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'Kriegsloks' on Mine and Mainline-Service

War-time locomotives in bosnia-herzegovina 10.02. – 17.02.2024.

The economic situation of the coal mines in Tuzla is so dire that for many years not even the purchase of second-hand diesel locomotives could been considered so they had no choice but to keep their steam locomotives in active service. In the winter of 2023, the mines of the Kreka administration were completely out of operation because the wages for December had not yet been paid. It’s a miracle that even in 2024, ‘Kriegsloks’ can still be seen in daily service. However, their operating radius is severely limited as they only shunt in the mine areas, now that the trains to the interchange yards are in the hands of state railway diesel locomotives.

In Oskova (Banovići) the narrow gauge railway still sees shunting services with the class 83, the legendary 0-8-2s, typical for many narrow gauge lines in the Balkans. In addition, there is still the occasional use of the American war-time locomotive of class 62, the USATC class S 100, in the standard gauge section of the station.

We are visiting the last steam locomotives in genuine use, (i.e. the last non-tourist steam) in Europe . However, since shunting operations alone are not very productive photo-wise, we have chartered a series of special trains to take the locomotives onto the beautiful lines around the coal mines. So we can enjoy the open and mountainous countryside as well as action set against industrial backdrops. Also of interest are the railway stations, as some of them have remained almost unchanged for decades.

We will see four different types of locos in operation:

The tour starts and ends at Belgrade airport. The day of arrival is February 10 th , 2024. The group will meet there around 14 hrs. The day of departure is February 17 th , 2024. You can book your return flight from 15 hrs.

We visit the following places with scheduled services:

The following workshops, which carry out heavy overhauls on the steam locomotives, will be visited:

The following special trains with steam are planned:

With class 33 (DR class 52) on standard gauge:

A double header of class 83 or classes 83 and 25 on narrow gauge:

Shunting with standard gauge locomotives of the classes 33 and 62. If the Škoda class 19 is serviceable we will also fire it.

We only run freight trains as specials. We will travel in a Gbs (two-axle, covered freight wagon). On the narrow gauge railway we will travel on the open platforms at the end of coal wagons.

Line descriptions

The administration of the Kreka power plant (and some of the coal mines serving this power plant) is in Tuzla . The depot for all locomotives used in the mines is located in Bukinje, close to Tuzla and next to a now closed deep mine. Here we will meet the last 2-10-0 war locomotives of the German Reichsbahn class 52, the Yugoslavian 33s. There are also some long dumped 62s in the depot. Locomotives of the class 33 are still used for shunting duties in the coal mine stations in Dubrave and Šikulje, both open cast mines. We’ll visit the locomotives in the mines and watch them shunting. The surrounding railway lines are leading through a mountainous countryside and offer some nice photo opportunities. To take pictures on these state railway lines we’ve chartered freight trains. We’ve also planned some night photography.

The workshop for heavy overhauls is in Bukinje . It is difficult to predict whether or not one of their locomotives will be under heavy overhaul when we visit the site. However, the chances are not bad, as an overhaul usually takes many months. This is because of the low number of maintenance staff available.

In Banovići , the coal mine still uses steam locomotives on the Bosnian 760 mm gauge to shunt trains at the lower terminus of the line in Oskova. The line service to the mines will be performed by diesel locomotives. On the standard gauge, they use steam only occasional. Usually a diesel does the work. We chartered a steam locomotive to replace the diesel for our visit. Besides their lass 62, the last serviceable in Bosnia , we may also see the Škoda locomotive (class 19). Furthermore, there is a 144R (0-8-0, Fives, Lille ) in desolate condition. Class 83 (0-8-2 from Slavonski Brod) and, if available, class 25 (Ch2t from Škoda) will be used for shunting on the narrow gauge line. Currently, only one class 25 is operational, besides two class 83s. The diesel locomotives classes 720 (B-dh) and 740 (B'B'-dh) handle all traffic on the double-tracked narrow-gauge line. We have arranged a double headed charter train on the scenic narrow gauge line, using both class 83s. This type of locomotives could be found all over the former Yugoslavia on various narrow gauge lines and was in use on the Banovići coal railway for many years.

Small Print

Bosnia-Herzegovina is a civilised country with a hospitable population despite their difficult history. Perhaps, their mentality is different from the rest of Europe , but remember we go to the Balkans aware their very different historical background.

Taking photos of railway facilities, engines and rolling stock is sometimes still seen with some suspicion. We therefore have will apply for a permit for each location. As soon as you show up with an official permit, all the gates and doors usually open and you are warmly welcomed, allowed to take photos everywhere and there is even extra shunting possibilities once in a while!

