlorence,wherethearrivalofoursteamlocomotivealwayscausesastir!Thistimewe’rehauledbya2-8-0Crostiboileredengineofclass741.WespeedalongthemainlinetoFaenza,takingthescenicroutethroughmountainsandoverspectacularviaducts.Duringthisexcitingjourneywe’llstopforphotographsaswellasbreakingthejourneyforlunchinagoodlocalrestaurant.ArrivingatFlorence,wetransfertoa4-starhotelfortwonights.(BLD)

Tuesday 12th AprilA Wonderful Day in FlorenceWe’vearrangedamorningcitysightseeingtourwithanexpertlocalguide.Florence,birthplaceoftheRenaissance,wasthefocusofartisticcreativityforsomeoftheworld’sgreatesttalents.We’llseethemainattractionsofthiswonderfulcity;thePonteVecchioandtheDuomo.

You’llbefreeallafternoonandeveningtoexploremedievalFlorenceandfindagoodrestaurantfordinner.TheGalleriadell’Accademia,homeofMichelangelo’sDavid,iswithineasyreachasistheUffiziArtGalleryandthechurchofSantaCroce,finalrestingplaceofGalileoandMachiavelli.(B)

Wednesday 13th AprilSteam Charter Florence to SiennaWereturntoFlorence’sSantaMariaStationtoboardourtrain,thistimehauledbyanItalian2-6-0class625steamlocomotivetravellingthroughsuperbTuscansceneryheadingforSienna.FromSiennawetraveltoSanGimignano,asmallfourteenthcenturyfortifiedtown,bycoachforlunchinatraditionalrestaurantservingspecialistdishesoftheregion,plusgoodTuscanwine!AfterlunchwecontinuebycoachtoSienna,wherewestayfortwonights.(BLD)

Thursday 14th AprilSteam Charter around TuscanyTodaywerejoinourspecialvintagetrain,hauledby2-6-0No.625-100,foracirculartourthroughTuscany.HeadingsouthfromSienna,wepassthroughMonteronid’Arbia,Asciano,MonteAmiataandMonteAntico,throughrollingvinecoveredhillsandwoodland.We’llenjoylunchinatypicalTuscanrestaurant

beforereturningtoSiennaviathelovelymedievaltownsofMurloandMonteronid’Arbia.(BLD)

Friday 15th AprilTour Sienna and arrive at PisaSiennaisoneoftheprettiestcitiesinItaly,sothere’splentytosee.AfteramorningcitytourofSiennawehavelunchinagoodlocalrestaurant,thenintheafternoonwetransferbycoachtoPisa.DinnerandovernightaccommodationisinPisafortwonights.(BLD)

European Tours - Steam in Tuscany

Europe is indebted to Tuscany for its extraordinary contribution to our culture. So why not join us for a visually stunning tour across some of Italy’s most artistic regions and, of course, travel along some of Tuscany’s many delightful railways? Our tour begins on a superb steam hauled special in Rimini. We also visit the historic towns of Florence, Sienna, Pisa and La Spezia. Florence is one of the highlights of the tour, taking in world famous sights including the Duomo, the Uffizi Art Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio.

Sunday 10th April to Sunday 17th April 2011

John Turnock

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Saturday 16th AprilSteam through the Tuscan Hills to La SpeziaOurlocomotivetodayisoneofthelastsurvivingserviceableexpresspassenger685class2-6-2locomotives.LeavingPisaafterbreakfastweheadnortheastwardstoLucca,joiningapicturesqueroutethroughtheTuscanHillstoLaSpezia.Thislineisnotusedmuchsowe’llbeabletostopandtakepicturesofthetrainonthemove.We’llstopinLaSpeziaforatastyItalianlunchbeforereturningtoPisaonboardtheregularservicetraintravellingalongthesealine.(BLD)

Sunday 17th AprilVisit Pisa’s Leaning Tower and return to UKOnourfinalmorningwe’llenjoyanexcitingcitytourofPisaincludingthefamousleaningtowerandmagnificentDuomo.WelunchinacityrestaurantbeforetransferringtoPisaAirportforamid-afternoonflightbacktoLondon.(BL)

European Tours - Steam in Tuscany

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• FlightsLondontoItalyandreturn

• 7nightsaccommodationin 3and4-starhotels

• 7breakfasts

• 6lunches(wineincluded)

• 6dinners(wineincluded)

• Alltraintravelandtransfers

• Alltoursmentionedintheprogramme

• Theuseoflocalguidesforcitytours


• Coachatourdisposalforthewhole triptoeffectluggagetransfersetc


April 2011

M T W T F S S

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Pisa

La Spezia

Firenze

Siena

Rimini

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The Bohemian Steam Safari

Friday 15th AprilArrival in PragueOurmorningflightfromLondontoPraguearrivesintheCzechcapitalcityaroundmid-day.Wecheckintotheelegantfour-starHotelCentury,locatedintheheartoftheextensive‘oldtown’.ItissituatedinthesamehistoricbuildingwheretherenownedwriterFranzKafkaonceworkedasaninsuranceclerkintheearly20thCentury.Therestoftheafternoonandeveningisfreetoexplorethecityanddiscoveritsspectacularsights.

Saturday 16th AprilSteam in West Bohemia with 475.111WetravelbyservicetrainfromPrague´sdistinctiveArtNouveaustationtoPilseninWestBohemia.Therethemassive,yetelegant,post-war“Mountain”steamlocomotiveNo.475.111waitstotakeusonourfirstexclusivesteamchartertrainjourney.WetravelnorthwardsonthelinetoBlatno,LubenecandChyse.InChysewevisitthelocalcastlebreweryforlunchandrefreshments.Afterthesteamlocomotivehastakenwaterwecontinuealongthenearbybranchline,closedtopassengertrafficsincethelate1990’s,toBochov.Therewillbeampleopportunityforline-sidephotographytocapturethemajestyofthemightyNo.475.111.We

returnbysteamfromBochovtoPilsenwherewecatchaservicetrainbacktoPrague.(BL)

Sunday 17th AprilSteam over the Prague Semmering and on to BerounTodaywemakeanoteworthysteamjourneyfromPrague.WedepartfromtheurbanSmichovStationinourspeciallycharteredtraintravellingoverthesteepgradientsandspectacularstone-archedviaductsofthePragueSemmering.Thisimpressivelyengineered“mountainline”datesfrom1872andislocatedentirelywithinthecitylimits.AttheheadofourtrainissteamlocomotiveNo.213.902,assuchan0-4-0Tindustrialtankengine,butsolargeandbulkythatitcouldeasilybemistakenforaheavy2-6-2.Indeedthepost-warCzechoslovakclass213representsoneofthelargestandmostmodernindustrialtankengineseverbuiltinEurope.BeyondtheSemmeringourroutetakesustoHostivice,andthenontherarelyusedconnectinglinetoRudnauPrahy.FromtherewecontinuewestwardstothejunctionatBerounwherewepauseforlunchandvisitthelocalmicro-breweryadjacenttothestation.IntheafternoonwetaketheremotelinebacktoPraha-SmichovviaRudnauPrahy.WerununderthearchedbridgesofthePragueSemmeringwhichwe

steamedoverpreviously.TheeveningisfreetoenjoytheoldtownofPragueandtochooseyourowndinneratoneoftheexcellentrestaurantsimmediatelyadjacenttothehotel.(BL)

Monday 18th AprilSteam through the Vltava Valley and to the Rococo Chateau at DobrisWespendanotherdayintheCentralBohemianregionaroundPrague.Today,steamlocomotiveNo.213.902haulsourtrainfromPraha-SmichovandthroughtheVltavaValleysouthwardstoDobris.WestoptophotographthetrainattherivercrossingnearVrane,wherethemassivesteelbridgeisparticularlyphotogenic.Asonthepreviousday,ourtrainincludesahospitablebarcarwhichservesbeerandotherrefreshments.OnarrivalatDobrisStationwetransfertothenearbyRococochateau,oneoftheloveliestsuchsitesanywhereinEurope.WehavelunchatthecastlerestaurantandlatertakeastrollthroughthecourtyardandFrenchgarden.Afterlunch,werejoinourtrain,hauledbyourtrustytankengine,forthereturnjourneytoPrague.Enroute,therewillbefurtherphoto’run-pastopportunities.(BL)

Tuesday 19th AprilHradec Kralove and North-east BohemiaAfteraleisurelybreakfastwetransferbycoach

European Tours - The Bohemian Steam Safari

Come with us and enjoy Central Europe during the spring time, as we explore the rich culture and fascinating steam heritage of the Czech Republic. This brand new tour offers an exciting combination of diverse steam locomotives on unusual branch lines; rarely visited regions full of natural beauty and rural charm; and all the class and grandeur of the world famous city of Prague. All our steam trains are exclusive charters and will feature haulage by some of the country´s most remarkable locomotives. Railway highlights include haulage by the 4-8-2 steam giant No. 475.111; steam over the steep gradients of the “Prague Semmering”; and the unique 0-10-0 No. U57.001on the Osoblaha narrow gauge line in Silesia. Scenic highlights include the hilly countryside of the Eagle Mountains; the Vltava Valley; and the Rococo castle at Dobris. This trip will excite and delight regular visitors to the Czech Republic as much as casual newcomers.

Friday 15th April to Friday 22nd April 2011

Robin Patrick

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fromPraguetoHradecKraloveinnorthernBohemia.Thiselegantcity,locatedonthebanksoftheLabe(Elbe)River,featuresstylishriversidequaysandparks,anextensive‘oldtown’,andavibrantarchitecturallegacyfromtheearly20thCentury.Westayatthefour-starHotelTerezianskyDvur.Aftercheck-inwehaveagrouplunchatthehotel.Therestoftheafternoonisfreeforexploringthecity.Dinnerisatthehotel.(BLD)

Wednesday 20th April Steam in North-east Bohemia and along the Eagle MountainsTodayweexperienceoneofthehighlightsofthetouraswehavespeciallycharteredthemassive1930’sbuilt4-8-4TtankengineNo.464.008tohaulourtrain.Thissteamlocomotivedidnotoperateformanyyearsbutwasreturnedtoservicein2010.OurjourneyisfromHradecKralove,throughtheplainsofnorthernBohemiaandalongthefoothillsoftheEagleMountains,tothequainttownofLetohrad.InLetohradwehavelunchintherestaurantofthelocalMuseumofCrafts,whichimpresseswithitsauthenticatmosphereandfullyrestored18thCenturyarchitecture.AfterthelocomotivehastakenwaterwereturntoHradecKralove,butthistimetakeadifferentrouteviaUstinadOrliciandChocen.Wejointhecountry’sbusiestrailwaycorridorforasustainedstretchoffastmainlinerunningbeforeturningofftoTynisteandreturningtoHradec.Eveningdinnerisservedatthehotelrestaurant.(BLD)

Thursday 21st AprilNarrow Gauge Steam in SilesiaForthefinaldayofsteamtrains,wehavearealtreataswellasanRTCfirst.WejourneytotheCzechRepublic’smostremotenarrowgaugelineandtravelsteamhauledbehindthelargest760mmgaugesteamlocomotiveintheworld!OurcoachtakesusonascenicdrivethroughtheJesenikyMountainstooneofthemostoutlyingregionsofMoravianSilesia,situatedonthefrontierwithPoland.InTremesnaveSlezskuweboardourspeciallycharteredsteamtrain,withthe0-10-0bluegiantNo.U57.001,totraveltheentirelengthofthelinetoOsoblaha.Enroutewepassthroughasparselypopulatedlandscapedominatedbyopenfieldsandavasthorizon.Asthereislittletrafficonthisline,therewillbeplentyofopportunitiestogetoutandfilmthepassingtrain.Duringthereturnjourney,westopforlunchatatypicalcountrysiderestaurantinBohusov.FollowingourreturntoTremesna,thecoachtakesusbacktoHradecKralove,wheredinnerwillonceagainbeservedatthehotel.(BLD)

Friday 22nd AprilBack to Prague and return to LondonAfterarelaxedbreakfast,wetransfertoPragueairportbycoach.TherewillbeanearlyafternoonflightbacktoLondon.(B)

European Tours - The Bohemian Steam Safari

Tour Summary


Price includes:

•ReturnflightsfromLondontoPrague

•7nightshotelaccommodation withbreakfast

•6lunchesand3dinners

•Allspecialsteamchartertrainsasmentioned intheintinerary

•Allvisitsasdetailedinthetourintinerary

•Allseatreservationsandtransfers

•Theservicesofatourmanager


April 2011

M T W T F S S

28 29 30 31 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 1

Robin Patrick

Robin Patrick

26

The Swiss Steam Safari

Wednesday 11th MayEurostar to Paris and on to Basel WetravelbyEurostarfromLondonStPancrastoParisGaredu-Nord.TherewetransferbycoachtoParisGaredel’EstfortheservicetraintoBasel.InBaselwecheckintothesplendidHotelVictoria,whichisconvenientlylocatedoppositetherailwaystation.Dinnerwillbeservedatthehotelafterarrival.(D)

Thursday 12th MaySteam on the Waldenburg RailwayTodaywevisitSwitzerland’sonly750mmgaugerailwayandtravelinourownprivatelycharteredsteamtrain.WetakearegularservicetrainfromBaseltonearbyWaldenburg,asleepylittlevillagequietlynestledinthefoothillsoftheJuraMountains.Oursteamtrain,withthevintage1902SLM-builtlocomotive“GedeonThommen”,thentakesusdowntheentirenarrowgaugelinetoLiestal,andbacktoWaldenburg.Enroutetherewillbeopportunitiesforlinesidephotography.Adelightfulbuffetofcoldregionalcheeseandmeatspecialtiesisservedasalunch-timesnackonboardthetrain.FollowingoursteamexcursionwereturnbyservicetraintoBaselwheretherewillbesomefreetimetorelaxduringthelateafternoon.Wehavespecially

chartereda1914vintagetram,oneofBasel’soldest,foraneveningscenicsightseeinganddiningtrip.Dinnerwillbeservedintheelegantlyadaptedtramwhilewecoverthehighlightsofthecity’surbantransportnetwork.(BLD)

Friday 13th MayGiant Steam Locomotive through Northern SwitzerlandTodaywehaveachangefromthesmallsizedsteamtrainofyesterday,toreally,reallybigsteam!WehaveanexclusivecharterwiththerarelyusedformerSNCF4-8-2giantsteamlocomotive241A65,Europe’slargestlocomotivestillfiredbyhand.The1931-builtDeGlehncompoundlocomotiveisalsotheonlysurvivingmemberofitsclassinoperationalcondition.Ourjourneywith241A65beginsinBaselfromwhereweheadeastwardsalongtheRhinetoLaufenburg.Wetakethefreight-onlylinetoKoblenzviaFull,andthencontinuesouth-eastwardstoBülachandGlattbrugg.WebypassZürichtothenorthandthenturnwestwardsheadingbacktoBaselviaBaden,BruggandRheinfelden.Wewillhavecompletedagiantloopofseveralhundredkilometresduringtheday.Ourtrainfeaturestwocomfortablebarcarswhichwillprovideplentyofonboardrefreshments,anda

lunch-timesnackduringthecourseofthejourney.OnarrivalbackinBaseltheeveningisfreetoexplorethecity.(BL)

Saturday 14th May Paddle Steamer Parade on Lake LucerneTodayweexperienceoneofSwitzerland’smostimpressivesteamspectaclesandonethatonlytakesplaceirregularly,aboutevery5to6years,namelyasteamboatparadeonLakeLucerne!Thereasonforthecelebratoryparadeonthisoccasionisthereturntoserviceofthe1902-builtpaddlesteamer“Unterwalden”followingextensiverefurbishment.Wehaveticketsaboardthe“Unterwalden”itselfandcanwitnesstheperfectlychoreographedballetofthe5lakesteamersinalternatingnauticalformations.TheLakeLucernecaptainspulloutallthestopsaswearetreatedtoahugelyentertainingevent,allsetamidstthedramaticback-dropofCentralSwitzerland’shighAlps.Whileonboardthesteamer,avisittotheimmaculatelyrestoreddiningsaloon,completewithitsneo-Baroquedécor,isamust.Ourpaddlesteameralsoprovidestheidealplatformforphotographerstorecordalltheaction!AfterthesteamerparadetherewillbethreehoursfreetoenjoythecityofLucerneandexplorethesightsandscenesofits

European Tours - The Swiss Steam Safari

Come and explore Switzerland with us on this completely new tour, featuring several of the country’s classic highlights as well as its best kept secrets! We experience steam on land and on water, venturing to world famous sites like Lucerne, while also discovering enchanting and less known rural regions “off the beaten track”. We travel steam hauled on the country’s only 750mm gauge railway, join the festive parade of 5 restored paddle steamers amidst the stunning Alpine scenery of Lake Lucerne, and visit both narrow gauge and standard gauge rarely travelled lines in French-speaking Switzerland. Best of all, our tour programme also includes haulage behind one of Europe’s largest steam locomotives, the French-built De Glehn compound 241 A 65, which we take on an exclusive charter over freight-only tracks in northern Switzerland. Besides all this we will stay in the sophisticated Swiss cities of Basel and Lausanne in elegant 4-star hotels that are themselves icons of Switzerland’s legendary hospitality.

Wednesday 11th May to Wednesday 18th May 2011

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oldtown,suchastheworldfamouswoodenChapelBridge.LaterintheeveningwereturnbyservicetraintoBasel.(B)

Sunday 15th May By Steam to the Land of Gruyere WetravelbyservicetrainfromBaseltoBernwherewejoinourspeciallycharteredsteamtrain.Itwillbehauledbyanimpressivesteamlocomotive,Switzerland´slargesttankengine,theformidable2-6-2“highspeed”tankNo.5810.WetaketheroutefromBernviaFribourgandRomonttoBulle.ThislesserknownmedievaltownissituatedintheheartofthehillyGruyerecountryside,homeofmanycastlesandoneofSwitzerland´smostfamouscheeses.TherailwayhighlightofthedayisthesustainedmainlinerunningfromBerntoRomontandthenourcoverageoftheveryrarebranchlinefromRomonttoBulle.Thelinerunsthroughlotsofgreenpastureswithgrazingcows,allthewhileprovidingmagnificentviewsofthetoweringFribourgandVaudoisAlps.InBullethereistimetovisitthehistorictowncentreandtheancientcastle.Ourexclusivechartertrainincludesabarcar,whichwillserveusalightsnackforlunch.AfterthebreakinBullewesteambacktoRomont,wherewechangeontoaservicetraintoLausanne,butnotbeforewatchingthedepartureofthesteamtrain.InLausannewecheckintothegorgeousHotelMirabeau,wheredinnerwillbeserved.(BLD)

Monday 16th May Narrow Gauge Steam and Lake GenevaInthemorningwediscoveroneofSwitzerland´sbestkeptrailwaysecrets,theremarkablyscenicandabsolutelyidyllicLausanne-Echallens-Bercher(LEB)narrowgaugerailwaylinebetweenthelake-sidemetropolisofLausanneandthefarmingvillageofBercher.Wetravelinourownprivatelycharteredsteamtrain,withLEB’svintagecarriages,fromthesuburbanstationatCheseauxtotheendofthelineatBercher.Thetrainwillfeatureasmallbarcarinwhichadeliciousselectionofregionalcheeses,breadsandmeatswillbeservedasalunch-timesnack.

