Ffestiniog Travel

Thursday 29 September to Wednesday 5 October 2011

We invite you to join us in a weekend of Special Trains over the Harz Railway’s entire network. Enjoy this beautiful part of the world as you experience heritage trains, vintage locos and travel along historic railways that offer fantastic photo opportunities.

Day 1   Düsseldorf

A lunchtime departure on Eurostar from St. Pancras to Brussels followed by a high speed train journey into Germany where we take a regional service to Düsseldorf. The hotel Ibis Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof is situated in the station building with access to the city's tram system only steps away.

Day 2   Via Hannover to Wernigerode

We journey east via Hannover arriving in Wernigerode in the early afternoon. We transfer to our hotel, the Parkhotel Fischer, a five minute walk from the town centre. The afternoon is free to explore the town.

Day 3   Benneckenstein and the Brocken

A double headed departure from Wernigerode with 2-6-2 tank locomotive 99 6001 and one of the HSB's 'museum' locomotives as far as Benneckenstein. We then head back towards Drei Annen Hohne and up the Brocken, climbing 1,141 metres, the highest peak in Northern Germany, before heading back down to Wernigerode. There will be plenty of opportunity for photographic run pasts.

Day 4   Nordhausen and Quedlinburg

A Heritage train takes us from Wernigerode to Nordhausen. The traction is booked to be 99 6001 and 99 222 and from Nordhausen we head back towards Eisfelder Talmühle turning right on to the Selketalbahn. More opportunities for photographs and run pasts as we head towards Quedlinburg. A coach is booked to take us back to Wernigerode.

Day 5   Rübelandbahn

The treat of this year's gala is a steam hauled service from Blankenburg to Rübeland and return. This line is an isolated electric route in the middle of diesel 'territory' and electrified on non-standard 25Kv. Its main traffic is the haulage of limestone trains. At Blankenburg a preserved 2-10-2 steam locomotive 95 027 will be waiting to haul us up the hill to Rübeland and back to Blankenburg. A coach transfer returns us to Wernigerode.

Day 6   Wuppertal

We take the 0914 regional train back to Hannover, continuing by high speed to Wuppertal, arriving around lunchtime. After checking in to our hotel, the InterCity Hotel Wuppertal, the afternoon is free to explore. A local transport card is included for the Rhine-Ruhr area, which includes free travel on Wuppertal's famous suspension railway.

Day 7   Homeward Bound

We depart in the morning by regional train to Cologne where we transfer via the high speed line to Brussels and finally London. Arrival back in London is mid-afternoon.