Bosnia-Herzegovina was “ethnically” divided after the civil war, but we will hardly notice the border to the “ Republic of Srpska ” as there are no check posts or other border controls. The hotels may leave something to be desired in some places. Tourism has not yet really got going again after the war and the division of the country, so investment in a tourism infrastructure in the coal-mining areas is not high on the list of priorities. However, the food supply is plentiful and good even if vegetarian food is somewhat more difficult to find because meat in all its variety is the major part of almost every meal.

Citizens of the Schengen countries and Switzerland only need an identity card to enter the country. However, we advise you to carry a passport with you, because we sometimes need the passport number to obtain the permits at the coal mines. Also at the border, some officials prefer to see a passport.

Charter buses, as on all our trips, apply to the local standard, which may differ from EU expectations, but they are always quite comfortable and safe.

You should allow for rain or snow. Please bring clothing to cover bright blue skies and snow and temperatures in the range minus ten to plus fifteen. You may choose to bring a tripod and remote shutter release as at some locations we hope to capture atmospheric night shots.

The trip is specially designed for photographers and videographers for whom a good picture is more important than a sumptuous meal in a top restaurant 50 km away. We have planned on half board; we will hardly have time for lunch.

When we visit the scheduled operation, there are sometimes longer waiting times until a shunting movement takes place. The locomotives can stand much more than they move. However, we can always help things on a little. Since there is only one operational example of each of the 25 and 62 series, it cannot be ruled out that we may not see the very locomotive or even no steam locomotive at all. We will then try to find an adequate compensation. However, there can be no financial compensation for steam locomotives that do not run. We are in the age of fading steam activities; the risk of a total failure of steam at one place or another cannot be ruled out. But of course this is not our first trip to the Balkans, and so far it has always been very worthwhile. The only risk-free place is at home sitting on the sofa! Only that's not half as exciting!

Please note that hotels, buses and even the trains do not have to be EU-compliant. That is why we are travelling there. We will be travelling to a country where environmental and health and safety concerns are still not fully developed. It is important to point out the dangers of using and staying near the railways and other means of transport. It is recommended that you take out both accident and health insurance. The Kreka Mining Company, the Banovići Mining Administration, the local organiser nor FarRail Tours are liable in any circumstance for accidents, damage or inconvenience resulting from delays, etc.

At the moment, there are no travel restrictions regarding Covid. We will have to see what the rules are then shortly before the start of the trip.

The price includes:

Not included are:

Coast Line Express & Mountain Railways

Broad gauge steam in sri lanka : 06/02 – 17/02/2020.

Sri Lanka is a tropical island in the Indian Ocean . Its volcanic origins created mountains up to 2,524 metres (8,281 ft) high in the centre of the island. In the era of the British Empire the island, then called Ceylon , was developed with the help of the railway. One of the broad gauge lines climbs steeply from the lowlands high into the mountains. They call it their main line, whose purpose was initially to reach the tea gardens growing on steep terraces on the side of the mountains. We will explore this particular line with its wonderful array of spectacular and scenic sections. In addition, we will steam at speed along the shore on the coastal line through lush vegetation.

I first tried to organise a tour to the former Ceylon before the civil war reached Colombo in form of a terrorist attack. Then the Tsunami washed away the plans for the second attempt. When I revived them for the third time, many operational changes had been implemented on the railways. There was now a ban on the use of two axle wagons on the main line. The railways had tightened their safety systems, making run-pasts more difficult, e.g. restrictions on making run-pasts on gradients; problems with taking a diesel loco off a train before a run-past. etc. All these hurdles were overcome during difficult negotiations between 2012 and 2015. They finally consented to make a tour of “our style” possible and we came to a cordial agreement. In February 2016, we finally ran steam charters of freight and mixed trains over the ultra-spectacular mountainous broad gauge railway line, with all the old British signalling system (levers, linkages and semaphores), under the continued threat of modernisation, still in place.

After the successful tour, we continued with our repeated requests for them to allow us to reutilise two of the once typical Rajagopal passenger coaches. With just two coaches, one Rajagopal and one combined brake coach, it will be possible to re-create a 100 percent authentic looking passenger train of the 1970’s, when steam was still in use. Many steam hauled passenger trains in the fantastic mountainous area carried no more than just two coaches. In 2018 we were able to run an authentic passenger train with even three coaches. We are working on more to even top this for the tour in 2020!