Theroutetraversesthe“breadbasket”ofCantonVaudandoneofthelesserknownregionsofRomandy,theFrenchspeakingpartofSwitzerland.Itsrollinghillsandgentlefieldsmakeitallthemoreromantic!AfterthesteamtrainhasreturnedtoCheseaux,weheadbacktoLausanneandfromtherecatchaservicetraintoNyon.HereweboardthemajesticLakeGenevapaddlesteamer“Savoie”foracruisealongtheSwissandFrenchshorelinetoGeneva.DuringthecruisewewillhavefabulousviewsofGeneva´s“waterjet”landmarkandthehighpeaksoftheFrenchAlps,includingsnowcoveredMontBlanc.FromGenevawetakethetrainbacktoLausanne,wheretheremainderoftheeveningwillbefreetoexploreandtryoneofthecity’sexcellentrestaurants.(BL)

Tuesday 17th May Steam in the Vallee de Joux ForthelastformaldayofourtourweheadtooneofSwitzerland’smostremoteandisolatedvalleys,theValleedeJouxintheJuraMountains,closetotheFrenchfrontier.Thishigh-plateauvalleyisdominatedbythelake,LacdeJoux.IthasastandardgaugebranchlinethatrunsfromthewellknownborderstationatVallorbetothelittleknowntownofLeBrassus.Wewilltravelalongthisrarelyusedlineinourownprivatechartertrain,steamhauledandwithoriginalend-platformcarriages.Photographicopportunitieswillbeincluded.OnourreturntoLausannetherewillbesomefreetimebeforewehaveourlastgroupdinnerofthetour.(BLD)

Wednesday 18th May TGV and Eurostar back to LondonWetakethedirectTGVfromLausannetoParisGaredeLyon.TransferbycoachtoParisGareduNord,whereweboardtheEurostartraintoLondonSt.Pancras.(B)

European Tours - The Swiss Steam Safari

Tour Summary

First Class (Rail from London) Price per person £1995 Standard Class (Rail from London) Price per person £1845 Ground only (Basel – Basel) Price per person £1695 Single supplement £199

Price includes:

•7nightsaccommodationwithbreakfastin 3or4-starhotels

•4dinnersand5lunches

•Allspecialsteamchartertrainsasmentioned intheintinerary

•Allvisitsasdetailedinthetouritinerary

•FirstClassrailtravelfromLondonto Switzerlandandback

•Allseatreservationsandtransfers



May 2011

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16 17 18 19 20 21 22

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30 31 1 2 3 4 5

Bob Green

28

Sardinia and the Emerald Coast

Day 1London to OlbiaWeboardascheduledflightfromLondonGatwicktoOlbia.WetransferbyourroadcoachtoPalauwherewecheckintothe4-starHotelPalau.(D)

Day 2Cruising the Emerald CoastAfteraleisurelybreakfastwejoinourspeciallycharteredboatatPalauharbour.Oncewild,thisstretchofcoastlinewasdevelopedinthe1950’sasamillionaire’splayground.Now,itiswellcaredforandkeptinpristinecondition.We’llenjoyaday’scruise,goingashoreatthepicturesqueMaddalenaIslandforlunch,andthencontinuingalongtheEmeraldCoast.WecallatSpargiIslandalongthewayandstaylongenoughtoexploretheislandorswimfromthebeach.Attheendoftheday,wereturntoPalauHarbourandourhotel.(BLD)

Day 3Palau to Alghero by Narrow Gauge TrainWeboardourspecialvintagetrainatPalauStation,travellinginstyleaboardafirstclasscarriagesportingplushvelvetseats.Weclimbintothehillsandpassthroughforestsandalong

deepvalleysenroutetothetownofTempio.Thelinedescends,crossingbridgesandviaducts,asitwindsitswaythroughprettyruralvillages.ItclimbsagainbeforewepauseatNulviforanexcellentlocalfeast.WecontinueourjourneytoSassari.WeboardaservicetrainforourjourneytothecoastatAlgherowherewecheckintothe4starHotelCalabona.(BLD)

Day 4Bosa to Nouro and SorgonoToday,weenjoytrulymagnificentviewsoftheseaaswetravelbyroadcoachdownthewestcoastoftheislandtoBosa.ThissmalltownisbuiltontheRiverTemoanddominatedbythehilltopremainsofCastelloMalaspina,amedievalfortress.Therewillbetimetoexplorethesights,includingtheBaroquecathedralwithitssplendidinteriorofmarblestatuesandfrescos.LaterwetravelfromBosaMarinainlandtoMacomerbynarrowgaugetrain.WestopenrouteatTresnuragheswhereweenjoyatypicalItalianlunchinalocalrestaurant.WerejoinourcoachtocontinueourjourneyfromMacomertoSorgono.WecheckintotheHotelTalorofordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Day 5Steam from Villa Grande to ArbataxAfterbreakfast,weleaveSorgonoandheadbycoachtoVillaGrandewherewehavearrangedlunchinagoodlocalopenairrestaurant.WethenjoinourspecialsteamhaulednarrowgaugetrainandtraveldowntotheeastcoastoftheislandatArbatax.Thelinemakesthelongdescentthroughruggedmountainscenery,withincredibleviews,eventuallyreachingtheterminusstationattheportvillageofArbatax.Thereisaveryshortwalkfromthestationtoourhotel,the4-starArbatasarHotel.(BLD)

Day 6Steam from the Coast into the MountainsInthemorningwetaketheshortwalktoArbataxStation,besidetheharbour,tojoinourspecialvintagetrain,steamhauledby2-6-2TNo.400or402.SoonafterleavingArbataxStationwebeginthelongclimbtoVillaGrande,whereatypicalItalianopenairlunchawaits.WerejoinourtrainforthefinaldramaticclimbthroughthespiraltoGairo,fromwherewereturnbycoachtoourhotelinArbatax.(BLD)

European Tours - Sardinia and the Emerald Coast

D H Lawrence wrote that the Italian island of Sardinia had been left outside of time and history. Sardinia’s spectacular scenery, ancient roots, friendly locals and amazing little railways make this Italian island a truly magical place to visit. A mountainous place about the size of Wales, Sardinia has a beguiling coastline and inland, narrow gauge railways run for more than 450 miles through beautiful countryside. We travel on privately chartered trains, with steam locomotives wherever possible. The carriages for our trains are usually on display in the Sardinian Railway Museum and date back to the early 1900’s; carriages with polished teak bodies and open end-balconies providing stunning views. Mass tourism has yet to reach Sardinia and it is still unspoiled, but the country’s narrow gauge railways are increasingly under threat. They are not, however, run down. They are fully staffed and well maintained, and the only thing missing is the passengers! Sardinia is such a popular destination that this is our eleventh year touring the island.

Saturday 14th to Sunday 22nd May 2011 and Saturday 15th to Sunday 23rd October 2011

Colin Boocock

29

Day 7 Narrow Gauge Steam in Spectacular Scenery Today,wetravelbycoachtoGairoStationtojoinourvintagesteamtrainandcontinueourjourneyinland.TheclimbuptothesummitatAnuluisspectacularandthedropdowntothefascinatinglittletownofSeui,whereourlocomotiveisserviced,isequallydramatic.AtBetilliwestopatthestationforlunchbesideourtrain.Itisaspeciallycreatedpicnicplaceinasuperbsetting,andthewinewillflowfreely!Ourjourneycontinuesthroughsomeofthemostbeautifulscenerypossible,highaboveLowFlumendosaLake,thendescendingtoVillanovaTuloStation.ThelinewindsitswayacrossthecountrysidetoNurri,MandasandSenorbi,fromwherewetransferbycoachtoCagliari.DinnerandovernightaccommodationisattheHotelMediterraneoinCagliari.(BLD)

Day 8Narrow Gauge Steam Train to SorgonoWetransferfromCagliaritoMandasStationbycoach.Herewejoinournarrowgaugetrainofrestoredwooden-bodiedvintagecarriageshauledbyadiesellocomotiveheadingnorthalongthescenicSorgonobranch,alinenolongeropentoregulartraffic.AtOrtuabisweenjoyadeliciousItalianstylebarbecue,completewithalocalfolkgroupforentertainment.Afterlunch,wecontinuetotheterminusatSorgono,fromwhereourcoachtakesustotheHotelTaloro,besideLakeGusana.(BLD)

Day 9Return to London GatwickAfteranearlybreakfastwetransferbycoachtoOlbiaAirportforourlatemorningflighttoLondonGatwick.(B)

European Tours - Sardinia and the Emerald Coast

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• Flights

• Allrailandcoachtransport

• Transfers

• Hotelaccommodationin3and4-star hotels,mostlywithswimmingpools

• 8Breakfasts,7Lunchesand8Dinners

• Wineandmineralwaterwithlunchand dinnerontheisland


Mealsincludedeachdayareshownas:

B=Breakfast-L=Lunch-D=Dinner

May 2011

M T W T F S S

25 26 27 28 29 30 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31 1 2 3 4 5

October 2011

M T W T F S S

26 27 28 29 30 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

Colin Boocock

Phil Lawson

Sue Palmer

30

Steam in Slovenia, Bosnia and Serbia

Friday 20th MayFly to LjubljanaWetakeanearlyafternoonflightfromLondonStansteddirecttoLjubljana.OnarrivalinLjubljanawetravelbycoachtotheSlovenianRailwayMuseum,thenationalmuseumforSlovenia’srailwayhistory,toseetheirlargecollectionofsteamlocomotivesandotherartefacts.WetransfertoBled,wellknownfortheglacialLakeBledandiconicBledCastleperchedonarockoverlookingthelake,fordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(D)

Saturday 21st MaySteam through the Julian Alps in SloveniaAfterbreakfastwetravelnorthwardsbycoachintotheJulianAlpstoJesenice,asteeltownsurroundedbymountainsinthescenicUpperSavaValley.JeseniceisveryclosetotheAustrianborderandappropriatelyourtraintodaywillbehauledbyAustrian2-8-0steamlocomotiveNo.25.026withvintagecoaches.Ourrouteonthe“TransAlpinoRailway”passesthroughlandscapeofincomparablebeautyalongthemagnificentSocaandSavaRivers.Theconstructionoftherailwaydemandednumerousexceptionaltunnels,bridges,andviaductswhichmadeitfamous.WepassLakeBledandcontinuethroughthemountainstoNovaGoricawhichislocatedontheItalianborder.Wereturnby

oursteamtraintoLakeBledwhereweenjoyadelightfuldinnerbythelake.OvernightaccommodationisinHotelLev,Ljubljana.(BLD)

Sunday 22nd MaySteam Charter Train to TrebnjeAfterbreakfastwetransfertoLjubljanarailwaystationwherewejoinourtrainformedoffour-wheeledpassengercarriageshauledby2-10-0steamlocomotiveNo.33.037.WetakearouteintotheforestedhillstotheeastofLjubljanathroughZidaniMostandSevnicatoTrebnje,wherewehavelunchinalocalrestaurant.WecontinueourjourneywestwardsthroughGrosupljetoLjubljana,fromwherewetransfertoZagrebinCroatiabycoach.DinnerandovernightaccommodationisintheHotelAntunovic,Zagreb.(BLD)

Monday 23rd May Intercity Train to Bosnia and Herzegovina AfterbreakfastwetransferbycoachtoZagrebStationwhereweboardanIntercitytrainforthejourneytoVinkovci,animportantrailwayjunctionandinternationalrailwayhub.HereourcoachwillbewaitingtotransferourgrouptoHotelTuzlainTuzla,BosniaandHerzegovina,fordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BD)

Tuesday 24th MaySteam Charter Train Tuzla to Brcko Tuzlaisfamousforitssaltlakebutthereareabundantcoaldepositsintheregionandsixcoalminescontinuetooperatearoundthecity.AfterbreakfastwevisittheKrekaCollierytoviewtheclass33‘Kreigslok’2-10-0’sandUSA0-6-0Tsteamlocomotivesallocatedandmaintainedthere.Afterourvisitwejoinapassengerchartertrainhauledbyaclass33forthe110kmroundtripfromTuzlatoBrckoandback.ThislinenormallyhasjustonedailypassengertrainwhichcrossesthebordertoVinkovci,sotherewillbeampleopportunityforphotorun-paststorecordthisrareoccasion.WereturntoourhotelinTuzlafordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Wednesday 25th MayBanovici Double Headed SteamAfterbreakfastwetransferbycoachtoLjubacewherewejoinoursteamhauledcharterpassengertrainwithSkodabuilt0-6-0TsteamlocomotiveNo.19.12,theonlyoneofitstypeinservice.OurspecialtraintakesustoBanovici,wherebothstandardandnarrowgaugesteamlocomotivesareinregularservice.WetransferbycoachtoOskovawhereweshallhavetherareexperienceofjoininganarrowgauge(760mm)chartertraindoubleheadedbytwoex-YugoslavRailways(JZ)class830-8-2steamlocomotives.

European Tours - Steam in Slovenia, Bosnia and Serbia

Join us on this tour of contrasts visiting four countries of the former Yugoslavia. We encounter dramatic Alpine scenery and marvel at the beauty of the mountains, rivers, valleys and lakes in the western Balkans. We visit Zagreb, Sarajevo, Belgrade, and lesser known locations, and gain first-hand experience of local traditions, customs, and cuisine. We begin our tour in Slovenia, at the beautiful city of Ljubljana, and travel by train using steam locomotives from the Slovenian Railway Museum. In Bosnia we encounter a variety of everyday steam experiences and in a totally different environment. We visit Mokra Gora in Serbia and travel on the world’s only preserved steam operated International Narrow Gauge Railway. This may be the last time we are able to offer such a comprehensive tour to Bosnia.

Friday 20th May to Tuesday 31st May 2011

Chris Bailey

˘

31

Thisshouldprovideanopportunitytogetsomeunusualandspectacularpictures!WehavelunchinBanovicibeforemakingavisittothelocomotivedepotthere.WecontinueourjourneytoTurija,andthenreturntoOskova.OurcoachwilltakeusbacktoTuzlafordinnerandovernightaccommodationatourhotel.(BLD)

Thursday 26th May Banovici and Dubrave AfterbreakfastwereturntoOskovabycoach.Today,ourspeciallycharteredsteamtrainwillbehauledbyex-HungarianStateRailways(MAV)steamlocomotiveNo.55-99forthejourneytoTurijaandontoBanovici.WehavelunchinBanovicibeforecontinuingourjourneybacktoOskova.FromherewetransfertoDubravewherewehavetimetovisitthecoalmine.WethentransferbycoachtoSarajevo,thecapitalcityofBosniaandHerzegovina,fordinnerandovernightaccommodationattheHolidayInn.(BLD)

Friday 27th May Sarajevo to Rajlovac AfterbreakfastwetransfertoSarajevoStationtojoinourspecialtrain.Itwillconsistofonerailwaycarriagehauledbyaclass661diesellocomotive,oneofthemostusedinformerYugoslavia,builtbyGeneralMotors.WetraveltoRajlovactovisitthelocomotivedepotandthenheadforVaresfromwherewecontinuebacktoSarajevo.Wetransferbycoachtoourhotelwheretherewillbetimeforabreakbeforewecontinuetoalocalrestaurantfordinner.(BLD)

Saturday 28th May Border Crossing by Steam AfterbreakfastwetravelbycoachfromSarajevotoVisegrad,wellknownforits‘bridgeontheDrina’whichisaUNESCOWorldHeritageSite.HereweenjoylunchinarestaurantoverlookingtheDrinaRiver.OurcoachwilltakeustoVisegradStationwherewejoinaspecialnarrowgaugetrainhauledbyaclass830-8-2steamlocomotive.OurjourneywilltakeusalongthelatestextensionoftheSarganNarrowGaugeRailway,oncepartofthemainlinefromSarajevotoBelgrade.

LessthananhourafterleavingDobrunourdocumentswillbecheckedbyon-trainBosnianandSerbiancustomsandimmigrationofficialsbeforewecrosstheborderintoSerbia.ThisisoneofthelastNarrowGaugeSteamrailwaybordercrossingsintheworld!WecontinuetoMokraGorafromwherewetransferbycoachtoZlatiborfordinnerandovernightaccommodationatHotelMona.(BLD)

Sunday 29th May Mokra Gora and the “Šargan Eight” Today,wereturntoMokraGorabycoachtotravelononeofthemostbeautifulrailwaysintheworld.Ourmorningchartertrainwillbehauledbytheclass830-8-2steamlocomotivealonganarrowgaugerailwaylinelocatedamidststunningsceneryinthefoothillsofMountZlatibor.Wetravelthe“ŠarganEight”betweenMokraGoraandŠarganVitasi,sonamedbecauseofanunusualfigureofeightloopbywhich300metresofheightisgainedin3.5kilometres.LunchwillbeservedatJatareStationonthereturnjourneytoMokraGora.OnarrivalatMokraGorawetransferbycoachtoHotelMonainZlatiborfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Monday 30th May Belgrade, Serbia AfterbreakfastwetravelbycoachtoPozegawherewevisittherailwaymuseum.Thehistoriccollectioncontainssomeunusualexamplesofnarrowgaugesteamlocomotivesandotherrollingstock.WecontinueourjourneytoBelgradebycoachwherewecheckinatourhotel.IntheafternoonweenjoyacitytourofBelgrade.Ourfarewelldinnerthiseveningwillbeatoneofthecity’sbestknownrestaurants,famousfortypicalnationalcuisine,inthepicturesque‘Bohemian’quarterofSkadarlija.Wereturnbycoachtoourhotelforourovernightaccommodation.(BD)

Tuesday 31st May Homeward Bound Afterbreakfast,therewillbefreetimetoexploreBelgradebeforewetransfertotheairportforourearlyafternoonflighttoLondon.(B)

European Tours - Steam in Slovenia, Bosnia and Serbia

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• ReturnflightsfromLondonto LjubljanaandBelgradetoLondon


• 8lunches(somepacked)and11dinners

• Alltraintravel,steamchartersand transfersmentionedintheitinerary



May 2011

M T W T F S S

25 26 27 28 29 30 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31 1 2 3 4 5

Chris Bailey

32

Secrets of Belarus and Highlights of Ukrainian Steam

Saturday 21st May Fly to Kiev in UkraineWecheckinatLondonHeathrowforaBritishAirwaysflightdirecttoKiev.Onarrival,wehaveatourofthecity,thecapitalofUkraineandoneoftheoldestcitiesinEasternEurope.Kievisanimportantindustrialandculturalcentrewithahighlydevelopedsystemofpublictransport,includingtheKievMetro,tram,trolleybus,andafunicularthatclimbsupthesteeprightbankoftheDnieperRiver.Kreshchatyk(street)isclosedtotrafficatweekendsandfullofstreetperformersandfamiliesoutforastroll.Wetransfertoourhotelforovernightaccommodation.(D)

Sunday 22nd MaySchors Locomotive Reserve & BelarusThismorning,wetravelfromKievtoBakhmachbytrain,hauledbyasteamlocomotiveofclass50.WechangetoanLclass2-10-0steamlocomotivefortheonwardjourneytoSchors.OnarrivalatSchorswevisitthesteamlocomotive(LandErclass)reservedepot.OurtrainishauledbyanelectriclocomotiveasourjourneycontinuesacrosstheborderintoBelarusandtothecityofBrest.ThiscityisclosetotheborderwithPoland

andsituatedonthemainrailwaylineconnectingBerlin,WarsawandMoscow.HeretheEuropeanstandardgaugemeetstheRussianbroadgaugeandallpassengertrainscomingfromPolandhavetheirbogiesreplaced,andfreightistranshipped,totravelonacrossBelarus.Westayovernightonthetrain.(BLD)

Monday 23rd MaySteam from BrestFollowingbreakfastweenjoyaguidedtourofBrestRailwayMuseum.Thisopenairmuseumhasaselectionofbroadandstandardgaugesteamlocomotivesfromvariousclasses.ThemuseumislocatedclosetotheBrestFortress,themajorattractionofthecity.AfterourvisitwerejoinourtrainforaspiritedruntoVladavaandreturn,hauledbyTeandErclasssteamlocomotives.Therewillbephotoopportunitieswithrunpastsenroute.IntheafternoonwetravelfromBresttoVisokoLitovskwithclassTeandErsteamlocomotives.WereturntoBrestandstayovernightonthetrain.(BLD)

Tuesday 24th MayP36 Class Steam in BelarusAfterbreakfastweenjoyafastjourneyfromBresttoYarnovandreturn,hauledbya4-6-4steamlocomotiveNo.P36.050orNo.P36.064.Builtinthe1950’s,theP36wasthelastRussianstandardclassandoneofthebestpassengersteamlocomotivesbuiltintheSovietUnion.Theyweretheonlysemi-streamlinedsteamlocomotivesbuiltinRussiaandweredesignedtohaulprincipalexpresstrainsoutofMoscow.Whenelectrificationanddieselisationexpanded,manyoftheclassweretransferredtoworkonotherrailways.Thelastwerewithdrawnfromregularscheduledexpresspassengertrainservicein1974andallwerestoredinfullworkingorderaspartofthe“strategicreserve”.Onlyinthelate1980’sweretheselocomotivesdisbandedanddistributedtomuseumsandforpreservation.Westayonthetrainovernight.(BLD)

Wednesday 25th MayReturn to UkraineToday,wewillbehauledbyaTeclass2-10-0steamlocomotivefromBrestsouth-eastwardstoMalorita.Wecontinuedieselhauledoverthe

European Tours - Secrets of Belarus - Highlights of Ukrainian Steam

It is several years since we have been able to offer a steam tour in Ukraine. Now through negotiations with Dzherelo SPK, and co-operation from Ukrainian and Belarusian Railways, we have been able to arrange this interesting tour, perhaps for the final time. We travel on the special charter train ‘hotel on wheels Dzherelo’ which uses comfortable railway carriages for day time and overnight accommodation, with meals provided in a restaurant car.We discover the railway secrets of Belarus and use their steam locomotive fleet, visiting the captivating city of Brest. In the Ukraine we view the splendour of the Carpathian Mountains and visit the fascinating cities of Kiev, Lviv and Odessa. It will be an interesting tour plus a fond farewell to steam in the Ukraine.

