Ffestiniog Travel

Wednesday 6 February to Tuesday 12 February 2013

The Harz Mountains is an area much loved by steam enthusiasts and during the Winter Gala, you'll experience the wonders for yourself! This 7 day unescorted holiday is based in Wernigerode with three days of excursions on the HSB steam railways with overnight stops en route in Aachen and Wuppertal.

Day 1 - Aachen

The holiday starts in London by taking a lunchtime Eurostar from St. Pancras International to Brussels, where a connection is made to high speed train to Aachen. The hotel can be reached by a short walk from the station.

Day 2 - Onwards to Wernigerode

After breakfast take a mid-morning train travelling via Cologne and Hannover to Wernigerode for an afternoon arrival. The hotel for the next 4 nights is a 15 minute walk from the station, or a 5 minute taxi ride.

Day 3 - Hasserode and The Brocken

The weekend of special trains starts today, this morning two special trains will depart from Wernigerode. A freight train will lead followed by a passenger train, there will be photo stops and run pasts enabling you to take that perfect shot of either train in the snow (hopefully!). These trains will run through to Hasserode before returning to Wernigerode for lunch. After lunch a special steam train with heritage coaches will climb the Brocken and back.

Day 4 - Eisfelder Talmühle

Today the heritage train from Wernigerode will travel through to Eisfelder Tahmühle, where the Harzquerbahn and Selketalbahn meet. The traction today is booked to be either '99 6101' and '99 5901' or one of the HSB flagship 'LKM' locomotives. There will be plenty of opportunity for photographic run pasts on this return trip.

Day 5 - Selketalbahn

This morning's train hauled by one of the 'LKM' steam locomotives first heads to Hasselfeld before traversing the rest of the Selketalbahn to Quedlinburg. Again, this route offers some wonderful scenery in which photographic run pasts will be a pleasure! Return to Wernigerode is via a road transfer.

Day 6 - Wuppertal

Departing Wernigerode in the morning the route retraces the outbound journey with a change in Hannover, continuing by high speed line to Wuppertal, arriving early afternoon. The hotel is a short walk from the station and included with your room key is a local transport card for the Rhine-Rhur area which, of course includes free travel on Wuppertal's famous suspension railway.

Day 7 - Homeward bound

A morning departure by regional train to Cologne then travel via the high speed line to Brussels and finally London. Arrive in London mid-afternoon.

Please note that the details of the Harz Gala program and the availability of the steam locomotives are subject to change.