From the general manager of Sri Lanka ’s railways, we have it in writing that he will allow the use of the “prohibited” four wheel cars for our tour. This will allow us to offer a good range of authentic looking trains with several four wheel and some elderly bogie wagons, which were withdrawn from line service or restricted to shunting yards several years ago. Our train will become, again, a treat for the eyes of the railway enthusiast!

As a result of how successful the two previous tours have been, we can now extend the program and included the coast line. This will allow us to use the freshly overhauled B1a 251 “Sir Thomas Maitland”. Therefore, we should see all three serviceable locomotives in front of our trains. To help ensure that there are no outstanding technical problems with the locomotives, we will send an engineer’s team to Sri Lanka well ahead of the tour. Please see the January 2019 newsletter for more details.

Line description

Sri Lanka is a large island in the Indian Ocean . The lowland near the capital, Colombo , is served by double tracked main lines. These lines are mainly modernised with colour light signals. But, a major part of the island is mountainous. The railway in the mountains is often still looking as it did in colonial days. Some stations have a forest of semaphores, traditional gantries, signal cabins, platform shelters and so on. It’s all very British looking. The scenery is also breathtaking with rock tunnels, sharp climbs, tight curves and tea plantations. Sometimes the countryside opens up and you can have outstanding views far away over several mountain ranges. There are stone arched viaducts, s-curves and palm trees. In short, the railways are fantastically scenic and once you have seen the stations like the Great Western (this is the station’s name) with towering rock faces you will want to stay longer than anyone’s budget usually allows.

The coast line leads through the suburbs of Colombo along the shore and then, never far from it, through lush vegetation and more built-up areas. There are many palm trees, which gives the line its tropical look. Some bridges will be crossed and occasionally you can see the beach. The big joy will be our authentic train with the Bayer Peacock built B1a 251. We will run fast over long sections with traditional Rajagopal coaches behind steam. Even on the flat section, the speed will require a hard working locomotive, something which is now a very rare experience on broad gauge railways these days.

We will probably see locos:

in use. All three are beautiful British engines, which were in use until the end of steam in the 1970’s. Designed as passenger train locomotives, they could also be seen in front of mixed or freight trains as well.

These locomotives are from the “Viceroy Special” stock allocation, but without, of course, carrying the “Viceroy Special” plate on the smokebox door. Instead, we have requested that they are not polished for at least a month before our tour. The last two times it worked just as we wanted. Sri Lanka ’s steam locomotives were mostly kept clean pretty well up to the end of their service life. Cleaning a loco, which is not nice looking, will take you two hours. Converting an oily, shiny circus horse into a real locomotive may take weeks or months. Our locos will look authentically “clean but used”.

Sri Lanka has much more to offer than railways. If you want to bring along your partner who is not interested in our railway activities and is not taking pictures of our charter trains, please do so and we will arrange a special programme to see all the highlights available along our route. This could include visits such as:

These extra trips will be arranged in advance if requested by early August 2019. The price reduction for non-photographing partners is £315.

Small print

Particularly in the outskirts of large cities, there’s poverty, misery, dirt and unhygienic conditions. We will not visit these parts of the cities, but you never can be sure that you won’t see people who have to live in such sorry surroundings. If you have no travel experience in countries like Sri Lanka , India, Bangladesh and so on, it would be wise to read a general guide book about the culture, the religion and the political development of our host country. In addition, don’t forget the chapter on how to behave with beggars. With this knowledge you will see and understand more of the country and its inhabitants, for sure.

However, you shouldn’t be too concerned about unpleasant circumstances. We’ll visit the most beautiful and peaceful parts of the country. We’ll move generally in safe and quiet places (although I wouldn’t count Colombo as a quiet place …).

Sri Lanka has a tropical climate. Even in the dry period, you may have clouds and even rain. February is in the season when the chances for sun is best. In Colombo and Kandy , February is the best time to travel, while the driest month in Bandarawela is June. Please be prepared for 35° Centigrade and sunshine and also for 20° Centigrade and rain. Both are usual all year round in different parts of the country. Morning temperatures in the mountains can be fresh, so please do not forget to bring something warm to wear. The humidity can be tropically high in the lowlands.

Health / Fitness

There is a minor risk of Malaria in most parts of the country that we will visit. Although our hotels often offer air conditioning, you should think about carrying a mosquito net with you. In the evening hours you should wear long trousers and long sleeved shirts to avoid contact with mosquitoes. There is no need for special vaccinations. You should carry some tablets against diarrhoea and a common cold with you.