Saturday 21st May to Monday 30th May 2011

Cedric Spiller

33

borderintoUkrainetravellinginasoutherlydirectiontoLviv(Lvov),wherewestayovernightonthetrain.(BLD)

Thursday 26th May Lviv to KolomyiaLvivisacityinwesternUkraineandregardedasoneofthecountry’smainculturalcentres.Itscastlehasacommandingviewofthehistoriccitycentre.Inthemorningweenjoyavintagetramtourofthecity.ThemetregaugesystemusesgroovedrailandcurrentlyoperatesoverninelineswithCzech-builtKT4,andafewolderT4,typetrams.Followinglunchtherewillbeanafternoonguidedcitytour.Themarketsquare,withitsintriguingbuildings,fountainsandsculptures,isinthehistoricalcentreofthecityandaUNESCOWorldHeritageSite.Therearecobbledsidestreets,cathedrals,churches,palaces,andavarietyofbuildingsrepresentingseveralarchitecturalstyles,fromRenaissancetoModernism.OurtrainwillbedieselhauledwhenitleavesLvivmideveningforthejourneytoKolomyia.ThiscityisanindustrialcentrelocatedonthePrutRiverandanotablerailwayhub.Westayhereovernightonthetrain.(BLD)

Friday 27th May Steam through the Mountains to Rachov TodayisoneofthehighlightsofthetouraswetravelintotheCarpathianMountainsoveraspectacularsteeplygradedlinethroughsceneryofunsurpassedbeauty.OurtrainleavesKolomyiainthemorning,hauledbytwoErclass0-10-0steamlocomotives,travellingwestwardsalongthevalleyofthePrutRivertoDelatyn.Heretherouteturnssouthwardsintothemountains.Wecrossanimpressive30metres(100feet)highviaductatYaremche,aspatownsurroundedbypicturesquewoodedmountaintopsandnicknamed‘PearloftheCarpathians’.Wecontinuewindingourwaythroughimpressivemountainterrain,alongdeepvalleys,overviaductsandbridges,andthroughtunnels,toRachov(Rakhiv).WedepartRachovintheevening,dieselhauledtowardstheBlackSeaandOdessa.Westayovernightonthetrain.(BLD)

Saturday 28th May Arrive OdessaWearriveinMigayevalateintheafternoonandfromhereourtrainishauledbyanErclasssteamlocomotivetoOdessa.Odessaisamajorseaportlocatedonthenorth-westshoreoftheBlackSea.Itisalsoanimportanttransporthubforfreight,integratingportswiththerailway,andforinternationalpassengertrainsconnectingwithWarsaw,Prague,Vienna,Berlin,Moscow,andelsewhere.OnarrivalinOdessawetransfertotheBlackSeaHotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Sunday 29th May Day in OdessaOdessaissituatedonterracedhillsoverlookingasmallharbourandtodaywehaveasightseeingtourandatramtourofthecity.Inthe19thCenturyitwasthefourthlargestcityofImperialRussiabutitshistoricalarchitecturehasastylemoreMediterraneanthanRussian.Itisanindustrialcitywithanavalbaseandhometoafishingfleet.Odessaisapopulartouristdestinationandalsoknownforitshugeoutdoormarket,theSeventh-KilometreMarket,thelargestofitskindinEurope.LunchwillbeinthefamoussteakhouseinOdessa.Wedepartintheearlyevening,hauledbyelectrictractiontoZhitomirwherewestayovernightonthetrain.(BLD)

Monday 30th May Homeward BoundOurfinaltripbytrainisfromZhitomirtoKievhauledbyanLclass2-10-0steamlocomotive.OnarrivalatKievwetransfertoBoryspilAirportforourBritishAirwaysflighttoLondon.WearriveinLondonataround17.45.(B)

European Tours - Secrets of Belarus - Highlights of Ukrainian Steam

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• ReturnflightsfromLondontoKiev

• 2nightshotelaccommodation withbreakfast

• 7nightsaccommodationaboardour traininnewsleepingcarswith2vacuum toiletspercoach,withwashbasin

• Showercar

• 7breakfastsonthetrain

• 8lunchesand9dinners

• Salooncaravailableatasupplement



May 2011

M T W T F S S

25 26 27 28 29 30 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31 1 2 3 4 5

34

Rail and Fjords of Norway

Saturday 23rd JulyTour of OsloWetakeamorningflightfromLondonHeathrowtoOslowherewecheckintoourhotelfortwonights.Intheafternoontherewillbeasightseeingtourofthisrapidlydevelopingcity.Norwayhaseighteenhoursofdaylightatthistimeofyearandwetakefulladvantageofthisduringourtour.(D)

Sunday 24th JulySteam on the Krøderbanen and Urskog-Hølandsbanen RailwaysTodaywetravelbyprivatecoachtoKrøderenwherewejoinasteamhauledtrainontheKrøderbanen.ThisisNorway’slongestpreservedlineandwetravelthe26kmtoVikersundandback.Ourjourney,incarriagesbuiltofteak,isthroughchangingscenery.IntheafternoonourcoachtakesustoSørumsandwherewehavecharteredasteamhauledtrainontheUrskog-Hølandsbanenline.Therewillbeopportunitiesforphotorunpastsonthis750mmgaugepreservedrailwaywhichwasoncepartoftheOslo-Stockholmmainline.WestayovernightinOslo.(BLD)

Monday 25th JulySpectacular Mountains and Fjords en Route to BergenWeleaveOsloonthemorningtraintoBergenforoneofthegreatestrailwayjourneysintheworld.Therouteclimbstohighaltitudeat

4,267feet(1,303metres)passinglushforests,snowcappedmountains,sparklinglakes,andthunderingwaterfalls.AfterFinse,thehigheststationontheline,ourjourneycontinuesacrossbarrenandwindsweptmountainplateauswitheverlastingsnowgivingastunningbackdrop.OurtrainpassesthroughtunnelsandbesidedeepfjordsasitdescendstoBergenwherewearrivemid-afternoon.TheremainderofthedayisfreeforsightseeinginBergen,acitysurroundedbyhillsandfjords.Locationsofnoteincludetheoldcity,aUNESCOWorldHeritagesite;fishmarket,thebusyquayside,andthehomeofEdvardGrieg.Alternatively,itispossibletotakethefamousfunicularrailwaytothetopofMountFløienforpanoramicviewsoverthecityandouttosea.Bergenwillbeourbaseforthenextthreenights.DinnerisnotincludedthiseveningprovidinganopportunitytotryoneofBergen’sexcellentrestaurants.(B)

Tuesday 26th JulyCruise Sognefjord and Ride the Flåm RailwayBergenisthegatewaytothefjordsandtodayweboardashipthereforacruisealongtheSognefjordtoBalestrandandFlam.SognefjordisNorway’slargestfjordandthesecondlongestintheworldatover200km(127miles).Cliffssurroundingthefjordrisealmostsheerfromthewaterandprettyvillagesclingtothesteepsides.WearriveatFlåmandfindlunchashore.IntheafternoonweridetheelectricFlåmRailway,one

ofthesteepestrailwaylinesintheworld.Itclimbs865metresin20kilometresthroughspectacularscenerytoMyrdalstation.ThetrainstopsbythefamousKjosfossenwaterfallforpassengerstotakephotographs.WechangetrainsatMyrdalforthejourneybacktoBergen.(BD)

Wednesday 27th JulyBergen and Garnes to MidttunWehavethemorningfreetoexploreBergen.Midafternoon,acoachwilltransferustotheGamleVossebanen,aheritagerailwaynearGarnes.HerewejoinacharteredtrainfromGarnestoMidttun,andreturn,hauledbyanex-mainlinesteamlocomotive.Thelineis18kmlongandphotorunpastswillbearrangedaswepassthroughtheArnaValley.WereturntoBergenbycoachwhereweenjoydinnerinthehotelrestaurant.(BD)

Thursday 28th JulyCruise to Stavanger; KristiansandWeleaveBergenonthemorningferryforStavanger,enjoyingarelaxingcruisethroughthecalmcoastalwatersofthesouth-westernislands.WetransferbycoachfromStavangerHarbourtotherailwaystationwhereweboardatrainforKristiansand.WestayovernightinKristiansand.(BD)

Friday 29th JulyThe Setesdalsbanen Narrow Gauge RailwayTodaywetravelbyroadcoachtoGrovanewherewejoinasteamchartertrainonthe

European Tours - Rail and Fjords of Norway

This tour features one of the most unspoiled destinations in the world. We experience the magnificent Norwegian fjords, travel on one of the best maintained railway systems in Europe, whilst witnessing truly outstanding scenery. Our tour covers southern Norway starting in Oslo, Norway’s capital, and finishing with a visit to the National Railway Museum at Hamar. As well as Oslo we visit the delightful cities of Bergen and Stavanger.

Saturday 23rd July to Monday 1st August 2011

Dave Ensor

35

Setesdalsbanen.Thisisa1067mmnarrowgaugerailwaythathassomeraretypesoflocomotivesincludingtwodelightfulDubbstanklocomotives,builtin1894.LaterwejoinaregulartrainfromKristiansandtoHamarviaOslo.WestayovernightinOslo.(BD)

Saturday 30th JulyHamar Railway Museum; Train to ÅlesundWevisittheNationalRailwayMuseumatHamartoviewthenationalcollectionandtakeatripontheirsteamoperatedmuseumline.WeboardanearlyafternoontraintoAndalsnes,thencontinuebyroadcoachtoÅlesundwhichisNorway’sfishingcapitalandsituatedonseveralislands.WestayovernightinÅlesund.(BD)

Sunday 31st JulyCruise the GeirangerfjordToday,weboardashipforafullday’scruisealongtheGeirangerfjord,aUNESCOWorldHeritagesite.ThisisoneofNorway’smostspectacularfjordsandfamousforitsspectacularlyhighscenicwaterfalls.WeshouldarrivebackinÅlesundbytheearlyevening,providingtimetoexplorethisArtNouveautownbythesea.Again,westayovernightinÅlesund.(BD)

Monday 1st AugustReturn to LondonWetransferbycoachfromÅlesundtoAndalsneswherewejoinaservicetraintoOsloAirport.WehaveanafternoonflightbacktoLondon.(B)

European Tours - Rail and Fjords of Norway

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• ReturnflightsLondontoOslo

• 9nightshotelaccommodationin 3and4-starhotelsincludingbreakfasts

• 1lunchand8dinners

• Railtravelasdetailedintheitinerary

• Alltransfers

• Alltraveladvertisedbyshipandcoach

• Theservicesofatourmanagerthroughout


July – August 2011

M T W T F S S

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Mike Hyde

Mike Hyde

Oslo

Myrdal

Andalsnes

Dombas

Alesund

HamarFlam

Bergen

Stavanger

Srovane

Kristiansand

36

Monday 1st AugustFarewell to LondonWehaveamorningdeparturebyEurostarfromLondonStPancrastoParisGareduNord,fromwherewetransferbycoachtotheGaredeL’Est.HereweboardtheTGVtoMulhousewhere,onarrival,wetransfertoourhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(D)

Tuesday 2nd AugustSteam Train to the Top of Mount RigiAfterbreakfastweboardaservicetraintoLucerne,whereweleaveourluggageatthehotelbeforetakingafiveminutewalktotheboatstation.WecrossLakeLucernetoVitznauwhereweboardoursteamhauledvintagetrainwhichtakesustoRigiKulmatthetopofMountRigi.Thismountainisalmostcompletelysurroundedbylakesandprovidesstunningviewsofthesurroundingarea.Thereisarestaurantatthesummitwherelunchescanbepurchased.WedescendMountRigibyadifferentrailwayroutetoArth-GoldauwherewecatchaservicetrainbacktoLucerne.(BD)

Wednesday 3rd AugustThe William Tell ExpressAfterbreakfastwetransfertotheboatstationinLucerne.Herewejoinavintagepaddlesteamerandtravel1stclassforathreeandahalfhourtripacrossLakeLucernetoFluelen.Lunchwillbeservedintherestaurantonboard.Lookoutforsleepy

bays,picturesquevillagesandhistoriclandmarksenroute.InFluelenwejoina1stclasspanoramictrainwhichrunsalongthescenicGotthardRailwaylinethroughtheReussValley.Itthenclimbstoover1,100metresabovesealevelinsidethefamousGotthardTunnel.Therouteeithersideofthetunnelusesspirals,galleriesandbridgesfortheclimbandthenthedescenttoBellinzonainTichino.ThejourneycontinuestoLocarnowheretheafternoonisfreetoexplorethispicturesquelakesidetown.Dinnerisnotincludedtonight,givingyoutheopportunitytotryalocalrestaurant.(BL)

Thursday 4th AugustSteam on the Monte Generoso Rack RailwayAfterbreakfastwetravelbyservicetraintoCapolagowherewechangetoourspecialsteamchartertrainontheMonteGenerosorackrailway.Therearemagnificentviewsasoursteamlocomotive,builtin1890,pushesthetrainupthegradientfor9kilometres.Thesummitoffersamazing360°panoramicviewsovertheLombardyPlainandtowardstheAlps.WereturntoLocarnoviapicturesqueLuganoinourowntime,providingplentyofopportunitytoenjoythestunningviewsoftheLakeLuganoandtheAlps.DinnerandovernightaccommodationisatourhotelinLocarno.(BD)

Friday 5th AugustLocarno to ZermattTodaywetravelbyscheduledtrainoverthespectacularCentovalliRailwayfromLocarnotoDomodossolainItaly.Thisnarrowgaugerailwaylinepassesthroughamountainousareaofmorethanonehundredvalleys.AtDomodossolawechangetrainsandtravelthroughthefamousSimplonTunneltoBrig.HerewejoinaMatterhorn-GotthardRailwaytraintoZermatt,afamousvillageoverlookedbytheMatterhorn,oneofthehighestpeaksintheAlps.WetransfertoourhotelinZermattfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BD)

Saturday 6th AugustThe Glacier Express to St MoritzFollowingatastybreakfastweboardthelegendaryGlacierExpressatZermattStation.Thisfamoustrainisrenownedforbeingtheslowestexpresstraininworld!Slowornot,itwilltakeusonamemorablejourneythroughthemountainsviaBrig,AndermattandChurtoStMoritz.Sitbackandenjoythemagnificentviewsaswepassthroughareasofunspoiltnaturalbeauty,fragrantmountainforests,alpinemeadowsandpastrushingmountainstreams.ThetrainreachesanaltitudeofovertwothousandfeetnearAndermatt.Lunchwillbeservedintherestaurantcarduringthejourney.OnarrivalatStMoritzwetransfertoourhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

European Tours - Classic Trains of Switzerland

Join us on this exciting tour to Switzerland which features some wonderful experiences in the country famous for its mountains, lakes, and spectacular scenery. Highlights include travel on the world famous Glacier and Bernina Expresses, through some of Europe’s most dramatic and beautiful scenery; the William Tell Express, scenic Rail and Lake Cruise; mountain rack railways; vintage paddle steamers; and a delightful steam train trip on a circular route through the fascinating mountains of Graubünden. We stay in iconic centres such as Lucerne, Locarno, Zermatt and St. Moritz and enjoy travelling on the efficient Swiss transport system.

Classic Trains of SwitzerlandMonday 1st August to Tuesday 9th August 2011

37

Sunday 7th AugustSteam Train to DavosAfterbreakfastwetakeamorningRhaetianRailway(RhB)train,viathescenicAlbulamainline,toLandquart.HerewejointheRhBvintagetrain,hauledbyametregauge2-8-0steamlocomotive,foracirculartourthroughthemountainsofGraubünden.WeclimbupthePrättigauValleytoKlosters,theskiresortmadefamousbyitsroyalandcelebritypatrons.WecontinuetoDavoswherewehavelunchattheHotelTerminusoppositethestation.IntheafternoonoursteamtraintakesusdowntheLandwasserValleytoFilisur,thenoverthefamousLandwasserViaducttoTiefencastel,ThusisandChur.WetransfertoourhotelinChurfordinnerandovernightaccommodation(BLD)

Monday 8th AugustThe Bernina ExpressTheRhaetianRailway(RhB)ownsoneofthemostscenicrailnetworksintheworldandtodaywetravelonitsfamousBerninaExpress.Thejourneytakesuspastwaterfalls,glaciersandoverdramaticravines.ThefinalascentoftheAlbulaPassinvolvesnumerousloopsandspiralsbeforepassingthroughalongtunnelintotheEngadineValley.

Fromhere,therouteclimbsevenhigher,tooverseventhousandfeet,attheBerninaPass.Thisisawonderfullywildplacewithamassofsnowcappedpeaksvisibleallaround;afascinatingvoyagethateventuallyendsinTirano,apicturesqueItaliantown.WehavetwohourstoexplorethetownortakeadvantageofthemanysuperbItalianrestaurantsbeforeleavingintheearlyafternoon.WereturnthroughtheBerninaPasstoStMoritzwherewejointherestaurantcaroftrain574foradelightfuldinnerwhilstonthejourneybacktoChur.(BD)

Tuesday 9th AugustReturn to LondonWetakeamorningdeparturefromChurbyscheduledtraindirecttoBasel.HerewechangetrainsandboardthemiddaydeparturetoParisviaMulhouseandBelfort.OnarrivalatParisGaredel’EstwemaketheshorttransfertoParisGareduNordwhereweboardanearlyeveningEurostartoLondonStPancras.(B)

European Tours - Classic Trains of Switzerland

Tour Summary

Price per person: £1865 Single supplement: £275

Price includes:

• 8nightsaccommodationandbreakfast in3and4-starhotels


• Allseatreservationsandtransfers

• Allspecialsteamchartertrains mentionedintheitinerary

• Allvisitsasdetailedinthetouritinerary

• FirstclassrailtravelfromLondon toSwitzerlandandback



August 2011

M T W T F S S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 1 2 3 4

Phil Lawson

Zurich

InterlakenMontreux

Lausane

RothornChur

Klosters

Davos

Tirano

Basel

38

Austria and the Czech Republic

Saturday 13th AugustArrival in PragueOurmorningflightfromLondontoPraguearrivesintheCzechcapitalcityaroundmid-day.Wecheckintotheelegantfour-starHotelCentury,locatedintheheartoftheextensive‘oldtown’.ItissituatedinthesamehistoricbuildingwheretherenownedwriterFranzKafkaonceworkedasaninsuranceclerkintheearly20thCentury.Therestoftheafternoonandeveningisfreetoexplorethecityanddiscoveritsspectacularsights.

Sunday 14th AugustSteam in West Bohemia with No. 475.111WetravelbyservicetrainfromPrague´sdistinctiveArtNouveaustationtoPilseninWestBohemia.Therethemassive,yetelegant,post-war“Mountain”steamlocomotiveNo.475.111waitstotakeusonourfirstexclusivesteamchartertrainjourney.WetravelnorthwardsonthelinetoBlatno,LubenecandChyse.InChysewevisitthelocalcastlebreweryforlunchandrefreshments.Afterthesteamlocomotivehastakenwaterwecontinuealongthenearbybranchline,closedtopassengertrafficsincethelate1990’s,toBochov.Therewillbeampleopportunityforline-sidephotography,tocapturethemajestyofthemightyNo.475.111.

WereturnbysteamfromBochovtoPilsenwherewecatchaservicetrainbacktoPrague.(BL)

Monday 15th AugustGmünd, Ceske Velenice Locomotive Works & Trebon Castle BreweryTodaywetransferbycoachfromPraguetotheAustrianbordertownofGmündwherewestayatthefour-starHotelGoldenerSternforfivedays.ThisdelightfulcountryinnfeaturesallthetraditionalhallmarksofAustrianhospitalityandisanidealbaseforexploringtheregiononbothsidesoftheCzech/Austrianborder.Afterlunch,inthehotel´swoodpanelleddiningroom,wecrossthebordertotheadjacentCzechtownofCeskeVelenicewherewevisitoneofEurope´slastremainingsteamlocomotiveworkshops.Touringthefacilityisliketakingastepbackintimebyseveraldecadesastheworksstillusesancientindustrialequipmentlikeoldsteamhammers.Severalsteamlocomotives,includingtheirboilers,andoldcarriageswillbeseeninvariousstatesofoverhaul.WehaveaneveningexcursionbycoachtothenearbyBaroquetownofTrebon.HerewewillvisitthewellpreservedhistorictowncentreandtheattractivecastlebrewerywhichservestheexcellentBohemiaRegentBeer.WewillhavedinnerinTrebonbeforereturningtoGmündforourovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Tuesday 16th AugustSteam on the Waldviertler Schmalspurbahn to LitschauAfterbreakfastatourhotelwevisitthenarrowgaugeWaldviertlerSchmalspurbahnforourfirstAustriansteamchartertrainride.Weshallbehauledbythedistinctive0-8-2steamlocomotiveNo.399.01fromGmünd,northtoLitschau.Thetrainwillfeatureanattractivesmallbuffetcarservingvariousdrinksandsnacks.ThelinepassesthroughtheheartofthedenselyforestedregionthatgivestheAustrianWaldviertelitsname.InLitschautherewillbetimeforawalkaroundthetownbeforewereturntoGmündonourtrain.Enroutetherewillbeopportunitiesforline-sidephotographyandtheexperiencedtraincrewwillco-operateinprovidinggoodeffectsforus.EveningdinnerisatthehotelinGmünd.(BLD)

Wednesday 17th AugustSteam to HeidenreichsteinWecontinueourexplorationoftheAustrianWaldviertelwithajourneyalongtheleastusedsectionoftrack,thebranchlinefromAlt-NagelbergtoHeidenreichstein.Itisnormallyquitedifficulttoarrangesteamhaulageonthisline,butwehaveNo.399.01attheheadofourtrainagain.Enroutetherewillbesomephotorun-pastopportunities.InHeidenreichsteinwepausefor

European Tours - Austria and the Czech Republic

Come with us and enjoy Central Europe during the summer time, as we explore the rich culture and fascinating steam heritage of the Czech Republic and Austria. This brand new tour offers an exciting combination of impressive standard gauge steam locomotives; unusual narrow gauge lines; rarely visited regions full of natural beauty and rural charm; plus all the class and grandeur of the historic cities of Prague and Linz. We have a number of exclusive chartered trains that will feature haulage by some of Central Europe´s most remarkable steam locomotives, chief amongst them the elegant post-war “Mountain” No. 475.111 and the Austrian 0-8-2 narrow gauge legend No. 399.01. Additionally, we have an enchanting river cruise aboard the last paddle steamer on the Danube River, the magnificent “Schönbrunn” from 1912. This trip will excite and delight regulars to Central Europe as much as casual newcomers.

