Free morning. Leaving at 12:36 we take a German high speed ICE train (first class) from Cologne to Berlin, arriving at 17:47. Check in to our hotel by the station. Overnight Berlin (2 nights).

Optional visit to Berlin Technical Museum with large railway section in the old Anhalter double roundhouse, and/or to Berlin Park railway at Wulheim (narrow-gauge). Alternatively visit the city sites with public transport. Or travel on one of the branch lines –  Kevin will be able to give various suggestions of the best lines.

We catch the 09:01 train on to Dresden (arriving 11:07) and check into our hotel near the station. After time for lunch we take the afternoon train to Radebeul for a narrow-gauge steam train to Radeburg and back. Our visit is during their annual steam festival at the Radeburg-Radebeul line (140th birthday celebration), so should be 4 locos in steam including the Saxon Meyers. Return to Dresden for our overnight stay (3 nights).

Joining Today (7 night holiday) There is the option of joining the tour today by departing on the 11:04 train from St Pancras and traveling via Brussels and Frankfurt to arrive in Dresden late evening (23:30).

Train to Bad Schandau (every 1/2h) for ferry over the river, then a short walk to the Kirnitzschtalbahn, a vintage electric tramway running 8km through a national park to Lichtenhainer Waterfall. We return to Bad Schandau, including a guided depot visit to see the vintage tramcars. Then return to Dresden by Paddle steamer on the River Elbe through an area known as Saxon Switzerland.

Train to Freital-Hainsburg for steam hauled ride into the mountains on the Weiseritztal narrow gauge railway. Return to Dresden. Afternoon free to visit the beautifully restored medieval city, Transport Museum, miniature park railway or funicular railways.

This morning we leave Dresden behind and take the train to the romantic half-timbered town of Wernigerode, arriving around 13:20.  We first check in to Railway themed Hotel Altora near the station. Some of the rooms at this hotel have views of the narrow-gauge loco shed (book early if you want a Railway Room). We stay here for 3 nights. Two options this afternoon: (1) take a walk into the town and board a road train which takes us up the hill to Wernigerode’s restored fairy tale castle where we have a guided visit before returning to the town by road train. Or use your pass for a steam trip up to the summit at Brocken, the highest mountain in Northern Germany.

Armed with a 3 day pass for the Harz narrow gauge railway, One can either follow our tour manager for a suggested itinerary, or feel free to explore alone, perhaps trying to travel on as many steam hauled trains as possible. Suggestion would be to take a steam train to Brocken, the summit of the highest mountain in Northern Germany, Breaking the journey at Schierke & Drie Annen Hohne on return for photography/coffee break.

This morning we say goodbye to the Harz and take the train via Goslar & Hannover to the city of Wuppertal, arriving 13.38. We check in to our hotel near the Station.  Wuppertal is home to the unique World famous “Schwebebahn” hanging monorail. We will have a pass which enables us to ride and photograph the full 13km line.

Mid-morning we take a regional train from Wuppertal (08:04) to Cologne where we change to an ICE (first class) to Brussels (arr 11:35, depart 12:52) then Eurostar to London. With a early afternoon arrival (13:57). As Kevin lives near Brussels, he we see you onto your Eurostar train and bid farewell to you here. If you are flying back to Edinburgh you leave us in Cologne for a taxi to the airport for the 13:35 flight back to Scotland.