Hygienic and environmental standards in Sri Lanka do not conform to Central European, Australian or North American expectations. Carrying some toiletries in your photo bag is hence advisable.

Please bear in mind that accommodation and transportation in Sri Lanka falls short of EU/US safety standards. Always use common sense when crossing roads and railway tracks.

To reach some photo positions, a certain level of fitness is required, as some step hills and rough terrain we need to be tackled on foot. Make sure that you are wearing appropriate footwear. We will be constantly alighting and boarding the train in areas where no platform is available directly on to and from the ballast.

However, it’s not really needed to climb up every hill you see for good photographic results. And we will carry a step ladder with us to ease boarding from the line.

Charter buses will always run parallel to our charter trains in case anybody needs to take a break.

Food / Accommodation

We have ordered full board. However, it can not be guaranteed that there will be the chance for a proper breakfast or lunch. Sunrise is around 6.20 am, sunset around 6.20 pm, and those are the main facts for the day. While breakfast and lunch might be delivered as packed meals, dinner is often sumptuous. Sri Lanka is famous for its tea, so you should at least try it.

There are some good and stylish hotels of the upper middle class. However, please consider that service standards and – in particular – security equipment cannot compete with European standards, especially in smaller places. Tourist groups book their hotels very early in advance, while railway enthusiasts are used to book only a couple of months, weeks or even days before a tour starts. Hence, we can’t block large consignments of rooms beforehand and need to take what is available at short notice. In some places the group may be split between two or three hotels of a very different quality. Some who book late might find themselves in a hotel, which saw its last renovation in 1932 and with only a cold shower available.

The number of possible run-pasts is limited by the time we have and the regular traffic, which we need to consider. We can’t block the line for too long and cause delays to the normal traffic. We have to take a diesel locomotive with us on the mountain line and, only for the run-pasts, will they allow us to uncouple it from the train. Hence, this will take up some time. But, after two tours the railway men are now used to it and act fast. In some sections of the railway, for instance on parts of the double tracked main line and on steep gradients, for safety reasons they will not allow us to set back the train. This means we will have to spot the photo position in advance and then walk to it. This also requires some time and only with the discipline of the group, will it be possible to make the most out of those limitations. The railway men will usually co-operate and sometimes set back even in steep sections. Be assured that we will get some fantastic pictures from the train in a stunning countryside.

Some of the photo spots will not accommodate as many photographers and video film makers as we would wish to place there. Usually we will repeat the run-pasts as often as it takes to make everyone happy. However, you should be very congenial and understanding to make the trip successful for everyone. Most of the participants will be used to squeezing into the tiniest spot, just occupying the space of their lens. Huge video tripods might not be possible in such circumstances. Most of the photo positions offer plenty of space for a large group, but a few don’t. Please keep in mind that our behaviour will be remembered. If we fight each other at the first tight spot, it will have a certain influence on our opportunity for the next photo spot.

We must get the agreement from the railway management for all of our positions. They will decline them for “safety” or “timetable” limitations if they consider that our behaviour is detriment to not only our safety, but theirs as well. If we are simply taking too long a time over them, then the number of run-pasts will simply be fewer than planned.

So, keep in mind what your mother told you on your first day at school - “Keep your nose clean and don’t annoy anybody”. Everyone wants to get the best results out of the tour!

We have three locomotives and some very aged rolling stock. Technical problems might occur, and there is no substitution, refund or any other compensation possible. This is the general risk of such tours, and you must agree to accept this if you want to take part.

Neither FarRail Tours Club, the state railway, nor the local agency JF Tours can be held responsible for or accept any liability whatsoever in the case of any accident, damage or delay. We suggest that you take out a comprehensive overseas accident and health insurance policy, as well as a trip cancellation insurance policy.

The price reduction for non-photographing partners is £315.

The price includes:

Not included are:

A picture of a freight train on the Coast line in 1974 - an emergency tender, five four wheel wagons and one combined break van/coach.

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Rail Road-From Fairbanks

Alaska railroad tours from fairbanks.