Saturday 13th August to Monday 22nd August 2011

39

lunchandtovisitthelocalcastle,beforesteamingbacktoGmünd.Dinnerisagainservedatthehotel.(BLD)

Thursday 18th August Steam on the JHMD Northern Branch LineTodaywereturntoSouthBohemiaandtravelbycoachtoJindrichuvHradec,auniqueGothicandRenaissancetownsituatedaboveLakeVajgar.HereisthehuboftheJindrichuvHradecMistniDrahy(JHMD)orJindrichuvHradeclocalrailway,oneofonlytwoexisting760mmlinesintheCzechRepublic.Wehaveaspeciallycharteredsteamtrainthattakesusovertheentirelengthofthe45kmlongnorthernbranchlinefromJindrichuvHradectoObratanviaKamenice.ThisnarrowgaugelinemayjustifiablybeconsideredasoneofthebestinEurope.Itisfulloftraditionalatmosphereandpassesthroughasparselypopulatedregionrichinidyllicscenery.Wehaveapackedlunchprovidedbyourhotel,plusasmallbuffetcaronthetrainservingCzechbeer,coffeeandwarmsausages.OursteamtraintravelsthroughSouthBohemia,andVysocina,knownlocallyastheCzech“Highlands”Region.WereturnbyoursteamtraintoJindrichuvHradecfromwhereourcoachtakesusbacktoGmünd.Wehavedinneratourhotel.(BLD)

Friday 19th AugustSteam on the JHMD Southern Branch LineWereturnoncemoretotheCzechsideoftheborderandtravelbycoachtoNovaBystrice,thesouthernterminusoftheJHMDnetwork.NovaBystriceislocatedinaruralareaknownas“CzechCanada”becauseofthemanysmalllakesanddenseforeststhatevokememoriesofOntarioorManitobainCanada.Ourspeciallycharteredsteamtraintakesusthroughthisspectacularsceneryandalongtheentirelengthofthe32kmsouthernbranchoftheJHMDtoJindrichuvHradec.WereturnbyoursteamtraintoNovaBystricefromwhereourcoachtakesusbacktoGmündforalastnightattheHotelGoldenerStern.(BLD)

Saturday 20th AugustPaddle Steamer Cruise on the DanubeAfterbreakfastwetransferbycoachtoLinz,thethirdlargestcityinAustria.Therewecheckintoourfour-starhotelbeforewegoaboardAustria´slastgenuineDanubepaddlesteamer,theformidable“Schönbrunn”from1912.OurcruisehasalatemorningdepartureandwesteamwestwardsalongtheDanubeRivertoAschach.Lunchcanbeobtainedonboardthesteamer.Aschachisanhistoriccentrewithshipbuildingandfishingtraditions.Alocalartsandcraftsmarketwithover60exhibitorsisheldinthetownonthisday.Thereisachoiceofeithervisitingthetownandthefair,orstayingonboardthesteamerforanadditionalafternooncruisefurtheralongtheDanube.Afterthereturnofthe“Schönbrunn”toAschach,itsteamsbacktoLinz,anddinnercanbeobtainedonboard.WereturntoourhotelinLinz.(B)

Sunday 21st AugustÖGEG Steam Train & Heritage Collection; Pöstlingbergbahn in LinzTodaywevisittheremarkableheritagerailway

collectionoftheÖGEG,theAustrianSocietyforRailwayHistory.WetaketheregularAustrianRailways(ÖBB)servicetrainfromLinztoTimelkamwherewejointheÖGEG´svintagetrainonthesociety´sveryownmuseumbranchline,aformercoalrailway.Ourtrainwillbehauledbyoneofthesociety´sstandardgaugesteamlocomotivestoAmpflwang,thelocationoftheirsteamandheritagecentre.Itfeaturesstandardandnarrowgaugesteamlocomotives;somedieselandelectriclocomotives;amassive26-bayroundhouse,newlybuiltaroundaturntableandtraverser;andacoalminingmuseum.Therewillbeplentyoftimetovisittheroundhousetoseetheextensivecollectionofoperationalandstoredlocomotivesandwatchthelocomotivefromourtrainbeingservicedandmanoeuvreontheturntable.IntheafternoonwetakethesteamtrainbacktoTimelkamandreturntoourhotelinLinz.Intheeveningwegototheelegantsummitrestaurant,atthetopofthePöstlingberginLinz,forourlastgroupdinner.WetraveltherefromthecentreofLinzontheremarkablePöstlingbergbahn,anarrowgaugeelectricrailway,whichisoneofthesteepestadhesionrailwaysintheworld.Itwasrecentlyre-gaugedandintegratedintothecity´surbantramnetwork,yetretainsthreeofthedistinctiveoldtramsinservice.WereturntoourhotelinLinz.(BD)

Monday 22nd AugustReturn to LondonAfterbreakfastandcheckingoutofourhotelinLinzwetransfertotheairportforourflightbacktoLondon.(B)

European Tours - Austria and the Czech Republic

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• 9nightsinelegant4-starhotels throughout

• 9breakfasts,6lunchesand6dinners

• Flights

• Trainandcoachtransferswithin theCzechRepublicandAustria

• Transportationonallexclusivelyhiredsteam chartertrainsaswellaspublicsteamtrain

• Theservicesofatourmanager andatourtranslator


August 2011

M T W T F S S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 1 2 3 4

40

Bulgarian Mountains Steam Express

Wednesday 14th September SofiaOurflightwithBritishAirwaystakesusdirecttoSofia,wherewecheckintoour4-starhotel.Intheafternoon,wehavearrangedacitytourandatramride.Dinnerisatourhotel.(D)

Thursday 15th September Steam Train to VelingradWedepartSofiahauledbysteamlocomotive2-8-2No.01.23andheadforSeptemvri.Alightlunchwillbeservedintherestaurantcaronthetrain.AtSeptemvriwetransfertoourspecialnarrowgaugetrainhauledbyaverylarge2-10-4TtanklocomotiveNo.609.76.Ourclimbintothemountainstakesusthroughdramaticgorgeswithfastflowingrivers.WearriveatVelingrad,highupinthemountains,awintersportsresortandoneofthemostpopularBulgariancentresformedicinalmineralwatersprings.WetransfertotheHotelVelingradfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Friday 16th September To Bansko & Dobrinishte WerejoinoursteamhauledtrainatVelingradStationandondepartureNo.609.76willbeworkinghardasweclimbthroughthemagnificentsceneryoftheRilaMountains,thehighestmountainrangeinBulgariaandtheBalkans.

EventuallywearriveatBansko,amajorsummerandwintertouristresort.Themountainpeaksnearthetown,thenumerouslakesandtheoldpinewoodsmakeitapopularsiteforrecreation.Wewillhaveapicniclunchenroute.WecontinuetoDobrinishte,6kmeastofBansko,laterintheafternoon.Banskoisspatownandafamouswinterresortatanaltitudeof850metresandsurroundedbytheRila,Pirin,andRhodopeMountains.WereturnbycoachtoourhotelinVelingradfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Saturday 17th September Steam to Dimitrovgrad & PodkovaAfterbreakfastwereturnbycoachtoSeptemvriwherewejoinourspecialsteamchartertrainhauledbylocomotiveNo.01.23.WetraveltoDimitrovgradviaPlovdiv,withlunchservedenroute.AtDimitrovgradwechangelocomotivesanda16class2-10-0willtakeourtraintoPodkova.ThisspectacularlineweavesitswaypastlakesandthroughmountaingorgestoKardzhaliand,eventually,Momchilgrad.WeproceedfromMomchilgradtoPodkova,fromwherewetransferbacktoHaskovoandourhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Sunday 18th September To Stara ZagoraAfterbreakfastwetransferbycoachtoMomchilgradandjoinoursteamchartertrainwhichisagainhauledbya16class2-10-0.WetravelthroughmajesticscenerytoDimitrovgrad.FromDimitrovgradwecontinuewithBulgarian05classPacificsteamlocomotiveNo.05.01whichwasbuiltbyKruppofGermanyin1945.OurroutetakesusthroughthemagnificentBulgariancountrysidetoSimeonovgradandNovaZagora,whereourlocomotivetakeswater.WecontinuetoStaraZagora,thesixthlargestcityinBulgaria,andanationallyimportanteconomiccentre.Itisknownasthecityofstraightstreets,lindentrees,andpoets.WestayovernightintheHotelVereya(BLD)

Monday 19th September Steam to Veliko TarnovoAfteranearlyvisittothesteamlocomotivedepotatKaloianovets,ourtrainleavesStaraZagorawith4-6-2steamlocomotiveNo.05.01totraveltoTulovo.OurroutenorthfromDabovoclimbsupthroughamassivecanyonbymeansofspiralsandhighembankments,oftenclingingprecariouslytoitssides.WearriveatVelikoTarnovowhichislocatedontheYantraRiverandoneoftheoldestsettlementsinBulgaria.DinnerandovernightaccommodationisintheYantraGrandHotel,a

European Tours - Bulgarian Mountains Steam Express

The Bulgarian Mountains Steam Express provides an opportunity to travel by steam train through the most scenic areas of Bulgaria. The tour begins in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and heads for the Rhodope Mountains. This area has a rich cultural heritage with medieval castles, churches, monasteries and picturesque villages with traditional Bulgarian architecture from 18th and 19th Century. We travel on a narrow gauge steam train for the spectacular journey to Velingrad, Bansko and Dobrinishte. We visit the spectacular cities of Veliko Tarnovo and Rousse before concluding our journey at Varna on the Black Sea Coast. We offer a wide variety of steam locomotives: 16 class 2-10-0, 01 class 2-8-2, 05 class 4-6-2, 03 class 4-8-2, and a narrow gauge 2-10-4T tank engine.

Wednesday 14th September to Saturday 24th September 2011

41

4-starhotelrecentlyrefurbishedandnamedafterthelocalriverthatwindsitswaygracefullythroughasheertreelinedgorge.(BLD)

Tuesday 20th September Veliko TarnovoVelikoTarnovoisoneofBulgaria’sprimarytouristdestinationsandhasmanyhistoricalmonumentsandlandmarks.InthemorningwevisitthenearbysteamlocomotivedepotatAssenovowhichstillcontainsawidevarietyofsteamlocomotivetypes.TheremainderofthedayisfreetoexploreVelikoTarnovoandvisitplacessuchastheruinsofthecastleonahilloverlookingthecity,the‘oldtown’;itsmanychurches;andSamovodskaCharshia,theoldtradestreetwithitsrestoredcraftsmen’shousesandworkshops.Again,dinnerandovernightaccommodationisattheYantraGrandHotel.(BLD)

Wednesday 21st September Steam Train to Rousse (Ruse)WedepartVelikoTarnovohauledbysteamlocomotiveNo.03.12,amassive4-8-2builtbyHenschelofGermany.OurrouteisviaGornaOriahovitsathroughtherollingBulgariancountrysidetoRousse.Lunchwillbeprovidedandtherewillbeopportunitiesforphotorun-pastsenroute.OnarrivalatRoussewetransfertoourhotel,theDanubePlaza,fordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Thursday 22nd September Rousse and the DanubeRousse,thefifth-largestcityinBulgaria,issituatedonthesouthbankoftheDanubeRiverandisthemostsignificantBulgarianriverport.TheRousse-GiurgiuFriendshipBridgeisatwolevelroadandrailbridgeovertheDanubeRiverintoRomania,whichcanbecrossedonfoot.

Thecityisknownforits19thand20thCenturyNeo-BaroqueandNeo-Rococoarchitecture,whichattractsmanytourists.ItisoftencalledtheLittleViennabothbecauseitisontheDanubeandforitsbeautifulselectionofoldbuildings.InthemorningwehaveatourofthecityincludingavisittotheNationalTransportMuseum.Themuseumissituatedinthecountry’sfirstrailwaystation,anddividedintothreesections;railwaytransport,rivershippingandcommunications.WehavearrangedaboatcruiseontheDanubeafterthisvisit,withlunchservedonboard.Wereturntoourhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Friday 23rd September Steam Train to the Black SeaTodaywecompleteourjourneythroughBulgariawithasensational226kmsteamtripontheBritishbuilt“first”railwaylineinBulgariabetweenRousseandVarna.Weshallbehauledby4-8-2steamlocomotiveNo.03.12andtherewillbephotostopsenroute.Lunchwillbeservedduringtheday.OnarrivalinVarnawetransfertoourhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Saturday 24th September VarnaVarnaisthethird-largestcityinBulgariaandthemostpopularresortontheBlackSea.Hereancient,medieval,renaissanceandmodernculturesmingleandcoexist.Afterbreakfastweenjoyasightseeingtourofthecity,includingmajorattractionslikethetoweringCathedral,MaritimeMuseumandRomanBaths.AfterwardsweenjoyafarewelllunchinarestaurantneartheBlackSea.WetransfertoVarnaairportforourlateeveningBritishAirwaysflightdirecttoLondonGatwick.(BL)

European Tours - Bulgarian Mountains Steam Express

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• FlightLondontoSofiaandVarna toLondon


• 10lunches(someontrain,picniclunches) and10dinners

• Traintravelshownintheitinerary

• Transfersandsightseeingasshownin theitinerary



September 2011

M T W T F S S

29 30 31 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 1 2

Belgrade

Burgas

RusseSilistraVarna

Bansko

SofiaNils

42

The Hill Stations of India

Monday 7th FebruaryFly to DelhiWeboardourJetAirwaysflightfromLondonHeathrowtoDelhidepartingat20:50.

Tuesday 8th FebruaryNational Rail Museum, DelhiOnarrivalinDelhiwearegreetedwithatraditionalIndianwelcomeandtransfertoourhotel.TherewillbetimetorelaxaftertheflightuntillunchtimeandthenwevisittheNationalRailMuseumandseetheextraordinarysteamPatialaStateMonorailSystem.Overnightisatthehotel.(D)

Wednesday 9th FebruaryKalka to ShimlaThismorningwetransfertoNewDelhiRailwayStationtoboardtheKalkaShatabadiExpresstraindepartingat07:40forKalka.OnarrivalinKalkaat11:50weswitchtothe2ft6ingaugeKalka-ShimlaRailwayline–recentlyaccreditedasaUNESCOWorldHeritageSite.InKalkawewillvisitthelocoshedsandboardthevintagerailcarstotravelthroughthepicturesqueShivalikMountainswithitsnumeroustunnelsandbridges–analtogetherenchantingline.WearriveatShimla–thesummercapitaloftheBritishduringtheRaj–andcheckintoourhotelfortwonights.(BLD)

Thursday 10th FebruarySteam to KathleeghatAfterarefreshingbreakfastatourhotelwewalkdowntoShimlaStationtoboardtheexclusivesteamchartertrain,hauledbylocoKC520of1905,toKathleeghatStation(2hourseachway).(Thecharterhasbeenrequestedbutweareawaitingconfirmation).WereturntoourhotelinShimladuringtheafternoon.TheeveningisfreeinShimlaforyoutoenjoythebeautyofthisfamoushillstation,oneoftheprettiesttownsinIndia.StrollalongTheMalltoScandalPoint–wheretheBritishcongregatedduringthedaysoftheRaj–orvisitthechurchandthemanyvariedshops.Overnightisatthehotel.(BLD)

Friday 11th FebruaryHimalayan Queen and on to DelhiAfterbreakfastwetransfertoShimlaRailwayStationtoboardthenarrowgaugeregularservicetrain“HimalayanQueen”,arrivinginKalkaat16:10.WeswitchplatformstoboardtheKalkaShatabdiExpressarrivinginNewDelhiStationat21:55.Wetransfertoourhotelforanovernightstay.(BLD)

Saturday 12th FebruarySteam to Rewari and on to JaipurAfterbreakfastwetransfertotheDelhiCantonmentRailwayStationtoboardthe“FairyQueen”steamchartertraintoRewari.The“FairyQueen”istheoldestworkingsteamlocomotivein

theworldandfamousforitsbrasswork.WevisittheRewariSteamCentrewherebroadgaugeandmetregaugesteamlocosareondisplayintheoncefamoussteamlocoshed.Laterweboardtrainnumber4311,theAlaHazratExpress,totravelfromRewaritoJaipur,thePinkCityandcapitalofRajhistan.WearemetonarrivalatJaipurataround17:40andtransfertoourhotel.Theeveningisfreetosamplethedelightsofthisbeautifulcity.Overnightisatthehotel.(BLD)

Sunday 13th FebruaryJaipur’s Amber Fort and City TourTodaywevisitoneofthejewelsofJaipur–themajesticAmberFort,builtinwhitemarbleandredsandstone.TheFortwastheerstwhilecapitaloftheKachwahaRajputsbeforetheymovedtotheirnewlybuiltcapitalinJaipur.Thisistheonlyfortwhereonecanstilltravelonanelephant’sback,relivingthegloriousdaysoftheMaharajas.Therewillbeguidedvisitsinsidethepalacebuildingaswellasentrytovariousroomsandhalls.LaterwehaveacitytourofJaipur,includingtheHawaMahal(PalaceofWinds),theCityPalace,andJantarMantar(theRoyalAstronomicalObservatory).Duringtheeveningwewillseethefamoushand-blockprintingandtextilefactory,includingalivedemonstrationofthehand-blockprintingart.Thereisalsoachancetolearnmoreaboutthepreciousandsemi-preciousgemsandjewelleryoftheroyalstateofRajasthan.Overnightisatthehotel.(BLD)

World Tours - The Hill Stations of India

India is a mystical country of contrasts and cultural differences. We will travel around India using trains and internal flights, staying in the best hotels and seeing some of this amazing country’s major attractions along the way. India is also home to some fascinating narrow gauge railway lines including the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Kalka to Shimla Railway. We will travel on these fantastic routes using steam locomotives, experiencing both metre and broad gauge lines.

Monday 7th February to Thursday 24th February 2011

CedricSpiller

43

Monday 14th FebruaryBharatpur and the ‘Baby Taj’It’sanearlymorningtransfertoJaipurRailwayStationsothatwecanjointhetraintoBharatpur,acityfoundedbyMaharajaSurajMalin1733.WearemetonarrivalatBharatpurRailwayStationat09:19andtransfertoaheritage‘haveli’,aprivatemansion,inthevillageofPeharsar.TherefollowsawalkthroughthevillageandanopportunitytoseeIndianvillagelife,beforeanearlylunchinthegardensofthehaveli.IntheafternoonwearedriventoAgraviaFatehpurSikri–theerstwhilecapitaloftheMughalEmpire.ItwasbuiltbyEmperorAkbarin1569andabandonedafter15yearsbecauseofascarcityofwater.ItisnowaUNESCOWorldHeritageSite.AtAgrawevisitthemagnificentItimad-Ud-Daulahor‘BabyTaj’beforecheckingintoourhotelforanovernightstay.(BLD)

Tuesday 15th FebruaryThe Taj Mahal and on to KolkataWemakeadawnvisittotheunparalleledwonderthatistheTajMahal–oneoftheSevenWondersoftheWorldandaUNESCOWorldHeritageSite.Itisthebesttimeofdaytovisitthiswhitemarblewonderthatseemstochangecolourinthechangingsunlight.TheTajMahalwasbuiltbyEmperorShahJahan,inmemoryofhiswifeMumtazMahal,andisconsideredthejewelofMuslimartinIndia.Wethenreturntoourhotelforbreakfast.WetransfertotheAgraCantonmentRailwayStationtoboardasecond-classair-conditionedtraintoDelhi,departingat14:05.OnarrivalatHazratNizamuddinRailwayStation,Delhi,wetransfertothedomesticairportforaconnectingflighttoKolkatawherewearriveat20:00.Wetransfertoourhotelforanovernightstay.(BLD)

Wednesday 16th FebruaryThe Wonders of KolkataAfterarelaxedbreakfastatourhotel,wewalktoEsplanadeStationtoboardourcharteredtramforaridethroughKolkatatotheShyambazar–afocalpointforfabricandclothesshopping.

PassingthroughthebusyroadsandmorningroutinelifeofKolkataprovidesatrue‘WelcometoIndia’experience.ThereisafurtherguidedtourofKolkataavailablewithvisitstoMotherTeresa’shouse,theKaliTemple,andthebanksoftheHooghlyRiver.There’salsoanoptionalvisittotherailwaymuseumwhichincludestheNorthWestFrontierbuildingwhereoldsteamlocosareondisplay.(BLD)

Thursday 17th FebruaryBagdogra and SiliguriWetransfertoKolkatadomesticairporttoboardourJetAirwaysflighttoBagdogra,andthentoourhotelinSiliguri.WehaveanearlyeveningtransfertoSiliguriStationtoboardourchartereddiningcarwhereweenjoya‘hightea’onatrainhauledbyaB-classsteamlocomotive.Wereturntoourhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Friday 18th FebruarySteam hauled to KurseongAfterbreakfastatourhotelwetransfertoSiliguriStationandvisitthesteamlocoshed.LaterweboardthespecialsteamhaulednarrowgaugetrainforKurseong,visitingtheDarjeelingHimalayanRailway’sworkshopsinTindhariaenroute.OnarrivalinKurseongwetransfertoourhotelforanovernightstayatanattractivecolonialbungalow,nowconvertedintoahotel.(BLD)

Saturday 19th February‘Toy Train’ to DarjeelingAfterbreakfast,thereisachoicebetweentakinga30-minutewalkorajeeptransfertothestationtoboardthefamousnarrowgauge‘toytrain’steamridetoDarjeeling.Wepassthroughthefamous‘BatasiaLoop’enrouteand,weatherpermitting,willbeabletotakephotosofthetrainagainstthebackgroundofMt.KanchenjungaandtherestoftheHimalayanrange.WearriveinDarjeelingandtransfertoourhotelforanovernightstay.(BLD)

Continuedoverleaf.


Tour Summary


Price includes:

• FlightsfromLondontoDelhiandreturn

• Internalflights

• 16nightshotelaccommodation

• Allmeals

• Alltraintravel,transfers,visitsand toursasdescribedintheitinerary



February 2011

M T W T F S S

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 1 2 3 4 5 6

CedricSpiller

Delhi

Agra

Darjeeling

Siliguri

Calcutta

Rewari

Shimla

44

Sunday 20th FebruaryTiger Hill and Ghum Monastery EarlyrisersareinforarealadventurewithourexcursiontoTigerHill(subjecttoclearweatherasadvisedbyourlocalteam).TigerHillisabout12kmfromDarjeelingandistheplacetoseethespectacularsunriseoverMountKanchenjunga,theworld’sthirdhighestmountain.Asthesunappearsthemountainchangescolour:it’sanawe-inspiringsight.TherearealsoviewsofMountEverestinthedistance.Wereturntoourhotelforbreakfastviathe1875-builtTibetanBuddhistMonasteryatGhum.At09:45wetransferbyjeeporjustwalkdowntoDarjeelingRailwayStationtorideontheregularschooltraintoGhum–thehighestpointontherailwayline.WereturnbyjeepwithvisitsenroutetoGhumMonastery(ifnotvisitedearlymorning)andaTibetanRefugeeCentre,wheretraditionalhandmadetextilesandhandicraftscanbeseen.TheeveningisfreetoexploreDarjeeling.(BLD)

Monday 21st FebruaryKalimpong Hill StationAfterbreakfastwewillbedrivenalongpicturesqueHimalayanroadstoKalimpong,alovelyhillstationintheLesserHimalayasinthestateofWestBengal.Notedparticularlyforitshorticultureandflowermarket–whereawidevarietyoforchidsaresold–ourtourwillincludeavisittothenursery.Also,wevisitthefamousBuddhistMonasteryofZangDhokPalriPhodangwhichholdsanumberofrareTibetanBuddhistscriptures.Overnightisatthehotel.(BLD)

Tuesday 22nd FebruaryFlight to DelhiAfterbreakfastwewillbedrivendowntoBagdograAirporttoboardourflightforDelhi,arrivingat16:50.Wetransfertoourhotelonarrivalforanovernightstay.(BLD)

Wednesday 23rd FebruaryTour of Old and New DelhiAguidedtourofhistoricOldandNewDelhiawaitsustoday.WewillseesomegreatandhistoricsitesaswedrivepastplacessuchastheIndiaGateandPresident’sHouse,andvisitthemagnificentRedFort,andJamaMasjid-oneofAsia’slargestmosques.WetakearickshawridetoChandniChowk(SilverSquare)andanunderground‘DelhiMetro’trainride.WevisitRajGhat,thememorialtoMahatmaGandhi–‘FatheroftheNation’.WewillalsovisittheextraordinaryHumayun’sTomb,arangeofbuildingsbuiltastheMughalEmperorHumayan’stombandcommissionedbyhiswifeasearlyas1562AD.ItwasthefirstgardentombontheIndiansub-continent.FinallywevisitQutubMinar–anamazing72.5metretowerandtheworld’stallestbrickminaret.Farewelldinnerwithcocktailsandovernightathotel.(BLD)

Thursday 24th FebruaryFlight to HeathrowAfterbreakfastatthehotelwetransfertoDelhiInternationalAirportfortheflightbacktoLondondepartingat13:40.WearrivebackinLondonHeathrowat17:40.(B)


Cedric Spiller

CedricSpiller

45World Tours - The Hill Stations of India

CedricSpiller

CedricSpiller

CedricSpiller

JohnHunt

46

Java

Thursday 7th JulyDeparture from LondonWecheckintoLondonHeathrowAirportforourmidafternoonEmiratesflighttoDubai.InDubaiweconnectwithanEmiratesflightforJakarta,thecapitalofIndonesiaandJava’smaincity.

Friday 8th JulyArrive in JakartaWearriveinJakarta,arrangevisas,andthentransfertoour4-starhotel,theMenaraPeninsula.Itisclosetothecitycentre,butonlytwentyminutesfromtheairport.(D)

Saturday 9th JulySeeing JakartaJakartaishometotenmillionpeopleandboastssomeofthebestsightsinsouth-eastAsia.WehaveanexpertlocalguideforourcoachtourtotheTamanMiniIndonesiaIndahComplex.Thisamazingsitecovers120hectaresandcontains‘pavilions’,inlocalarchitecturalstyle,depictingthelife-styleandcultureofeachpartofIndonesia.ItalsoincludesanelevatedrailwayandtheopenairTransportationMuseum,withitsimpressiveselectionofsteamlocomotives.

Duringthetourwewillhavelunchinthepark.Wehavedinneratalocalrestaurantorourhotel.(BLD)

Sunday 10th JulyJakarta to Tegal and our First Sugar MillWetransfertoGambirStation,Jakarta,andtravelbyservicetraintoCirebon,inexecutiveclasswithat-seatservice.OnarrivalatCirebonwehaveacitytourtovisittheKasepuhanPalace,tombofSunanGunungJati,andJatibarangSugarMill.WetransfertoTegalandcheckintotheHotelBahariInnforovernightaccommodation.Dinnerwillbeatalocalrestaurantorourhotel.(BLD)

Monday 11th JulyTegalAfterbreakfastwehaveamorningtourofPangkahSugarMilltowatchthesteamlocomotivesatworkandenjoyachartertraintripintothecanefields,overdisusedlines.AfterlunchatalocalrestaurantwevisitSumberhardjoSugarMilltoseefurthersteamactivity.WehavedinnerbeforestayingagainattheHotelBahari,Tegal.(BLD)

Tuesday 12th JulyPekalongan to Semarang by TrainAfterbreakfastwetransferbycoachtoPekalonganwherewevisittheSragiSugarMilltoseetheactivitiesofthesteamlocos.AfterlunchatalocalrestaurantwetransfertoPekalonganStationtotravelinexecutiveclassbyservicetraintoSemarang.OvernightaccommodationisattheLarasAsriHotelSalatiga.Dinnerwillbeeitheratthehoteloratalocalrestaurant.(BLD)

Wednesday 13th JulyAmbarawa Rack RailwayTodayisahighlightofthetourasafterbreakfastwevisittheAmbarawaRackRailwaywithitsopenairdisplayofvarioussteamlocomotives.Wehaveachartertrainrideusing0-4-2TlocomotiveNo.B25.03.ThelinerunsfromAmbarawatoJambuthroughflat,veryattractivetropicalcountrysidebeforemakingaspectacularclimbtoBedono.Lunchwillbeprovidedinalocalrestaurant.WetransfertoSemarangStationandtravelbytraintoCepu,wherewetransfertotheHotelMegaBintang.Dinnerwillbeatthehoteloratalocalrestaurant.(BLD)

World Tours - Java

Following our previous successes, we are again arranging a complete rail tour of Java. Our tour takes us to some delightful places and passes through tropical scenery including forests, mountains, paddy fields and the coast. Java’s railways are well maintained and we will travel in comfort to visit sugar mills and plantations to see some of the last surviving steam worked sugar cane railways. In 2010 the Railway Touring Company tour actually saw 177 steam locomotives in Java of which 40 were working (30 in normal service). These were incredibly varied, with several gauges in use, from 600mm upwards. As well as sugar mills, we will visit the Ambarawa Rack Railway and Cepu Forestry Railway for chartered train trips, plus ride the incredible and recently resumed ‘steam train through the main street’ in Solo! Tourism is not forgotten! We have included several wonderful sightseeing trips, one being a visit to the spectacular Mount Bromo, an active volcano standing nearly eight thousand feet high. At times our road coaches will provide a comfortable, interesting alternative to the railways. Visiting plenty of tourist hot spots across the island, our travel by train makes this fantastic tour a very enjoyable experience indeed.

Thursday 7th July to Sunday 24th July 2011

RobinPatrick

47

Thursday 14th JulyCepu Forestry RailwayTheCepuForestryRailwayisourvenuefortoday.ItwasbuiltforthehaulageofteaklogsoutoftheforesttothemillatCepu.WehaveamorningchartertrainridethroughforestandfarmlandtoGubukPayunghauledbya0-10-0Tcalled“Tudjubelas”whichwasbuiltbyBMAGofBerlinin1928.Afterlunchweenjoyashortchartertrainrideintotheforesthauledbyan0-6-0Tsteamlocomotive.WetransfertotheMegaBintangHotelandhavedinnerinalocalrestaurant.(BLD)

Friday 15th JulyCepu to ProbolinggoWeleaveCepuataround10:00andtravelbyexecutiveclassservicetraintoProbolinggo.ThereisabreakofjourneyatSurabayawherewestopforlunchatalocalrestaurant.Ataround18:00wearriveatProbolinggo,acityfamousforitsmangoesandfortherefiningandexportingofsugar.WetransfertotheHotelBromoViewfortwonightsaccommodation,enjoyingdinneratalocalrestaurant.(BLD)

Saturday 16th JulySemboro Sugar MillAfterbreakfastourcoachtakesustoTanggulwherewevisitSemboroSugarMill.WehavearrangedatripintothecanefieldswitheitherMallett-typesteamlocomotiveNo.15,builtbyOrensteinandKoppelin1926,or0-6-0TsteamlocomotiveNo.29builtbyJung.WhentheRTCgroupvisitedin2010,twouniquenarrowgaugefirelesslocomotiveswereworking,andBullockhauledtrainswerealsoseen.

WeenjoylunchattheMillandthenwereturnbycoachtoProbolinggowherewestayagainintheHotelBromoView.Wehavedinneratalocalrestaurant.(BLD)

Sunday 17th July Mount Bromo ForthosewhochoosetoriseearlyoneofthehighlightsofourholidayisatriptoseethesunriseoverMountBromo,atrulyspectacularsightandwellworththeeffort.Wedepartat03:00andafterwardsreturntoourhotelforbreakfast.MountBromoisanactivevolcanoandpartofthe8,000footTenggerMassif.ItisoneofthemostpopulartouristattractionsinIndonesia.LaterinthemorningwedepartbycoachtoMalangwhereweagaintravelinexecutiveclassontheservicetraintoKediri.OnarrivalwetransfertotheGrandSuryaKediriHotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Monday 18th JulyMount Kelud TourAfterbreakfastwehaveamorningtourtoKeludVolcano–‘theyoungestmountainintheworld’!Laterwevisitafactorymakinglocalcigarettesentirelybyhand,acoffeeplantation,andMricanSugarMill.SteamlocomotiveactivitywitnessedherebytheRTCgroupin2010includedNo.205,thoughttobethelastregularworking0-4-4-0TindustrialMallet-typesteamlocomotiveintheworld.Lunchanddinnerwillbeatlocalrestaurants.WestayovernightattheGrandSuryaKediriHotel.(BLD)

Continuedoverleaf.

World Tours - Java

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• FlightsLondontoJakartaandreturn

• 15nightsaccommodationin thebestavailablehotels

• Allmealsasshown,sometimes packedlunches

• Travelbyregularservicetrainsaround Java,mostlyinExecutiveclass

• Specialsteamchartersatthe sugarmills,AmbarawaRack Railway,theCepuForestryRailway andtheSolostreettrain

• Allvisitsandtoursintheitinerary



July 2011

M T W T F S S

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

BillPemberton

Jakarta

Semboro

SurabayaSemarang

Yogyakarta

Bandung

48

Tuesday 19th JulySugar Mills at MadiunAfterbreakfastwetransferbycoachtoMadiunforatouroftwosugarmills.WevisitRejosariSugarMillandseeaveryraresteamlocomotive,drivenbyajackshaft.AtPurwodadiSugarMillwewillhopetoseeasmuchactivityastheRTCgroupin2010whensteamlocomotivesNo.15andNo.16wereworkingflatout.AfterwardswetransfertoMadiunStationandjointheregularservicetraintoSolo.Lunchanddinnerwillbeatalocalrestaurant.WestayattheHotelBestWesternSoloforovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Wednesday 20th JulySteam Train through Solo StreetsThismorningwetravelbycoachintothehillstovisittheSukuhEroticTemple,fromwherewecontinuetotheTasikMaduSugarMill.Thismillhasdevelopedattractionsforthevisitingpublicincludingamuseumandatouristtrain.Italsohasworkingsteamlocomotives,steamdrivenmillmachineryandauniqueverticalboileredsteamroller.Traditionalmusicanddanceentertainment,andlunch,willbeprovidedatthemill.Later,wetravelonaprivatechartertrainthroughthestreetsofSolo,usingsteamlocomotiveNo.C1218,aquiteexceptionalexperience.WetransferbycoachtoSoloStationwherewejointheregularservicetraintoYogyakarta.WecheckintotheHotelMeliaPurosanifortwonightsaccommodation.Dinnerwillbetakenatthehoteloratalocalrestaurant.(BLD)

Thursday 21st JulyYogyakartaTodaywehaveaguidedtourofYogyakarta,acitywithoutstandinghistoricalandculturalheritage,andthemaintouristdestinationontheislandofJava.OurcoachtakesustotheBorobodurTemple,theworld’slargestBuddhisttemple,thoughttohavebeenbuiltatthebeginningofthe

eighthcentury.WevisittheSultan’sPalace,foundedin1755.Afterenjoyinglunchinalocalrestaurant,wevisitthePrambananHinduTemple,aWorldHeritageSite.IntheeveningwevisittheRamayanaBalletforamagicalopen-airperformanceinafantasticsetting.DinnerandovernightaccommodationisattheHyattRegencyHotel.(BLD)

Friday 22nd JulyReturn to JakartaThismorningwetransfertoYogyakartaStationtotravelinexecutiveclassontheregularservicetraintoJakarta.Apackedlunchwillbeprovidedonboard.OnarrivalinJakartawetransfertothehotelMenaraPeninsulafordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Saturday 23rd JulyFree day in JakartaAfterbreakfastthemorningisfreetoexploreJakarta.Lunchisnotincludedtoday.Wetransfertotheairport,intheafternoon,forourreturnflighttoLondonviaDubai.(B)

Sunday 24th JulyReturn to LondonAfterchangingplanesatDubaiwearrivebackatGatwickAirportinthemorning.

World Tours - Java

?????NeilSmith

RobinPatrick

RobinPatrick

49World Tours - Java

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• FlightsLondontoJakartaandreturn

• 15nightsaccommodationin thebestavailablehotels

• Allmealsasshown,sometimes packedlunches

• Travelbyprivatecoachattachedto regularservicetrainsaroundJava

• Specialsteamchartersatthe sugarmills,AmbarawaRackRailway andtheCepuForestryRailway




July 2011

M T W T F S S

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

BillPemberton

NeilSmith

RobinPatrick

Jakarta

Semboro

SurabayaSemarang

Yogyakarta

Bandung

50

The Trans Siberian Express

Saturday 30th JulyMoscow, Russia OurmorningflightdepartsfromLondonHeathrowforMoscow.Onarrivalwearemetandtransferredtotheluxuriousfive-starMarriottRoyalAuroraHotel(orsimilar),locatedintheheartofthisvibrantcity,foraone-nightstay.Weenjoyawelcomereceptiondinneratourhotel,meetfellowtravellers,andanticipatetheepic15dayvoyagethatliesahead.(D)

Sunday 31st July Moscow - Freedom of Choice Touring OurmorningcitytourofMoscowprincipallytakesustoRedSquare,aniconicsymbolofRussia’sformermilitaryandpoliticalmight.Hereweseeaneclecticmixoffascinatingarchitecture,suchastheornateStBasil’sCathedralwithitsmagnificentonion-domedspires,thegrandeurofTheKremlin,andthesombreandevocativesiteofLenin’stomb.Alternatively,ourFreedomofChoicetouringoptionsallowustovisit,forexample,theTretyakovGalleryortheMuseumoftheKGB.WeboardtheluxuriousGoldenEagleTrans-SiberianExpressintheearlyafternoon.Aftersettlingintoourmodernstylishcabins,weenjoydinnerinoneofthebeautifullydesignedrestaurantcars,asourrailadventureeastwardstoVladivostokbegins.(BLD)

Monday 1st August Kazan WearriveatthepicturesqueandhistoriccityofKazanbymid-morning.SituatedontheRiverVolga,KazanisthecapitalofTatarstan.Herewehavetheopportunitytoseeforourselvesitsrichtapestryofhistoryandculture.OneofthehighlightsofthiscitytourisourexplorationoftheKremlinFortress,aUNESCOWorldHeritageSite.Withinthewallsofthisancientcitadelwewillexploreitsstunningmosqueandonion-domedcathedral.AfterenjoyingarelaxingdinnerontheGoldenEagle,itispossibletoretiretoourwelcomingbarcarwheredrinkscanbeenjoyedwithnewfriendswhilstlisteningtoourresidentpianist.(BLD)

Tuesday 2nd August YekaterinburgWecrosstheEurope/AsiadividebeforearrivinginthehistoriccityofYekaterinburg.Foundedin1723byPetertheGreat,thethirdlargestRussiancityisalsothecapitaloftheUrals.TheculturalandarchitecturalinfluencesofEuropeanandAsiancivilisationscometogetherinthisfascinatingandcosmopolitanlandscape.OurcitytourtakesustothepoignantsitewheretheRomanov,NicholasIIofRussia,wasexecutedwithhisfamilybytheBolsheviksin1918.Nowa

churchdedicatedtotheirmemory,thissiteprovidesuswithapowerfulinsightintotheturmoiloftheRussianRevolution.(BLD)

Wednesday 3rd August NovosibirskAmodern‘Soviet’city,weexperiencethelifeandcharacterofNovosibirsk’srichculturewherethearts,scienceandliteraturepredominate.OurcitytourtakesustotheOperaHouse.Anarchitecturalmarvel,ithousestwopermanentballetandoperacompaniesandisthelargestoperahouseintheworld.InfrontoftheOperaHouse,wevisitanimposingstatueofLenin,providingamarvellousopportunitytohaveourphotographstakenwiththisiconicpoliticalleader.(BLD)

Thursday 4th August On Board – Enjoying the Ever Changing LandscapeAdaytounwindandreflectonthemanysightsandsoundswehaveexperiencedonourjourneysofar.Chattoyourfellowpassengers,perhapslearnafewwordsofRussian,orsimplyenjoytheeverchanginglandscapeoutsidethetrainwindowasitunfolds.(BLD)

World Tours - The Trans Siberian Express

Travelling by private luxury train, we will experience the longest and most famous railway journey in the world. The Trans-Siberian Express traverses the whole expanse of Russia from Moscow to its east coast, visiting Mongolia on the way. Few other journeys enable the passenger to relax so completely and become lost in the rhythm of the train as time zones and the urgency to arrive become meaningless. We use a high quality private train, only put into service in 2007, which is fully en-suite and has restaurant, bar and laundry carriages. The tour is fully inclusive (including all meals with wine on the train) with an extensive sightseeing programme in the main towns and cities along the route. There is also plenty of time to relax as our ‘Hotel-on-Wheels’ soaks up the miles. Get up when you want, sleep when you want. Having your own hotel room all the time means not having to pack and unpack every day!

Saturday 30th July to Saturday 13th August 2011

51

Friday 5th August IrkutskWearriveinIrkutsk,the‘ParisofSiberia’,andourvisittodaytakesinthemostsignificantsitesandmuseumsinthisfascinatingcity.Itincludesanexplorationoftheclassicwoodenarchitecturethathasgivenmanyofthisregion’sbuildingssuchadistinctiveanduniqueappearance.Next,wevisittheDecembristHouseMuseumwhichisdedicatedtothememoryoftheexiledaristocratswhowereforcedtofleetothisremoteoutpostafterthefailedrevolutionof1825.Hereweenjoyaprivateconcertbeforereturningtoourwaitingtrainfordinner.(BLD)

Saturday 6th August Lake BaikalFewnaturalsightscansurpassthebeautyandgrandeurofLakeBaikal.Forfivehourswewindourwaythroughtunnels,alongcliffhuggingtracksabovethelake,withavistaofsnowcappedpeaksalongthefarshoreformingapicture-perfectbackdrop.LakeBaikalisthedeepestlakeintheworldandholds20%oftheworld’sfreshwater.Alsoknownasthe‘PearlofSiberia’,itishometoauniquebreedoffreshwatersealandoverfiftyspeciesoffish,includingomulwhichwewillbeservinginthediningcarforsomeofourmeals.Weatherpermitting,westopatoneofBaikal’spicturesqueandsecludedbaystoenjoyadeliciousbarbecue,includingfreshlysmokedfishpreparedbyourownchefs.Forthebravehearted,thereiseventimeforarefreshingswiminthecrystalclearwaters.Intheafternoon,wevisitListvyanka,asmallBaikalsettlementnestlingatthebaseofthesurroundinghills.(BLD)

Sunday 7th August Ulan UdeThismorningwearriveinUlanUde,capitaloftheBuryatRepublic.Theethnicandculturaldiversityofthisareaoffersauniqueinsightintoitsheritage.Aswetourthearea,wewillobservethedifferentfacesanddressstylesofthesewelcomingpeople.DuringourexplorationoftheOldBelieversVillagewehavetheopportunitytolearnaboutthecultureandhistoryofthesereligiouspeople.Wearetreatedtoatraditionalmealandenjoyaconcertfeaturinglocaldancersandmusicians.(BLD)

Monday 8th August Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia OurTrans-SiberianadventuretakesusintoMongolia,homeofGenghisKhan,undoubtedlythemostfearedandreveredMongol.WevisitthecapitalcityofUlaanBaatarandtakelunch,Mongolstyle,inatraditionalGer(Yurt).Hereweexperienceanauthenticmeal,enjoyingexcellentlocaldishesandentertainment,providingauniqueopportunitytoencounterthistime-honourednomadicwayoflife.WeboardthetrainintimefordinnerasweheadbackintoRussia.(BLD)

Tuesday 9th AugustOn Board – Russian Far EastEnjoyamoreleisurelypacetodayaswetravelthroughthebeautifullandscapeoftheRussian

FarEast.ThereistheoptionofattendingoneoftheinterestinglecturesorRussianlanguagelessonsheldonboardthetrain.(BLD)

Wednesday 10th August On Board – Close to the Chinese Border ItistheperfectopportunitytopracticeyourRussianorsimplyrelaxasourjourneytodayfollowstheShilkaandAmurrivers,closetotheChineseborder.EnjoyRussiaatitsmostdramaticandremote,astheGoldenEagleeatsupthemilesonourwaytoVladivostok.(BLD)

Thursday 11th August On Board – Eastern Limit PassingdirectlynorthofSeoul,DarwinandOsaka,wespendourlastfulldayonboardtheGoldenEagletoday.WereachthemosteasterlypointofourmammothjourneyaswepassthroughKhabarovsk,wherewecrosstheRiverAmur.Tonight,weenjoyourfinaldinneronboardtheprivatetrainthathasbeenourhomeforthelasttwelvedays,asweapproachourfinaldestinationonthisunforgettablejourney.(BLD)