Alaska is consistently voted as one of the most scenic, varied and dramatic places in the world when it comes to scenery and landscapes. This accounts for the numerous motorhomes and camper vans you’ll see driving along the Parks, Denali or Seward Highway, pulling up every now and again to take in some spectacular vista. However, there’s another great way to discover the best of Alaska and that is on board the Alaska Railroad. Here are our most scenic train journeys, starting in Fairbanks and are an ideal extension to your self drive tour, Alaska Ferry Trip or Inside Passage cruise. Board the last full-service railroad in North America or one of the privately operated trains. Admire the breathtaking nature in glass-domed or regular rail car compartments - all with large panorama windows ensuring unobstructed views of snowcapped mountain ranges, pristine scenery and wildlife. Fairbanks is the perfect change over point for a journey into Alaska’s interior and Arctic Region. Founded by a gold prospector in 1901, Fairbanks, like many other towns in Alaska, struggled until the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline in the mid 1970s. Now this eclectic mix of log cabins, modern office buildings and a university campus is recognised as Alaska’s gateway to the Arctic. Several tours are available from Fairbanks, including trips to the Arctic Circle, the native village Fort Yukon or Chena Hot Springs Resort. A popular activity is the Gold Dredge No. 8 tour or the Riverboat Discovery Cruise on the Nenana River. Check out these adventures to easily fill the long days — just don’t forget to sleep at some point!

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Train & Rail Tours in Far East

Relax and admire breathtaking views in Far East only accessible by train journey. With 34 Far East train tours lasting from 3 days up to 26 days, you're sure to find a railway carriage with your name on it on a route that will leave you speechless.

34 Train tour packages in Far East with 508 reviews

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Wonderful trip. Had a great time!

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11/10 experience!! Don't be fooled by the name of the the tour!! I couldnt have asked for a better tour guide, Rutti was the best! This tour had a perfect balance of tour guided sightseeing adventure with the right amount of free time. I highly recommend this tour for someone going to Japan for their first time, I got so much out of it and would easily do it again. The highlight was definitely my tour guide; GIVE HIM A RAISE!! <3

• 5% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

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very good tour for the cherry blossom season

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• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Discover China in 26 Days: The Ultimate Adventure Loop

The Dragon Trip tour of China was an incredible experience. I went by myself but made so many friends along the way. I did the Hong Kong - Hong Kong tour so was there for the whole month but those that were taking part in shorter trips integrated into the group so well. As a whole the trip was a great mix of culture and fun and was really good value for money. We travelled on public transport which cuts down the cost but is also a great way to really understand China. The accommodation was simple, hostels and one night camping on the Great Wall (an unforgettable experience) but was always clean and met all requirements. The itinerary was jam packed and we were always doing something but its extremely flexible meaning you can choose which activities you want to pay for and take part in, leaving you time to explore alone if you want to. The tour guides were mostly local with unfaultable English and incredible knowledge as well as being so friendly and a lot of fun! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see and learn a lot about China, wants to have a good time and wants great value for money!

Incredible Thailand and Laos by Train

Most days were wonderful. Many great experiences and comfortable accommodations, but some differences between itinerary information and expectations. Particularly for a group of 50 - 80 year olds, some things were not made clear. The biggest complaint was the 2nd class sleeper car. It only says sleeper train, which given other accommodations, one would expect 1st class sleeping compartments. I even enquired before booking and was told a private compartment with my single supplement. One does have to read the category of this trip as well. It is an Explorer trip, so some things were slightly more strenuous. Given that, the guide, Chai was wonderful about making adjustments for some travelers. There is no mention of biking at Sukothai in the itinerary, so he arranged a tuk tuk for some of us. Some hotels were changed and in less convenient locations. The creatively written itinerary really draws you in to book and get excited but some crucial information, particularly for older travelers, is missing.

Trans - Vietnam Train Journey - 18 days

My family of four booked with Vietnam Crossing Tour. It was incredible and we were pleasantly surprised noting the cheap cost of the tour. Everything went smoothly and the corespondents when organising the trip was quick and seamless. Definitely would recommend!

Highlights of Japan - 7 Days

I enjoyed every moment of the trip. It was wonderful seeing all the sites with a great tour group. Many thanks to AM for his hard work as our guide and for sharing so much of his culture with us.