Friday 12th August Vladivostok Aftertravellingthrough8timezonesandcoveringanamazing6,600miles(10,600km)alongthisepicroutetotheendoftheTrans-Siberianline,theGoldenEaglepullsintoVladivostok,amilitaryportlocatedonthewesternshoresoftheSeaofJapan.Vladivostok(literallytranslatedas‘RuleroftheEast’)offersvisitorsanexcitingopportunitytoexploreitsprincipalmilitaryattractionsincludingatourofarestoredsubmarine.Afterwardswetransfertothecentrallylocatedfour-starHotelHyundai.ThefinaleveningisspentsayingourgoodbyestoourfellowtravellingcompanionsandfriendsattheFarewellDinner.(BLD)

Saturday 13th AugustVladivostokFollowingbreakfast,wetransfertoVladivostokairportforthereturnflighttoLondonHeathrowviaMoscow.WearrivebackatLondonHeathrowintheearlyevening.(B)

World Tours - The Trans Siberian Express

Tour Summary

Price per person Gold £10495 Single supplement Gold £3900Price per person Silver £8495 Single supplement Silver £3600Price per person Heritage £6095 Single supplement Heritage £2200

Price includes:

• FlightsfromLondontoMoscow andfromVladivostocktoLondon

• 1nighthotelaccommodationinMoscow

• 12nightsonboardtheGolden EagleTransSiberianExpresstrain

• 1nighthotelaccommodationinVladivostok

• Onboarddoctorandmedicalfacilities

• 24hrservicecabinattendant



Cabin Information

Gold Class 77sqft(7sqmetres)Sleeps2ineitherlowerstandard(4ft6in)doublebedorbunkstyleRemotecontrolledair-conditioningandheatingRecessedlightingandwardrobePersonalsafePrivateen-suitebathroomwithfullpowershowerandunderfloorheatingDVD/CDplayerwithLCDscreensTowelsandLinenschangedregularlyComplimentarytea,coffeeandmineralwaterincabinDrinksfromtheBarCarincludedfromtheStandardBarListLaundryserviceavailableforafee5cabinspercarriage

Silver Class 60sqft(5.5sqmetres)Sleeps2inlowersmalldoublebed(4ft)orbunkstyleRemotecontrolledair-conditioningandheatingRecessedlightingandwardrobePersonalsafePrivateen-suitebathroomwith‘wet-room’styleshowerandtoiletDVD/CDplayerwithLCDscreensTowelsandLinenschangedregularlyComplimentarytea,coffeeandmineralwaterincabinLaundryserviceavailableforafee6cabinspercarriage

New Heritage Class 39sqft(3.6sqmetres)Sleeps2inbunkstyleRemotecontrolledair-conditioningandheatingRecessedlightingandwardrobeWashbasinTowelsandLinenschangedregularlyComplimentarytea,coffeeandmineralwaterincabinLaundryserviceavailableforafee8cabinspercarriageToiletsavailableateachendofthecarriageSeparateShowercompartmentattheendofthecarriage

52

Hedjaz Railways

Friday 9th SeptemberFly to AmmanOurflightleavesLondonHeathrowlatemorningtoflytoAmmaninJordan.Onarrival,wetransfertotheCrownePlazaHotelintimeforalightsupper.(D)

Saturday 10th SeptemberSteam to QuatranaWeleavethehotelforAmmanStationwhereourfirstlocomotive,aBritishbuiltStephensonHawthorn2-8-2No.23,willtakeourtrainsouthintothedeserttoQuatrana.Thissectionofthelineisclosedtoregulartrafficandwewillhaveopportunitiestocapturesomerarepictures.ThelongclimboutofAmmanisfascinating,aswepassthroughitssuburbs.AtQuatranawehavelunchintheSultaniResthouse,afterwhichwecontinuealongtheDesertHighwaytoPetra.Westaytonightatthe4-starCrownePlazaHotel,Petra.(BLD)

Sunday 11th SeptemberGuided Tour of PetraAlthoughmuchhasbeenwrittenaboutPetra,nothingreallypreparesavisitorforthisamazingplace.Ithastobeseentobebelieved.Knownasthe‘cityofrock’,itwascarvedoutofthelocalrose-colouredsandstoneovertwothousandyearsagoanditsimposingfacadesandtombsareatestamenttotheone-timewealthoftheancient

Nabataeans.ItsmostfamousbuildingsaretheTreasury,andtheGreatTemple,whichisworthvisitingfortheexquisiteartandarchitectureitshowcasesfromthisperiod.Apalatialbuilding,itdisplayscarvedelephantheads,frescosandelegantpilastersdemonstratingthebringingtogetherofmanycultures.DuringourguidedtourwehavelunchattheBasinRestaurant.(BLD)

Monday 12th SeptemberDead Sea ResortTheDeadSeahasgreatsignificancebiblically,archaeologically,historicallyandgeographically.Ithasthelowestwatersurfaceonearthat1,373feetbelowsealevel.TodayourcoachwilltakeusfromPetratotheDeadSeawherethereisanoptiontobathe,reapingtheacclaimedbenefitsofthesea’smineral-richwaters.Changingfacilitiesandtowelsareprovidedbyalocalhotel.AfterlunchattheresortwereturntoAmmanandtheCrownePlazaHotel.(BLD)

Tuesday 13th SeptemberTrain to SyriaWejoinourtrainatAmmanStation,todayhauledbyaJapanesePacificsteamlocomotiveNo.82,foranorthboundrunalongtheHedjazRailwaytoDera’ainSyria.Thisisaremarkableexperience,sincesteamhauledbordercrossingsarearareeventanywhereintheworldtoday.ThecityofDera’adatesbacktotheCanaanitesandwas

mentionedinthetimeofPharaohThutmoseIIIbetween1490and1436BC.WevisitthelocomotivedepotatDera’awhereanancientlocomotive,2-6-0TNo.61,willbespeciallysteamedtoshuntinthestationyardforus.AHartmannsteamlocomotive,2-8-2No.262,willworkintoDera’awithafreighttrainfromDamascus.AnotherHartmannsteamlocomotive,2-8-0No.91,haulingSyrianrollingstock,willthentakeusdownthelittleusedbranchlinetoBosrawherewecheckintothe4-starChamPalaceHotelfortwonights.(BLD)

Wednesday 14th SeptemberThe Ancient City of Bosra or Steam to Dera’aTodaythereisachoiceofasightseeingtourofBosra,oratraintriphauledbyNo.91,withphotoopportunities,backtoDera’a.BosraisfamousforitsmagnificentfifteenthousandseatRomanamphitheatre,laterconvertedintoafortressbytheAyyubids.OtherthingstoseeincludetheWesternGate,theRomanBaths,theMosqueofOmar,theCathedralofBosra,theMamelukeBaths,aNabataeanarchandthebasilicaknownastheChurchofBahira.ThosechoosingtotakethesightseeingtourwillreturntoDera’abyprivatecoach.LunchisattheAlSharakrestaurantinDera’a.Intheafternoonwejoinourtrain,hauledbysteamlocomotiveNo.262,totakeatriptothescenicYarmukGorgeareabeyond

World Tours - Hedjaz Railways

The amazing Hedjaz Railway was originally built to transport pilgrims from Damascus to Medina. Severely damaged during the First World War, largely by Lawrence of Arabia, several parts have been kept in running order, so the romance of the railway remains alive for our tour. We travel on all the available sections on privately chartered trains, steam hauled throughout. The trip features many different steam locomotives and includes visits to a galaxy of fascinating places; the red City of Petra, the ruined Roman city of Jerash, and the ancient cities of Amman and Damascus all lie in wait for us. While much of our route runs through desert country, we also visit the Dead Sea.

Friday 9th September to Monday 19th September 2011

DonMitchell

53

Mezerib.Thisisafantasticjourneypassingthroughtunnelsandacrossviaductswhilstheadingdeepintothegorge.HerethelocomotiverunsroundthetrainforthereturnjourneybacktoDera’awhereourcoachwilltakeusbacktoBosra.(BLD)

Thursday 15th SeptemberYarmuk Gorge and DamascusWereturntoDera’astationtojoinourspecialtrain,hauledbysteamlocomotiveNo.97,forasecondrundownthespectacularYarmukGorge.Ifyouprefer,youcanstayinDera’aforthemorningforaspotofsightseeing.WehavelunchattheAlSharakRestaurantinDera’aandafterwardsleavehauledbysteamlocomotive2-8-2No.262totravelalongthemainlinetowardsDamascus.Westayatthe5-starChamPalaceHotelinDamascusfortwonights.(BLD)

Friday 16th SeptemberCadem Works and SergayaTodaywevisittheCademworksinDamascus,atreasurechestofoldsteamlocomotives,carriages,andmachinery.FollowingourvisitwegotoHamehStationtojoinourspecialtrain,hauledbySwissLocoCompanysteamlocomotive2-6-0TNo.755,withatrainofoldfour-wheelcarriages,forourjourneytoSergaya.ThereisthechoiceofreturningtoDamascusbyoursteamtrain,orbytakingthecoachwhichallowstimeforaguidedtourofthecity.ThisincludesvisitingthechapelcommemoratingtheloweringofSt.Paulinabasket,toescapehispersecutors.(BLD)

Saturday 17th SeptemberRuined City of JerashWetraveltoCademStationwhereaHartmanMikadosteamlocomotivewillbewaitingtohaulourtrainalongtheHedjazmainline.ThisisafascinatinglinethatincludesamixtureofstreetrunninginDamascusandstunning,bleakdesertscenery.AfterlunchwetravelbycoachtovisittheruinedRomancityofJerash.

Imaginebeingbackinthe2ndCenturyADaswewalkaroundoneofthebest-preservedprovincialRomancitiesanywhereintheworld.ThiscityincludesmagnificentruinsfromtheHellenistic,Roman,ByzantineandearlyIslamicperiods,provingthatithasexistedforoverathousandyears.WestayattheCrownePlazaHotel,Ammanfortwonights.(BLD)

Sunday 18th SeptemberSteam to QasirTodaywegotoMahattaStationwhereHaineStPierresteamlocomotive2-8-2No.71willhaulourtrainsouthboundtoQasirStation.Therewillbephoto’stopsalongthishighlysceniclinethen,onarrival,acoachwilltakeustoStGeorge’sChurch.ThiswillbefollowedbylunchandavisittoMountNebobeforewereturntoAmman.(BLD)

Monday 19th SeptemberReturn to the UKOurflightdepartsearlyafternoonforLondonHeathrowforanearlyeveningarrival.(B)

World Tours - Hedjaz Railways

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• FlightsLondontoAmmanandreturn

• 10nightshotelaccommodationin luxuryhotels,withbreakfastanddinner

• Lunchincludedeachday,butonthree dayswewillhaveapicniclunch

• Allrailandcoachjourneysasdescribed


Entrancefeestotouristattractionsarenotincluded.


September 2011

M T W T F S S

29 30 31 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 1 2

Don MitchellDavid Nash

David Nash

Fijeh

Damascus

Dera

BosraYarmuk Gorge

Jerash

Haifa

Amman

Quatrana

Petra

Wadi Rum

Aquaba

54

Peru and Bolivia

Wednesday 5th OctoberFly to LimaOurflightdepartsLondonHeathrowinthemorningtoLimaviaMiami.WetransfertotheCasaAndinaHotellocatedintheLimadistrictofMiraflores,fortwonights.

Thursday 6th OctoberLima City Tour and Rail DepotWeenjoyafulldaytourofLima,theculturalandbusinesscentreofPeru,withitsimpressivebuildings,colourfulcraftmarkets,andSpanisharchitecture.ThemorningtourtakesinbothmodernandcolonialLima.Followingabuffetlunch,wevisittheMuseodelOro,theGoldMuseum,toseesomeofthelegendarygoldentreasuresoftheIncas.Wealsovisitaonekilometrerailway,inapark,thatoperatesa500mmgauge0-4-0Tlocomotivebuiltin1926,andseesomedisusedmainlinesteamlocomotives.WereturntotheCasaAndinaHotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Friday 7th OctoberBy Rail from Lima to HuancayoThisremarkableline,theCentralRailway,FerrocarrilCentraldelPeru,isthemostimportantinPerufromaneconomicpointofview.ItisstandardgaugeandbeginsatthePacificPortof

Callao,usingDesamparadosStationinLima.Itwaswellknownasthehighestrailwayintheworlduntil2006whenChinaopeneditslinetoLhasainTibet.Reaching15,686feetnearGaleraStationbeforeitdropstoLaOroyaat12,000feet,itthencontinuestoHuancayo,situatedat10,700feet.WebeginourspectacularclimbatLimaDesamparadosStation,onlyalittleabovesealevel.Thesteepestgradientsare4.5%andthelinetraverses66tunnels,59bridgesand22zigzagbends.Warmclothingisnecessarywhenweleavethetrainforphotographsaswewillexperienceadramaticdropintemperature.Lunchwillbeprovidedonboard.WecontinuethroughLaOroyabeforewebeginthedramaticdescenttoHuancayo.WetransferandcheckintotheHotelTurismoinHuancayo.Dinnertonightisinatypicalrestaurantoftheregion.(BLD)

Saturday 8th OctoberHuancayo to HuancavelicaInthemorningwetravelbycoachfromHuancayotoHuancavelica,ajourneyofapproximatelyfourhours.WepassthroughbeautifulAndeansceneryandvisittherailwaystationsofChilcaandIzcuchacaIncaBridge.OnarrivalinHuancavelicawetransfertoourhotelforlunch.IntheafternoonwevisitthecommunityofSacsamarca.Wereturntoourhotelandintheeveningwewill

onceagainsamplethelocaldelicaciesaswedineinalocalrestaurant.(BLD)

Sunday 9th OctoberBy Road to AyacuchoAfterhavingbreakfastweboardourprivatecoachforthesplendidjourneytoAyacucho.ThissectionofourjourneytakesuspastoldsilverminesandanabandonedrailwaylinebeforetheclimbintotheAndes,reachingevenhigherthanourtraintwodaysbefore.Infactwewillbeonthehighestpavedroadintheworld,withthepossibleexceptionoftheHimalayas.Wehaveapackedlunchenroute.AfteralongjourneywearriveinAyacucho,acityfoundedbytheSpaniardsin1539,withmanybuildingsreflectingSpain’sinfluenceoverhundredsofyears.Here,wewillcheckintotheHotelAyacucho.Thereshouldbetimetoexplorethecolonialcentrebeforedinner.(BLD)

Monday 10th OctoberTour of CuscoWetransfertotheairportforaflighttoCusco,changingplanesinLima.OnbothflightswewillbeabletolookdownonthemassiveAndes.CuscowasthecapitaloftheIncaEmpirefromthe14thCenturyuntiltheSpanishconquestin1533.OnarrivalinCuscowetransfertoourhotelto

World Tours - Peru and Bolivia

This tour is so full of wondrous sights and culture it’s difficult to know where to begin! First is a city tour of Lima, the capital of Peru. Then we will travel by train and by coach past mountains rising to over twenty thousand feet, see lakes, and pass from spring to winter in a matter of hours as we reach altitudes of up to around sixteen thousand feet. Seeing the sunrise in magical Machu Picchu is amazing, possibly the world’s most celebrated sight; and we’ll sail on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Without a doubt this tour is a real cultural Andean feast.As for the railway side, we cover a good proportion of the railways in Peru including what was, until recently, the highest railway in the world. We also pass through the Andes on one of Peru’s most luxurious trains. It is true to say that all the varied railway journeys that we make are spectacular and very special.

Wednesday 5th October to Saturday 22nd October 2011

PhilLawson

55

checkinandthentakelunchinalocalrestaurant.IntheafternoontherewillbeacitytourtoseethemanyhistoricalIncaandSpanishcolonialmonuments,includingtheamazingQ’oricancha,theIncaTempleoftheSun,andsomeofthecity’sbeautifulchurches.Wewillalsoheadoffintothemountainsoverlookingthetown,forphotographs.WevisitthelocomotivedepotofPeruRailandmeettheirstaff.Intheeveningweexperienceafolkloreshowandhavedinneratatraditionallocalrestaurant.OvernightaccommodationisattheHotelCasaAndinainCusco.(BLD)

Tuesday 11th OctoberSacred Valley of the IncasFollowingbreakfastwedrivetothevalleyoftheUrubambaRiver,thesocalledSacredValleyoftheIncas.WejourneytothevillageofPisac,wherethereisatraditionalmarketandanopportunitytobuysouvenirs.Wehavelunchinatraditionalrestaurant.WecontinuealongthevalleytothevillageofOllantaytambo,agoodexampleofthemilitaryarchitectureduringtheIncatimes.WereturntoourhotelinCusco.Theeveningisfreeprovidinganopportunitytotrylocalrestaurantsfordinner.(BL)

Wednesday 12th OctoberTrain to Machu PicchuWetravelinTouristClassontheearlymorningtrainfromCuscoforMachuPicchu.ThetrainclimbsonzigzagsoutofCuscoupasteepmountainsidewithsuperbviewsoverthetown.WefollowthemeanderingvalleyoftheUrubambaRiverwhichissurroundedbytropicalforests.Thisriverisoneofseveralthatweexperienceonthisholiday,flowingtotheAmazonandonintotheAtlanticsomefourthousandmilesaway.WhenthetrainarrivesatPuenteRuinasStation,wetransfertoourhotel,andthenhavetimetoexploreandperhapstakeanaturewalk.Therewillalsobeanopportunitytowatchthetrainsmeanderingdownthemainstreet.Dinnertonightisinourhotel.(BLD)

Thursday 13th OctoberExplore Machu Picchu and Return to CuscoTodayisthehighlightofthetour,avisittoMachuPicchu,whichtheSpanishfailedtodiscover,andprobablythebestpreservedIncacomplexinexistence.Situatedeightthousandfeetabovesealevel,itwasprobablybuiltbytheIncasfromaround1460.Followinganearlymorningbuffetbreakfastatourhotel,wetravelupthehillbycoachtowatchthesunriseandenjoyaguidedvisit.Nothingcanpreparevisitorsforthisexperience!AfterlunchwereturntoCuscobybackpackertrain.OvernightaccommodationisattheCasaAndina-CuscoPlazaHotel.(BLD)

Friday 14th OctoberTrain to Lake TiticacaTodaywetravelbystandardgaugetrain,fromCusco’ssecondrailwaystation,fora240milesjourneytoPunoandLakeTiticaca,thehighestnavigablelakeintheworld,atovertwelvethousandfeet.Thetrainisextremelycomfortable,theservicesplendid,andtheviewsunmatched.ThetrainpausesatLaRaya,thehighestpointonourrouteataroundfourteenthousandfeet,sothatwecanvisitalocalhandicraftmarket.WehavelunchonboardthetrainandareduetoarriveinPunoatapproximately18:30.WetransfertotheLibertadorHotel,overlookingthelake.(BLD)

Continuedoverleaf.


Tour Summary


Price includes:

• ReturnflightstoLimafrom LondonHeathrowviaMiami

• InternalflightsinPeru

• AllhotelsDeluxeclass,exceptthe bestpossibleavailableon3nights

• Transfers

• Allrailandcoachtravel

• Entrancetoallattractionsmentioned

• Localguides



October 2011

26 27 28 29 30 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

Lima Huancayo

Machupicchu

Cusco

La Paz

Huancavelica

Ayacucho

ArequipaPuno

Juliaca

Mollendo

Phil Lawson

56

Saturday 15th OctoberSail on Lake Titicaca and La PazOurfirstdestinationtodayisCopacabana,justacrosstheBolivianBorder,whichismarkedbyanarch.TherewillbetimetoexploreCopacabanabeforeboardingacatamarantotravelonthemysticalwatersofLakeTiticaca.LunchwillbeservedbeforewearriveatSunIsland,IsladelSol,thelegendarybirthplaceoftheIncaEmpire.HerethereareawholehostofthingstoseeincludingtheIncaGarden,theEkakoUndergroundMuseum,theTiticacaReedShipbuildersandthePachamamaAgriculturalIncaTerraces.Wewillalsoseellamas,alpacaandvicuña.OurvisitincludesauniquesailingtripaboardatraditionalreedvesselforsightofthePilkokainaIncaPalace.AfterwardswesailtoChuaHarbourforacoachtransfertoLaPaz,thehighestcapitalintheworld,atanaltitudeabove10,000feet.WestayovernightintheHotelPlaza.(BLD)

Sunday 16th OctoberTour of La Paz CityWehaveafulldaytouringLaPaz,originallynamedTheCityofOurLadyofPeace.Itsitsinabowlsurroundedbyveryhighsnowcappedmountainswhichprovideamagnificentbackdrop.OurtourvisitsatypicalBolivianIndianMarket,theSanFranciscoChurch,theGovernmentPalace,theNationalCongressbuildingsandthePlazaMurillo,wherethecathedralwasbuiltinaround1835.ManystreetsarelinedwithSpanishcolonialarchitectureincludingthefamousstreetCalleJaen,withitscobblestones,balconiesandstonedoorways.LaterwevisittheMoonValleywhereerosionhascausedstonyformsthatgivethesensationofbeinginalunarlandscape.Wewillalsovisitthemajesticdisusedrailwaystation.Lunchisincludedduringthetour.WestayovernightagainintheHotelPlaza.(BLD)

Monday 17th OctoberTravel La Paz to PunoTodaywereturnbycoachtoPuno.OnthewaywevisittheruinsofTiwanaku,anancientcityconsideredtobethecradleofAmericancivilization,datingbackto1580BC.WecontinuetotherailheadandportofGuaquiwherewehopetoseeanumberofstoredsteamlocomotives,includingaBaldwinexpressengineandaPecketttanklocomotive.Theoldsteamcranesandthejettyforthetrainferrieswerestillintactrecently.WewillpassthroughLaja,foundedin1548,anddriveroundLakeTiticacabeforearrivingatPuno’sLibertadorHotel.(BLD)

Tuesday 18th OctoberBy Rail from Puno to ArequipaWeareduetocatchourtraintoArequipaat08:00,arrivingat19:00.Ourtrainmayevenpickusupfromrightoutsideourhotel!Therearenoregularpassengertrainsonthislinesowehaveaspecialtrainalltoourselves,wherelunchanddinnerwillalsobeserved.Wetravel221milesthroughalandscapeofvolcanoes,deepcanyons,plateausanddesert.AtCruceroAltoweareatthehighestpointoftoday’stripatnearlyfifteenthousandfeet.WewillalsoseethemassivesnowcappedChachaniVolcano,nearlytwentythousandfeethigh,beforearrivinginthesecondmostimportantcityinPeru,Arequipa,alsoknownastheWhiteCity.WestayovernightattheCasaAndinaHotelArequipa.(BLD)

Wednesday 19th OctoberCharter Train to MollendoOurchartertrainleavesArequipaat06:50forthetownofMollendo.Thiscommercialrouteisusedalmostexclusivelyfortheshipmentofmineralsandapassengertrainisrare.Ourtrainfirstdescendsfromthemountainstoahighdesertplateau,andthendescendsagaintothecoastalplain.WehavelunchbeforearrivingatMollendo.WetaketimetolookaroundMollendo’slovelyold

station,wanderaroundthetown,andgazeatthePacificOceanfromitsbeach.WeareduetoarrivebackatArequipalateafternoonwherewetransferbacktotheCasaAndinaHotel.(BLD)

Thursday 20th OctoberReturn to LimaInthemorningwetakeacitytourofColonialArequipaandvisittheworldfamousConventofSantaCatalina.WeenjoylunchbeforetransferringtotheairportforourflighttoLima.Uponarrivalwetransfertoarestaurantforourfarewelldinner.Wereturntoourhotelforourovernightstay.(BLD)

Friday 21st OctoberLima and Fly to UKThemorningisfreetoenjoyLimabeforewetransfertotheairporttocatchourflighthome,viaMiami.(B)

Saturday 22nd OctoberArriving LondonOurflightarrivesatLondonHeathrow.