Snow Monkey Explorer 4 star - 13 days

Crossing Vietnam By Train 11 Days 10 Nights

Trail By Rail

Japan Highlights 10D/9N

Explanation of tour not detailed effectively. TOKYO Tickets for Hakone from Tokyo. (Romance train). Unclear of necessary tickets and no information relayed. ie a freepass was required for platform entry. A representative was expected for information re transport difficulties due to language barriers and an insight into the tour. We only got a package delivered to the hotel and never saw a representative. TRAIN JRP information not clear. ie could not book tickets from other stations and ticket sale needed to be from the actual departure station. Wasted time queuing twice for two hours. Name spelled wrong on one persons JRP. Ticket office were not going to issue the JRP and we had to argue it was a misspelling. Another delay. We appreciate it was a semi independent tour but could have done it ourselves. We joined a tour purposely to be more organised for us with clearer instructions. Tour guides for 2 half days only although it stated 1 full day and a half day. Only visited the Golden Temple and castle. Guide left us at the palace. If we had not purchased a remote WIFI at the airport for maps and translating we would have struggled to get around. Price did not match tour inadequacy. As you were informed prior to the tour, we were not staying overnight in Osaka. Was this reflected in the price? POSITIVES Previous Touradour TOURS I booked were excellent with efficient organisation and support. However, this was lacking the guidance. Tour guides were lovely people. Hakone No shower however loved the original Ryokan and excellent food. Hotels were all excellent with very good breakfasts and amenities. Overall we had a great holiday but feel the price certainly did not reflect the lack of communication and service.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

What people love about Train & Rail Tours in Far East

Japan was so fun! A looooooot of free time so do you researches about what to do and visit in every city. Would have love more ''organised'' activities (like a dinner every night with the group,...). Compared to other G Adventures tour I did in the past, I felt that this group was less stick together since there was only a few group activities.

The guide was the best

11/10 experience!! Don't be fooled by the name of the the tour!! I couldnt have asked for a better tour guide, Rutti was the best! This tour had a perfect balance of tour guided sightseeing adventure with the right amount of free time. I highly recommend this tour for someone going to Japan for their first time, I got so much out of it and would easily do it again. The highlight was definitely my tour guide; GIVE HIM A RAISE!!

Travel Styles

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Travel to Europe your way

Pre arranged tours for individual travellers

10-Day German Fairy Tale & Berlin Rail Circle Tour (10R04)

Northbound along the German Fairy Tale Route to the Sea – medieval towns with historic timber framed houses . Visit charming towns like Hamelin, Marburg and Bremen as well as Berlin, Germany’s Capital City !

German Parliament Reichstag Berlin ©Thomas H.Giesick

German Fairy Tale Berlin Rail Tour . Who did not go to sleep dreaming about “Little Red Riding Hood”, who did not fear for the seven little goats hiding from the wolf, and who did not set out into the forest, searching for “Rumpelstiltskin”? To honor the two brothers who brought us so much joy, fun, and excitement, take a journey along the Fairy Tale Route and find out where the Brothers Grimm lived and worked, see the places and landscapes in which their fairy tales are set.

The rail tour includes unrestricted 2nd-class Rail tickets and there is an option to upgrade to 1st-class Rail for all of the rail tickets except for Day 1 and 2. This is just US-$ 239 per person. This includes seat reservation on all long distance rails.  (see the tableau this is already included in the price of your tour ) .  Here you also find everything else that is included:  rail tickets and admissions.

Price per Person

Would you like to submit your personal information so we can check availability for your specific travel dates for this beautiful tour? On our BOOKING INQUIRY page, you find a form which you may use to forward your personal information:

View   10 Day German Fairy Tale & Berlin Rail Circle Tour (10R04) in a larger map

DAY 1 Frankfurt

It only takes 11 minutes from the Airport local train station located below baggage claim in arrival Hall 1 of Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Central Station. The fare is covered by the “ Frankfurt Card ” which is already included in the price of the vacation package.  Your hotel is located within a short walking distance of Frankfurt Central Station . Frankfurt is a very modern metropolis which nevertheless offers many historic sites such as the Romerberg  (hill of the Romans) with its beautifully restored timber-framed houses , of course the Goethe Haus where the world famous poet once lived, the Paulskirche , symbol for democracy and freedom in Germany, “ Alt-Sachsenhausen “, wherein Schellgasse number 6 you will find Frankfurt’s oldest timber-framed house which was built around 1291, to name only a few of Frankfurt’s historic landmarks.

Frankfurt Romer and Hanau ©Thomas H. Giesick

The Frankfurt Museum Riverbank is one of the most important locations for museums in Germany and Europe. The exhibition buildings are lined up on both sides of the Main riverbank, several famous museums are to be found in the city center. Visit the “ Stadel “, the German Museum of Architecture as well as the Museum of Applied Art or the “ Schirn Kunsthalle ” to name only a very few. Don’t miss out on Frankfurt’s “ Zeil “, a huge pedestrian zone where shopping is the name of the game. So, if you arrive early enough in Frankfurt, visiting this interesting metropolis is certainly worthwhile.