57World Tours - Peru and Bolivia

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• ReturnflightstoLimafrom LondonHeathrowviaMiami

• InternalflightsinPeru

• AllhotelsDeluxeclass,exceptthe bestpossibleavailableon3nights

• Transfers

• Allrailandcoachtravel

• Entrancetoallattractionsmentioned

• Localguides



October 2011

26 27 28 29 30 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

Lima Huancayo

Machupicchu

Cusco

La Paz

Huancavelica

Ayacucho

ArequipaPuno

Juliaca

Mollendo

58

Eritrea

Tuesday 11th OctoberFly to EritreaWedepartLondonHeathrowat14:00,changinginCairoforAsmara.WetransferdirecttotheAsmaraPalaceHotel,foranearlycheckin.

Wednesday 12th OctoberAsmara TourEritrea’scapitalsince1897,Asmaraisperchedontheeasternedgeofthecountry’shighlandplateau.ColonizedbytheItalians,itwasoncethejewelinItaly’sEastAfricanEmpire.OurcitytourofAsmaraincludestheCatholicCathedral(thoughttobethefinestexampleofitsstyleoutsideofItaly),theneo-classicalGovernor’sPalace,theRomanesqueOperaHouse,thecityparkandthecemeteryoftanks,fullofscrapmilitarymetal.Therewillalsobetimetovisitthecity’sbustlingmarket.(BLD)

Thursday 13th OctoberAncient MassawaWetravelbytraindownthehilltoGhindaandthenbycoachtoEritrea’smainport,Massawa,whichislocatedontwoislandsaswellasthemainland.MassawaisvitallyimportanttoEritreaasitisthelargestnaturaldeepwaterportontheRedSea.TheislandofBatseisanancientMoorishcentreandwellworthavisit.ThedistrictofTauludhasawarmemorial,cathedral,the

ImperialPalace,andtheoldrailwaystation.AlltheEritreantrainsonthistourarecharteredespeciallyforus.WewillbehauledbyaMalletlocomotiveonamixedtrain,stoppingforphotosalongtheway.OvernightaccommodationisattheRedSeaHotelsituatedontheRedSeainMassawa.(BLD)

Friday 14th OctoberSteam to GhindaOurtraintodaywillbehauledbyalargeMalletlocomotiveforthelongclimbfromtheseaatMassawa,throughgorgesandacrosshighslenderviaducts,highupintothemountainstoGhinda.WetravelbycoachbacktotheAsmaraPalaceHotelforfivenights.(BLD)

Saturday 15th OctoberHead for AsmaraAfterbreakfastweretraceourstepsbyroadbackdowntoGhindaStation.Hereourtrain,completewithtwoMalletlocomotives,willhaulusoverthesteepestandmostspectacularsectionofthelinebetweenGhindaandAsmara.Thisisthefinalsectiontohavebeenreopenedonthisoncedilapidatedline.Itclimbssteeplyasittwistsandturns,passingoverbridgesandthroughtunnels.Wewillenjoyseveralrunpastsforphotosonthisspectacularline.(BLD)

Sunday 16th OctoberVisit KerenTodaythereisavisittotheancient,andpredominatelyMuslim,cityofKeren.Ourjourneypassesthroughmorespectacularsceneryaswetraversethemountains.KerenhassomewonderfulexamplesofItalianandEthiopianarchitecture,andisoverlookedbytheTigu,a19thCenturyEgyptianfortress.TherearegoodviewsfromthetopofthefortandtheruinsoftheoldImperialPalace,destroyedin1977,arelocatedatitsbase.Alternatively,itispossibletospendthedayexploringAsmaraorchillingoutbythehotelswimmingpool.(BLD)

Monday 17th OctoberBack on the MountainWebeginwithavisittothelocomotivedepotandworkshopsatAsmara.ConstructionoftherailwaybytheItaliansbeganin1888,tolinkthecapitalwithcoastalMassawa.Totallydestroyedduring30yearsofwar,ithasnowbeenfullyrestoredwiththelastsectionoftrackfinishedinearly2003.Thelinehas29stonebridges,twometalonesand39tunnels.OneofthelittleBredatanklocomotiveswillbeavailableforshuntingandlightduties.WewillhavelunchatarestaurantinAsmarafollowedbyarundownthemountainonourcharteredtrainbehindaMalletlocomotive.WewilltravelasfarasArbarobaand–ifwe’re

World Tours - Eritrea

Eritrea has recently enjoyed a steam renaissance. Its 950mm narrow gauge railway was closed and the rails removed in the 1970’s, but it has been rebuilt and recently reopened. Six of the original Italian built narrow gauge steam locomotives have been restored, including some Mallet-type articulated locomotives. The line passes through spectacular scenery on its climb from the Red Sea to the capital, Asmara, reaching nearly 8,000 feet! It has been dubbed the Darjeeling of Africa, but it climbs significantly higher than the Indian line. We travel during a month when the weather is comfortable and through a country that is extremely friendly, not yet influenced by mass tourism. This tour also offers an extension to visit Cairo (including the Pyramids) and Alexandria.

Tuesday 11th October to Wednesday 19th October 2011

NeilSmith

59

lucky–beyond,afterwhichtheMalletlocomotiverunsaroundourtrainforthereturnjourney.AsweclimbbackuptowardsAsmaratheafternoonsunlightshouldgiveusspectacularphotoopportunitiesagainstamountainbackdrop.Wehopetouseourroadcoachtophotographthetrainasitgrindsitswaythroughthepanoramicscenery.(BLD)

Tuesday 18th OctoberThe Fiat RailcarTodayanancientFiatLittorinarailcarwillmakethejourneyfromAsmaratoNefesit.Therewillalsobeasteamtrain,ifyoupreferit,whichwillalsotakeusbacktoAsmara.Againtherewillbelotsofopportunitiestotakepicturesofthetrainsandthespectacularscenery.(BLD)

Wednesday 19th OctoberFly to Cairo/LondonWehaveanearlymorningdepartureforLondonviaCairo.(BL)

Cairo Extension

Wednesday 19th OctoberExploring CairoFromCairoAirportwetransfertotheCairoSheratonHotel,locatedontheNile,forthreenights.WetakealocaltramthroughthestreetsofCairototherailwaystation,whichalsohousestheEgyptianRailwayMuseum.Afterlunchinthecity,ourprivatecoachwilltakeustotheKhanel-KhaliliBazaarforsomeshopping.Wereturntoourhotelfordinner.(BLD)

Thursday 20th OctoberThe PyramidsWehavearrangedaprivatetouroftheGreatPyramidsofGizaandtheirsteadfastandenigmaticguardian,theSphinx.AfterlunchwetourtheEgyptianMuseumtoseethegoldentreasuresofTutankhamunandotheramazingexhibitsofancientEgypt.Wehavedinneratourhotel.(BLD)

Friday 21st OctoberAlexandriaAfterbreakfastwetransfertothemainstationforamidmorningexpresstraintoAlexandria,Egypt’ssecondlargestcityanditsmajorseaport.Ittakesjustovertwohoursonsurprisinglycomfortabletrains.InAlexandriawewillhavelunchandsamplethecity’soldtrams,withfareslessthan3patrip!WereturntoCairoandhavedinnerontheNile,withanEgyptianshowincludingbellydancing.(BLD)

Saturday 22nd OctoberReturn to UKWetransfertotheairportforourreturntoHeathrow.

World Tours - Eritrea

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• FlightsLondontoAsmaraandreturn

• 8nightshotelaccommodation

• Fullboardthroughout

• Alltraintravel,transfersandtourist visitsdetailedintheitinerary



October 2011

26 27 28 29 30 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

Cairo Extension


Price includes:

• 3nightshotelaccommodation andbreakfast

• 3dinners

• 3lunches

• Allvisits,toursandtransfers mentionedintheitinerary



October 2011

26 27 28 29 30 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

Alan Ross

Ian Fraser

60

The Old Patagonian Express

Saturday 12th NovemberFly to Buenos AiresWetakeaneveningscheduledflightfromLondontoBuenosAiresviaSaoPaulo.

Sunday 13th NovemberSee Buenos AiresWearriveinBuenosAiresearlyafternoonandtransfertotheElConquistadorHotelwherewewillbeaccommodatedforthreenights.Laterintheafternoonwetakeacitytourwhichincludesavintagetramride.(D)

Monday 14th NovemberSpecial Steam Charter TrainWeboardtheTrenHistorico,hauledbyaBritishbuilt0-6-0steamlocomotive,atSanMiguelStationandtraveltoCapilladelSenor,aGauchotowninthePampas.Asuperbbarbecuewillbeprovidedforusonarrival,withfolkdancingandmusic.OurspecialtrainreturnsustoBuenosAiresfordinner.(BLD)

Tuesday 15th NovemberVisit a Steam DepotAfterbreakfastwevisittheFerroClubSteamDepotinEscaldawhereallavailablelocomotiveswillbeinsteam.We’llstopforatastylunchattheFerroClubandlaterenjoydinner,athrilling

tangoshow,andovernightaccommodationinBuenosAires.(BLD)

Wednesday 16th NovemberRail to PatagoniaAfterbreakfastinourhotelwe’lljoinaninternalflighttoBariloche.Thiswillbefollowedbylunch.We’lltransferbycoachtoIngenieroJacobaccifordinnerandovernightaccommodationinourhotel.(BLD)

Thursday 17th NovemberThe Old Patagonian ExpressAfteranearlybreakfastthesteamhauledOldPatagonianExpresswillbewaitingforus,hauledbyanarrowgaugeMikadolocomotive.Ataround07:30ourtrainwillsteamoutintothePatagonianwildernessofmoors,mountainsandforests.Despiteitsnarrowgaugeitcarriesarestaurantcarandwewillbeservedcoffee,tea,lightrefreshmentsandlunchonboard.Wewillseeforourselveshowdifficultthiscountryisforrailwaysasweexperienceanexhilaratingride,battlingagainsttheforceofgravityupthoughthemountains.Afterseveralphoto’opportunitiesweshouldarriveatElMaitenby16:00whereacoachwilltransferustoElBolsonandour3-starhotel.(BLD)

Friday 18th NovemberLa Trochita to EsquelAfterbreakfastwetransfertoElMaitenStationandboardtheOldPatagonianExpressagain.RefreshedwithhotcoffeeandsnackswesetoffonLaTrochita,alocalphrasemeaning‘TheLittleTrain’.Thisisawildandremotelinewhichisstilltotallysteamoperated.OurridewillbeextremelyexcitingasthetraintacklesseveregradientsthroughthemountainswiththehighAndesalwaysinsight.LunchisservedonboardandwearriveinEsquelataround17:00.Onarrivalwetransfertoourhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Saturday 19th NovemberSteam Esquel to El MaitenTodaytherearetwochoices.ThefirstoptionistotransfertoEsquelStationwhereLaTrochitawaitsforus.Wetravelsteam-hauledtoElMaiten(withtwolocomotivestoNahuelPan),callingatLepáforabarbecuelunchbesidetheline.ThesecondoptionistoenjoyamorningtouroftheEsquelareavisitingsomeearlysettlementswhere,unusually,onlyWelshandSpanisharespoken!LaterwerejointherestofthegroupforthebarbecueatLepá.WereturntoElMaitenwherewewillhavetimetovisitthelocomotivedepotbeforedepartingbycoachbacktoSanCarlosde

World Tours - The Old Patagonian Express

This fantastic tour begins in the exciting city of Buenos Aires and takes in both Argentina and Chile. The highlight of the tour is travelling on the Old Patagonian Express, now operating the full length of the line from Ingeniero Jacobacci through the wilderness to Esquel, deep in Patagonia. The famous Lake Crossing takes us through the Andes from Argentina into Chile, cruising across bewitching lakes, past giant mountains, high waterfalls, active volcanoes and magnificent glaciers. In Chile, we travel on a special steam charter train from Valdivia to Temuco, eventually arriving in the beautiful city of Santiago. We spend a wonderful day sampling the local wine on the ‘Wine Train’. Not to be missed!

Saturday 12th November to Tuesday 29th November 2011

NigelDobbing

61

Bariloche.Herewestayforthreenightsina4-starhotel,withdinnereachevening.(BLD)

Sunday 20th NovemberEnjoy the Lakeside Town of San Carlos de BarilocheInthemorningwehaveasightseeingtourofthetown,situatedonthesideofLakeBariloche,followedbyaleisurelylunchandafreeafternoontorelax.(BLD)

Monday 21st NovemberArrayanes Forest ParkWedepartbycoachtoPuertoVillaAngosturaandfromtherewevisittheArrayanesForestNationalPark,withaboattripincluded.WereturntoSanCarlosdeBarilochefordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Continuedoverleaf.


Tour Summary


Price includes:

• ReturnflightsfromLondon

• Internalflightsasshown

• 15nightsaccommodationwithbreakfast


• Allrailtravelshown

• Allvisitsandcoachjourneysshown



November 2011

M T W T F S S

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 1 2 3 4

NigelDobbing

DonMitchell

JohnTidmarsh

Hooper

Santiago

Temuco

Viedma

Buenos Aires

Esquel

Bariloche

Valdivia

PerauiloFitima

Puerto Montt

62

Tuesday 22nd NovemberArgentinean Lake CrossingLeavingearlybycoachforthelake(ourluggagebeingtakenseparately),weboardourvesseltobeginthefamousArgentineanLakecrossingtoPuertoMonttinChile.Wecruisethreebeautifullakes,interspersedwithshortroadjourneysonunmarkedroads.Wepassactivevolcanoes,spectacularglaciers,andmajesticmountainsalwayscoveredinsnow.Itmustbeoneofthetopfivescenicjourneysintheworld!OnarrivalinPuertoMontt,wecheckintoour3-starhotelfordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Wednesday 23rd NovemberSteam Train from Valdivia to AntilhueTodayyou’llenjoyascenicridebycoachtoValdivia.Wevisitthestationtoviewtwooldsteamlocomotives,includingaBeyerPeacock2-6-0.LunchwillbetakeninafamousGermanpubthatbrewsitsownbeerthen,intheafternoon,you’llenjoyaguidedcitytourdowntotherivertoviewsealsandwalruses.DinnerandovernightaccommodationwillbeinthepleasantMellilancaHotelinValdivia.(BLD)

Thursday 24th November“Tren de la Araucania” to TemucoOurspecialsteamhauledtrainawaitsusatAntilhue.ItishauledbyapowerfulBaldwindesigned(1953)4-8-2steamlocomotivewithspecial1930LinkeHoffmancarriagesandanArgentineanFiatdiningcar,inwhichweenjoylunch.Duringthejourneytherewillbeplentyofphoto’run-pastsingloriousscenery.AlltoosoonoursteamjourneyofoveronehundredmilescomestoanendaswearriveinTemuco.Wevisittherailwaymuseumwhichislocatedinanoldroundhouse,andcontainsacollectionoftwentylocomotives,mainlysteam,beforetakingdinnerandstayingovernightattheHolidayInn.(BLD)

Friday 25th NovemberTo SantiagoAfterbreakfastwegotoTemucoStation.Thetrainwillagainbeformedofthe1930’sLinkeHoffmancarriagesandanArgentineanFiatDiningCar.WedepartnorthwardstowardsChillianhauledbyaBeyerPeacockdesigned(butChileanbuilt)2-6-0steamlocomotive.DuringthejourneywecrossthehighestViaductinallofChile.AtChillianwechangetoaregulartrainforthefastjourneytoSantiago,wherewecheckintoourhotel.(BD)

Saturday 26th NovemberDay Trip to Los AndesWevisittherailwayworksandmuseuminLosAndestodaybeforeridingtheFlyingGooseRailcartoRioBlanco,onthelastsurvivingsectionofthefamousTrans-AndeanRailway.Afterabarbecuelunchwereturntoourhotel.Alternatively,feelfreetospendafreedayinlovelySantiago.(BLD)

Sunday 27th NovemberA Day on the “Wine Train”TodaywejointheWineTrainhauledbyaBeyerPeacock2-6-0steamlocomotive,withthreeLinkeHoffmanbalconycarriages.Thisisafantasticwaytoendourepicjourney,withadramaticthirtymileridetotheterminusatSantaAnna.Wespendmostofthedayrelaxingonthewinetrainvisitingseveralwinelodgesandtastingthesuperbwinesproducedinthisarea.LunchwillbeatthedelightfulViuManent,alovelyrestoredmanorhouse.AfterlunchwevisittheColchaguaMuseumwhichwasdesignedtoincorporatetheconceptofajourneythroughthehistoryofChile.Itcontainsafantasticcollectionofweapons,oldcarriagesandautomobiles,includingaBeyerPeacock2-6-0similartoourwinetrainsteamlocomotive.

Atrulyfantasticandunforgettablejourney!WereturnbytraintoSanFernandoandbycoachtothehotelinSantiagofordinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BLD)

Monday 28th NovemberRailway MuseumInthemorningwevisitQuintaNationalRailwayMuseum’simpressivecollectionoflocomotivesbeforetransferringtotheairportforourafternoonflighttoLondonHeathrowviaSaoPaulo.(B)

Tuesday 29th NovemberArrival LondonWehaveanearlyafternoonarrivalatLondonHeathrow.


RobynMacnamara

Hooper

63World Tours - The Old Patagonian Express

Tour Summary


Price includes:

• ReturnflightsfromLondon

• Internalflightsasshown

• 15nightsaccommodationwithbreakfast


• Allrailtravelshown

• Allvisitsandcoachjourneysshown



November 2011

M T W T F S S

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 1 2 3 4

Hooper

RobinPatrick

JohnTidmarsh

Santiago

Temuco

Viedma

Buenos Aires

Esquel

Bariloche

Valdivia

PerauiloFitima

Puerto Montt

64

Spring and Cherry Blossom in Japan

Saturday 24th March Flight departs for TokyoWedepartLondonHeathrowusinganafternoondeparturebyscheduledflighttoTokyo.

Sunday 25th March Arrive TokyoWehaveamorningarrivalatTokyo’sNaritaAirportandtransfertoourconvenientlylocatedhotelinTokyowherewestayforthreenights.IntheafternoonwehavealeisurelytourofJapan’scapitalcity,rankedthirdamongglobalcities,toseesomethingofitsurbanlandscapeandtransportsystems.Thismaybeoneofmanyopportunitiesforviewingsomesakura,cherryblossom,Japan’sunofficialnationalflower.ItholdsaveryprominentpositioninJapanesecultureandiscelebratedwithhanami,cherryblossomviewing,partiesunderthetrees.MountFujiisjustwestofTokyo,andcanbeseenfromthereonaclearday.