DAY 2 Day trip to Hanau, Gelnhausen und Steinau an der Strasse

Today you will visit places where the Grimm Brothers were born and grew up: Hanau, Steinau an der Strasse, and Gelnhausen. On Hanau’s market square one can see the monument reminding us of the two famous brothers. The monument stands right in front of the “ Neustadter Rathaus ” (Neustadter Town Hall) with its attractive sandstone façade. You may want to take a look at the “Deutsche Goldschmiedehaus” ( German Goldsmith House ) which is now a museum showing the tradition of the goldsmiths in Hanau. Also Castle Philippsruhe , located within the lovely historic park “ Wilhelmsbad ” and the Marienkirche (Marienchurch), its sanctuary is the city’s oldest preserved building, are worth visiting.

In Gelnhausen´s  Old Town you may want to visit the ruins of an imperial fortress which was used by  Emperor Barbarossa as well as the witch tower, built in the middle of the 15th century as a turret.It was also used as a dungeon for those unfortunate ones accused of being witches. Yet another short drive takes you to the Brothers Grimm city of Steinau an der Strasse. The Brothers Grimm lived here for seven years during their childhood. The Amtshaus (office house) where they lived was already 200 years old when they moved here in 1791. Visit the picturesque Old Town of Steinau an der Strasse and see where the Grimm Brothers lived. At your convenience take the train back to Frankfurt where your hotel is located.

Marburg Grimm dich Pfad and Kassel Wilhelmshohe ©Deutsche Märchenstraße e.V.

DAY 3 Marburg and Kassel

It takes about an hour by train from Frankfurt Central Station directly to Marburg. You may store your baggage right at the lockers which are available at the Rail Station (for a small fee). Here in Marburg, the Brothers Grimm studied law. In their free time, they started researching folk-literature, writing down several traditional fairy tales which until then had not been recorded in written form. Marburg’s historic Old Town, called Oberstadt  (“Upper town”) will enchant you with narrow alleys, historic buildings and the charm of times long ago.

Visit the impressive Landgrafenschloss (“ Landgrave castle “), which gave the town its name, dating back to the 10th century. The Elisabethkirche (“The Church of St. Elizabeth”), built in 1235-1283, is the oldest pure gothic church in Germany, it was erected above the grave of the Holy Elisabeth. Until the 16th century, the church was one of the most famous occidental places of pilgrimage.  Otto Ubbelohde, the painter who illustrated the Grimm’s fairy tales, used many motifs of the Marburger Land (“Marburg´s countryside”), which are easily recognizable once you have visited this charming town.

In the late afternoon, a train will take you in about an hour from Marburg on to Kassel, the heart of the Fairy Tale Route. Travel time is about an hour. Here in Kassel the Brothers Grimm lived for over thirty years, working as librarians at the Electoral Library, known now as the Fridericanum , Europe’s first public museum, which today is the centre of the documenta exhibitions. Within the beautiful UNESCO Berpark Wilhelmshoehe , there is Lion’s Castle , built in the years 1793-1806, it resembles the ruin of a medieval English knight’s castle.  Take an excursion to the Hercules monument , Kassel´s landmark, from here you have a magnificent view over the city.  In 1830, Jacob Grimm said: “The years I spent in Kassel were the happiest of my life”, a day spent here will show you why!

DAY 4 Hannoversch Munden, Gottingen and Bremen

In the morning take a train to Hannoversch-Munden. Start your tour in the Old Town with its more than  700 half-timbered houses . In front of the scenic  Town Hall , you find the “Doctor Eisenbart Play”. Daily at noon, 3 pm and 5 pm the carillon played the Song of  Doctor Eisenbart .

In the late afternoon take a train to Goettingen, where the Brothers Grimm lived after they moved away from Kassel. You may deposit your luggage again at the lockers at the station. The city is famous for its  University , which was founded in 1734. Among those teaching here as professors where the Brothers Grimm. Goettingen’s Old Town , surrounded by the city wall, is well preserved and restored. The town’s landmark is the Gaenseliesel , a statue of a little girl that tends the geese. The Art Nouveau figure stands on the fountain in front of the old Town Hall , and although she resembles but a poor maiden she is ‘the world’s most kissed girl’ because all students who earned their doctor’s degree kiss her bronze cheek.

In the evening travel on to Bremen where your hotel is located within short walking distance to Bremen Central Station.

Bremen Town Musicans ©BTZ Bremer Touristik-Zentrale (www.bremen-tourismus.de)Manuela Gangl (www.merepics.de) and Hamburg Teakontor Wasserschloss ©NicosFotos; flikr.com

DAY 5 Day Trip to Bremerhaven

Today you go on a day trip (by rail) to Bremerhaven, a town on the bank of the North Sea. Worth seeing is the maritime resort called “The Harbor Worlds ” (Hafenwelten Bremerhaven). It is placed right at the River Weser. You can find there: the German Emigration Center , the Zoo at the Sea, the German Maritime Museum , the submarine “Wilhelm Bauer” and the Historical Museum Bremerhaven. Take your time to walk around before you take a train back to Bremen.