Monday 26th March Tokyo AfterbreakfastwevisitTokyo’slastremainingtramline,thebusyArakawaLine,whichoperatesinnorthernandeasternTokyoandallowsriderstohaveleisurely,street-levelviewsofoldersectionsofthecity.Aftertimeforalunchbreak,wecontinuebyJapanRailways(JR)Eastlocalserviceandthe‘NewShuttle’guidedtransitsystem,withrubber-tyredtrains,toOmiyaStation

inSaitama.HerewevisitJREast’simpressiverailwaymuseumwhichopenedin2007.Intheeveningthereisawelcomeparty,withlocalenthusiasts,providinganopportunitytofindoutaboutJapaneserailways,lifeandculture.Wereturntoourhotelforovernightaccommodation.(B)

Tuesday 27th March Yokohama FollowingbreakfastatourhotelwedepartsouthwardsbylocaltraintoYokohama,onTokyoBay,thesecondlargestcityinJapanbypopulation.Therewillbetimeforsightseeingin

thisancientandmodernportcitywhichishometothetallestinlandlighthouseintheworld.Afterabreakforlunch,thereisanopportunitytotravelbytwocontrastinglimited,makeslimitednumberofstops,expresstrains.WetakeJREast’s‘SuperViewOdoriko’deluxetrainfromYokohamatoOdawara.ThisisfollowedbyleadingoperatorOdakyuElectricRailway’s‘Romancecar’luxurytouristservice,fromOdawaratoitsterminusatTokyo’sbusyShinjukuhub.OvernightaccommodationisatourTokyohotel.(B)

Wednesday 28th March The Oigawa RailwayInthemorningwedepartfromTokyoby‘Hikari’(high-speedtrainservice)shinkansen,highspeedrailnetwork,foraone-hourjourneytoShizuoka.ThenwetravelbyJRCentral’sTokaidoLinetoKanayawherewetransfertotheOigawaRailway,aprivatecompanyoperatingtwo‘tourist’railwaylines.WetraveltoSenzubysteamtrain,ontheirelectrifiedmainline,throughapicturesquemountainarea.Afteralunchbreakandopportunitytotakephotographs,wetransferbycoachtoSumatakyo.Herewecheckintoatraditionalstyle‘onsen’(hotsprings)hotelforrelaxation,dinnerandovernightaccommodation.(BD)

Thursday 29th March Sumatakyo Hot Springs ResortToday,afterbreakfastatourhotel,thedayisfree

World Tours - Spring and Cherry Blossom in Japan

Spring is the ideal time to visit Japan when the weather is fine and the cherry blossom appears. We use many different forms of transport including steam trains, bullet trains, trams and a ferry boat. We travel over various types of high speed train routes, local railways, rural railways, and a rack railway.Our tour covers six of the eight regions of Japan and includes Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, the major islands, and beautiful Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain. For those less interested in trains there are ample opportunities to spend more time sightseeing and exploring the many aspects of this wonderful country.

Saturday 24th March to Monday 9th April 2012

AlexMorley

65

forachoiceofactivities.ThereistheOigawaRailway’s16mileIgawaLinewhichrunsfromSenzutoIkawathroughspectacularisolatedmountainscenery.ItistheonlyrailwaylineinJapantohavearacksection,usingtheAbtsystemwheretheroutewasrealignedwhenadamwasconstructed.TheOigawaMainLinefromSenzu,wherethereisasmallrailwaymuseum,operatedbysteamlocomotivesandvintageelectricmultipleunits(EMU’s),canberevisitedforfurtherphotoopportunities.Thisisanareaofoutstandingnaturalbeauty,withdiversefloraandfauna,whichcanbeexploredandenjoyed.Dinnerandovernightaccommodationisagainprovidedatthehotel.(BD)

Friday 30th March Bullet Train to KyushuAfterbreakfastatourhotelwetransferbycoachtoSenzufromwherewetakeanOigawaRailwayhistoricEMUtraintoKanaya.WetravelbyTokaidoLinestoppingtrainfromKanayatoHamamatsu,wherewechangetoa‘Hikari’shinkansenservicetoShin-Osaka.TherewillbetimeforlunchandphotoopportunitiesatShin-Osaka.WecontinuewestwardsbyJRWestandJRKyushu’snew‘Sakura’bullettrainservicetoKokurainnorthernKyushu.Wetransfertoourhotelforovernightaccommodation.(B)

Saturday 31st March TsuwanoThismorningwetravelby‘Kodama’bullettraintoShin-Yamaguchi.HerewejointhesteamserviceforthetwohourjourneyalongJRWest’sYamaguchiLinetoTsuwano.Ourtrainwillbehauledby1937built‘Pacific’steamlocomotiveNo.C57.1.IntheafternoontherewillbefreetimetoexplorethehistorictownofTsuwanoandvisititspicturesquemainstreet,whichislinedwithEdo-erabuildingsandKoiponds.WereturntoShin-YamaguchifromwherewetravelbybullettraintoKokuraforovernightaccommodationatourhotel.(B)

Sunday 1st April North KyushuFollowingbreakfastwehavesometimebeforecollectingourluggagetotravelonlocallinesinnorthKyushu,includingthemonorailwhichrunssouthwardsfromKokurastation.IntheafternoonwetraveltoKumamotoby‘Sakura’bullettrainserviceandcheckinatourhotelforthreenights.KumamotoislocatedinthecentreofKyūshūIsland,themostsouth-westerlyislandofJapan(B)

Monday 2nd April Steam Train to HitoyoshiThismorningwejoinJRKyushu’s‘SLHitoyoshi’servicehauledby1922builtsteamlocomotiveNo.C58.654.ItfirsttakestheKagoshimaMainLinebeforejoiningtheHisatsuLineinlandtoHitoyoshi.HitoyoshiisfamousforitshotspringsandboattripsontheKuma-gawaRiver.

Continuedoverleaf.


Tour Summary


Price includes:

•FlightsfromLondonHeathrowtoTokyo andreturn

•Allrailandcoachtransport

•15nightshotelaccommodationin3 and4-starhotels

•15Breakfastsand2Dinners



March 2012

M T W T F S S

27 28 29 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31 1

April 2012

M T W T F S S

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 1 2 3 4 5 6

RichardTremaine

RichardTremaine

66

Thehistoricalcastlesitehasviewsoverthetownandriverandmaybeaplacetoseecherryblossom.Otheroptionsthereincludeatriponthethird-sectorKumagawaRailwayoronwardsontheHisatsuLine.WereturntoKumamotoforovernightaccommodationatourhotel.(B)

Tuesday 3rd April Exploring KumamotoTodayweenjoysomefreetimeinKumamoto.Thecity’smostfamouslandmarkisthehill-top15thCenturyKumamotoCastle.SuizenjiGardenslocatedwithinSuizenjiParkareconsideredtobeoneofthemostbeautifulgardensinJapan.Thecityhasoperatedatramsystemsince1924andhasitsownlocalKumamotoElectricRailway.Alternativelythereisanoptiontohaveaday-triptoKagoshimabyJRKyushu’s‘Tsubame’bullettrain.OvernightaccommodationisatourhotelinKumamoto(B)

Wednesday 4th AprilTravel to HiroshimaThismorningwetravelfromKyushutoHiroshimaby‘Sakura’bullettrain.WecheckintoourhotelandthenvisittheHiroshimaPeaceMemorialMuseumcommemoratingtheatombombdroppedon6thAugust1945.(B)

Thursday 5th April Ferry to MiyajimaAfterbreakfastinourhotelwetravelwestwardsbytramtoMiyajimaguchi.HerewehaveashortferrytriptonearbyMiyajimaIslandwherewevisittheItsukushimaShrinewithitsfamous‘Torii’gateinthesea.LaterintheafternoonwereturntoHiroshimaandthereismoretimetoexploreitstramsystem,thelongestinJapan.Alternatively,thereisanoptiontotravelfurtherwesttoIwakunitoseeitsfamous‘Kintai’Bridge,a17thcenturydesign,andtorideonthethird-sectorNishigawaRailway.OvernightaccommodationisatourhotelinHiroshima(B)

Friday 6th April Return to TokyoThismorningwehaveathreehourjourneytoNagoyaby‘Hikari’bullettrain.Wethentakethethird-sector‘Aonami’(BlueWave)LinetoNagoyaStation,theworld’slargestrailwaystationbyfloorareaandoperationalhubofJRCentral.WevisittheSCMaglevandRailwayPark,JRCentral’snewrailwaymuseum.AmongtheexhibitsissteamlocomotiveNo.C62.17whichreachedarecord80mphin1954,andearlierbullettraintypes.InthelateafternoonwetraveltoTokyoby‘Hikari’bullettrain.Wecheckintoourconvenientlylocatedhotel.(B)

Saturday 7th April The Mooka LineTodaywetraveltoShimodate,north-eastfromTokyo,foratripontheMookaRailway’sSLMookasteamservice.Thislineprovidesanopportunitytogetatasteofruralsteamaswejourneythe26milesalongtheMookaLinetoMotegihauledbyatankengine.WereturntoourTokyohotelforovernightaccommodation.(B)

Sunday 8th April The “Paleo Express”ThismorningwetravelbyJREastbullettrainservicetoKumagaya.Herewechangetothe‘PaleoExpress’operatedbytheprivateChichibuRailway,whichhasbothfreightandpassengerservices.Thesteamservicetakestwoandahalfhourstoreachtherailway’sterminusatMitsumineguchiviatheChichibuMainLine.WereturnbySeibuRailways’‘RedArrow’limitedexpress,fromSeibuChichibutooneofitsTokyoterminiatIkebukuro.OvernightaccommodationisatourTokyohotel.(B)

Monday 9th April Return to LondonFollowingbreakfast,wetransferbytheKeiseiElectricRailway’slatest‘Skyliner’serviceto

Tokyo’sNaritaAirport.OurflightfromTokyoarrivesatLondonHeathrowlaterthesameday.(B)


67World Tours - Spring and Cherry Blossom in Japan

Tour Summary


Price includes:

•FlightsfromLondonHeathrowtoTokyo andreturn

•Allrailandcoachtransport

•15nightshotelaccommodationin3 and4-starhotels

•15Breakfastsand2Dinners



March 2012

M T W T F S S

27 28 29 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31 1

April 2012

M T W T F S S

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 1 2 3 4 5 6

AlexMorley

THE ATTRACTIONS OF TRAINSBy their very nature trains, especially steam, attract enthusiasts. We will always include a number of photographic opportunities, in the form of false starts and run pasts, also footplate rides, museum and depot visits where practical and possible.However, many of our clients lack the exclusive interest in trains shown by some enthusiasts. We therefore keep in mind your need for diversity such as visits to castles and historic houses, wildlife, resort style hotels or free time for shopping or exploring. Nevertheless the main attraction is the touring by train, the nostalgia, the companionship on board and scenery outside. In fact, we consider that, on our tours, you will see more scenery and in greater comfort than by coach or cruise liner.

SCHEDULES, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICESWe book and advertise tours in good faith. Many scheduled railway organisations - train operators and track operators - only work two months ahead and cannot confirm final schedules to us until that ‘window’. Likewise we cannot advise final numbers until full balances are in. There may be occasional rescheduling or rerouting. The nature of steam trains is that breakdowns, delays and substitutions have to be accepted. Every genuine effort will be made to ensure that the tour runs as planned and advertised, or as close to as possible.

FIRE RISKIn many countries at times of exceptionally dry weather, coal fired steam locomotives may be banned from operating and diesel or electric traction may have to be substituted. Oil fired steam locomotives however are normally still allowed to operate. The Railway Touring Company cannot accept any responsibility for steam bans during high fire risk.

SEAT RESERVATIONS AND OVERNIGHT TRANSIT ARRANGEMENTSOn some trains seat reservations are by individual seats, on others by block or coach. Since the railways concerned make allocation we have to accept and be flexible about the seating arrangements. Where overnight travel is necessary we will arrange either to stay in a convenient hotel en route, to use one of the newer ‘hotel trains’, or to book Standard Class twin sleepers (First Class is often singles). The decisions are based on the length of the journey, the range of scenery likely to be missed overnight and the accommodation options available.

PORTERAGESome tours include porterage between station and hotel, some include full luggage transfers between hotels, using either a supplementary road coach or scheduled ‘luggage in advance’ facilities. Porterage, where advertised, is included in the cost. However, there will still be occasions when porters are not available or included, and it will be each passenger’s responsibility to handle their own luggage.

ACCOMMODATIONWe try to use 4-star designated hotels throughout as this offers us the standards of hospitality, catering and service we desire for you. We also seek establishments which are either conveniently located for the railways to minimize transfers, or which afford some unique character. Where we cannot meet either of these criteria we ensure the best and most comfortable accommodation available.

FOOD AND DRINKMeals will be taken on trains, boats, planes, in hotels and restaurants and even al fresco (picnic or packed)! Mindful of the diversity of our clients’ tastes we try to adopt a ‘middle of the road’ approach to choosing menus. We must also accept the limitations of on-board catering and wonder at the success that chefs regularly achieve in the confines of train kitchens. Hotel and restaurant meals are usually a set menu, with options for special dietary needs. If you have any special dietary requirements please ensure that you let us know them at the time of booking to ensure we can arrange them for you. Some of our tours include alcoholic and soft drinks and coffee - this is clearly stated, and otherwise guests are responsible for their own refreshments.

PASSPORTS, VISAS AND HEALTH ISSUESClients are responsible for holding the necessary and appropriate travel documentation for their journey. For tours outside the UK please ensure your passport has at least six months remaining validity. We assume our clients are British Citizens whose passport shows they have a right of abode in the UK. If your passport is of another country or state, or shows restrictions on return toyour country of origin please contact us prior to booking and well in advance of intended use. At the time of publication (November 2010) UK Citizens need visas/permits for the following tour destinations: (£ indicates anticipated cost to individual applicants)

INDIA - £45ERITREA - £35EGYPT - £20SYRIA - £45

We will advise requirements and processing arrangements to clients booking these tours. Where appropriate and possible we will arrange to handle and secure group visas. This is only viable if you can release your passport for sufficient time for delivering, processing and returning the document as part of the group application. If you need your passport in the eight-ten weeks before the tour you will need to consider an individual application. For late bookings please enquire to ensure you can complete the formalities in time.Health advice is dependent upon the destination, medical history and current health of each person and we cannot assume any responsibility. You MUST seek advice from your GP or a travel medical centre.

PRETOUR and TRAVEL DOCUMENTSWe will send ‘travellers’ information’ for visa and general planning purposes when appropriate, usually at ‘balance due’ time. If there is nothing special to communicate we will just acknowledge your balance. For all tours we prepare and send an itinerary/programme. This consists of a passenger list with first or ‘known as’ names -where advised -(check on an old acquaintance, aide-memoir for names during the tour), the latest known itinerary with as much detail as necessary (including meal times/locations), emergency and general contact details and usually some general and specific information about features of the tour. This is intentionally a ‘skim’ of the information available and you should research and obtain detailed reference material/maps/schedules etc appropriate to your interests.Air tickets are usually sent to us for onward transmission inside two weeks before travel - please don’t panic! Often rail tickets are group travel documents held by the Tour Manager; you will be provided with joining instructions, which please observe since the party cannot progress until all members are present. Onward tickets, vouchers and coupons are usually held by and distributed by the Tour Manager.

TRAVEL INSURANCEMany clients arrange their own insurance. THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY cannot assume any responsibility relating to insurance issues and clients should ensure they are familiar with procedures should an incident arise. This is especially important with medical cover since we do not undertake to secure medical attention, but to hand the patient over to an appropriate and suitable authority.

INFIRMITY AND DISABILITYTour managers are responsible for the general care and well-being of the whole group and are neither available, trained nor insured for ‘personal’ care. Each tour, by way of the trains and terrain being visited, presents its own opportunities and restrictions; clients should ascertain the suitability of the itinerary and facilities relevant to their own needs. We are happy to discuss yourconcerns before you commit to a booking. We will attempt to accommodate and resolve any needs or problems caused by undisclosed mobility/dietary/general health issues but cannot accept responsibilities beyond those stated above. We especially draw your attention to the high-altitude tours and cardiovascular and respiratory problems.

CONFIDENTIALITY, PRIVACY AND MAILING LISTSYour name and address have been secured and/or confirmed from your response to adverts, having been a previous client/enquirer or a referral. We do not share these details with anyone outside Warren Travel Ltd trading as The Railway Touring Company or The Railway Touring Company Ltd. Your personal details - such as credit card numbers/travelarrangements/companions etc will only be held and used within the requirements of tour operating. We are registered under the Data Protection Act. If you wish to communicate with another client please forward the stamped envelope/package to us; we will add the address and repost the mail. We will not divulge addresses or telephone numbers.

FINANCIAL PROTECTION“We are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and hold ATOL Number T7149. This ensures that in the event of our failure your money will be protected; if you are on holiday at the time, arrangements will be made for you to complete your holiday and return home. The flights we provide are supplied by other ATOL holders and are protected by their bonds. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.”

PAYMENT FOR YOUR FLIGHT“The payments you make for your flight are held by us (in our trust account) on behalf of the ATOL holder who is supplying your flight, until the date we pass the money to that ATOL holder. The ATOL holder supplying the flight will issue an ATOL confirmation invoice to confirm its contract with you. We will forward on to you no later than the day after it has been received.”

Booking Conditions and Information


68

Status:We are a direct sell tour operator and retail travel agents. All parts of your holiday are covered by our TTA membership (number T726X), and the air travel on all of our holidays is covered by our ATOL membership (number T7149). The holiday account is summarised on the statement.

Programme and prices:As described in the brochure, leaflets, correspondence or amendments notified to you and acknowledged by you.

Deposit/Balance:Please forward a deposit per person of:

£100 for travel in the UK£150 for travel within Europe£350 for travel beyond Europe

Balances are required in time to pay suppliers, usually ten weeks before travel. Sometimes we have to pay group tickets earlier and the balance due date shown on the confirmation will reflect this.While we are establishing a viable tour group deposits are fully refundable; when we confirm the operation of a tour your deposit will become committed.

Fidelity Insurance:All bookings are required to be covered by Fidelity Insurance. This is a financial protection insurance, which protects your money until the holiday goes ahead. This is included in the holiday price.

Credit Cards:Deposits paid by credit card will be excluded from credit card charges, however full balances paid by credit card will be subject to a 2.1% charge. This is the same as we are charged by the credit card companies due to the ever increasing use of credit cards we are no longer able to absorb this cost. There are of course no charges if you pay by Switch, cash, bank transfer or cheque.

Cancellation:Our cancellation policy for all our tours is as follows:

Cancellation prior to 12 weeks before departure – loss of depositCancellation between 8-12 weeks prior to departure – 25% refund onlyCancellation less than 8 weeks prior to departure – no refund

Passports, Visas and Health:Travellers are responsible for possessing the correct documentation but we are willing to advise. You should seek professional medical guidance. Where security risk exists or arises Foreign and Commonwealth Office and tourist board guidance will be sought and passed on.

Prices:Prices are determined against known exchange rates, fuel costs and tax regimes prevailing at 29th October 2010. The exchange rates used for pricing the brochure are as follows:

£1 = 1.15 Euros£1 = 1.59 US$£1 = 9.44 Norwegian Krone£1 = 1.57 Swiss Francs£1 = 129.43 Japanese Yen

In the event of significant changes we must reserve the right to amend prices.

Warren Travel Ltd trading as The Railway Touring Company acts as booking agent for the service providers whose terms and conditions of booking and carriage apply, copies will be secured upon request. Subject to minimum and maximum numbers booking. Rail components subject to serviceability and operating conditions - ‘best’ alternatives will be provided.

A NO SMOKING policy will be pursued where we have the control or influence of the service.

Booking Agreement


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Pre-book your UK hotels and holiday parkingConsiderstayingovernightbeforeoraftertravel.Besidesleavingyoumorerelaxedthecostisoftenlittlemore,ifanything,thanthecostofparking!

Aconvenienthotelbeforedepartureorafteryourreturncanmeanyoustartorendyourholidaymorerestedandrelaxed,andpossiblyavoidthefrustrationsandanxietiesofearlymorningandlateeveningtravel.

Or,simplypre-bookyourparkingsoyouknowexactlywhereyouaregoingandwhatitcosts.

Airport Hotels with Holiday Parking

• Gatwickfrom£79perroom

• Heathrowfrom£99perroom

• Manchesterfrom£70perroom

Secured Airport Parking

• Gatwickfrom£6.75perday

• Heathrowfrom£8.80perday

• Birminghamfrom£4.50perday

AirportHotelswithCoach,thiscanbearrangedfromyourlocaltown,pricesavailableonrequest.

Railticketsfromyourhomestationtodepartureairport,thesecanonlybebookedwheretwoormorepassengersaretravelingtogether,priceavailableonrequest.

Pricescorrectat29thOctober2010–Phonefordetailsorindicateyourneedsonthebookingform.

UK Connecting FlightsWecantrytoarrangeconnectingflightsfromyourlocalairporttothemaintourdeparturepointifyouwish,pricesfortheseconnectingflightsareavailableonrequest.

Travel Insurance Duetochangesinthetravelinsuranceregulationswearenolongerabletoselltravelinsurancedirecttoourclients–wecanhoweverrecommendandsenddetailsthroughfortravelinsurancethroughHolidayExtras,inconjunctionwiththeTravelTrustAssociation.Pleaseletusknowatthetimeofbookingifyouwouldliketoreceivedetailsofthisinsurance.

Pre-Booking and Travel Insurance


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Title ..................... Forename ..................................................................... Surname ................................................................... DOB*..................

Title ..................... Forename ..................................................................... Surname ................................................................... DOB* .................

*DOB = Date of Birth

Please ensure your names are as they appear in your passport

Address of first named ..........................................................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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.................................................................................................................................................(Phone) .................................................................

Please reserve the (tour title) ................................................................................................................................................................................

Indicate your requirements/preferences: Twin bedded room Double bedded room Single room(s) (Tick)

Where options are available for the tour (ie choice of travel) please clearly state your choice(s) (also specify any dietary or health related

requirements)

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The deposit is £350 per person outside Europe, £150 per person within Europe and £100 per person for UK tours, plus insurance, if required.

The balance/full fare is due 10 weeks before travel; dates will be advised on your confirmation. As stated in our Booking Agreement a

Fidelity Policy will be added at the time of booking.

I enclose a cheque (payable to THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY CLIENT ACCOUNT)

Please charge my credit or Switch card for:

£..................................... deposit full fare (Tick)

Card Number .......................................................................................................................

Expires .................................................................................................................................

Start Date ............................................................................................................................

Please accept my booking on the terms and conditions in the 2011 TOURS brochure

Please sign and date .............................................................................................................................................................................................

Send this form to:

THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY, 14A TUESDAY MARKET PLACE, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 1JNPhone: 01553 661500 • Fax: 01553 661800 • E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.railwaytouring.co.uk

Visit our website for online booking

Railtour Reservation Form


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The Railway Touring Company14a Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1JN

Phone: 01553 661500 Fax: 01553 661800Web: www.railwaytouring.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]

Design and Artwork - LucidSynergy Ltd - www.lucidsynergy.com

the railway touring company - main brochure 2011

Documents