Your rail tickets from Bremerhaven back to Bremen are flexible so you have a wide choice of trains you can take. We recommend to maybe travel back in the late afternoon to make sure you have enough time for sightseeing in the beautiful town of Bremen itself.  The city’s Town Hall with its Renaissance architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with the statue of the “ Roland ” located on the marketplace along with the famous bronze display of the Bremen Town Musicians.

Then there is the “ Muehle am Wall “(mill) which is the last mill left out of originally eight which were once built on the wall of the inner city. The mill was used up until 1950, today it is used as a café. Visit the “ Schnorr “, the towns oldest living quarters, and do not miss “Boettcherstrasse”, Bremen’s “secret main road”. Make sure to visit a traditional Hanseatic restaurant in Bremen for dinner!

Day 6 Hamburg and Berlin

On your way from Bremen to Hamburg on Day 6 of your Fairy Tale vacation package, you will change trains in Hamburg . Since your rail tickets are flexible – and Hamburg Central Station is conveniently located in the city center –  you may consider dropping off your baggage at the lockers and maybe take a walk to the “ Binnenalster ” which is located close by. Travel time from Bremen to Hamburg is about an hour and it takes another 1:40 hours from Hamburg by High-Speed ICE to Berlin.

Germany´s capital city is a great and dynamic metropolis. The unification of East and West Berlin 25 years ago changed the city in many ways. Berlin fascinates visitors its culture and history are unique. Your vacation package includes the 48 hour Berlin Welcome Card . With this card, you will have discounts to 200 museums, city tours, and attractions and it includes a pass for unlimited free use of the Berlin public transportation system . With your tour package, you will receive Berlin Walking tour suggestions as well as information about the public buses “M100” and “M200”: the buses are public double-decker buses which cover many sights of Berlin and are a perfect way to explore the city by hopping on and off those buses. They run very frequently all day from 5 am until midnight and if you take both routes you will have a circle taking you from the former Center of East Berlin (“Berlin Alexanderplatz”) to the Center of West Berlin (“Bahnhof Zoo”, “Ku´damm” shopping area ). Bus M200 takes you south of the “ Tiergarten ” to West Berlin´s Bahnhof Zoo where you may want to visit the “ Gedachtniskirche ” (Memorial Church) as well as the KaDeWe , continental Europe´s largest compartment store, which is located close to the Ku´damm. Bus M100 takes you back through the Tiergarten and partly north of it, passing the “ Siegessaule ” (Victory Column), Bellevue Palace (built in 1786 for the younger brother of Friedrich II, Ferdinand of Prussia, today: seat of the Germany´s President), the Reichstag (German Parliament), the Brandenburg Gate and the Museum Island back to Berlin Alexanderplatz.

Reichstag, German Chancellery, Bellevue Palace © Thomas H. Giesick

Day 7 Berlin

On your second day in Berlin along your Europe Rail tour, your Berlin Welcome Card will still be valid. However, your tour package also includes walking suggestions which cover many of the sights around Brandenburg Gate which can best be visited by foot. From the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag (German Parliament) the walking tour passes by the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe , to Berlin´s new city center, the “ Potsdamer Platz ”, to “ Checkpoint Charlie ”, to East Berlin´s Culture- and Shopping Street “Friedrichstrasse” (site of the “golden twenties”), to the “Gendarmenmarkt”, where the German and French cathedrals are located, via the promenade street “Unter den Linden ” to the Museum Island.

The remains of the wall can be visited at Berlin´s East Side Gallery where parts of the wall have been turned into a piece of art. If you are interested in Third Reich history a “must visit” is the documentation center “ Topography of Terror “. It is located at the site from where the Nazis planned and managed most of their crimes. For those of you interested to visit a Concentration Camp Memorial site: a half day trip to the Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen in Oranienburg can be arranged (see Day 7 of our History Rail Tour “ Fascination and Terror –Rise and Fall of the Third Reich ” ).

Berlin Brother Grimm graveyard, Bus 200, Gendarmenmarkt © Thomas H. Giesick

The Brothers Grimm both are buried in Berlin and the graveyard is located in the district of Schoeneberg, called “ Old St. Matthew’s Churchyard ”. The graves themselves are rather simple but the cemetery is scenic and worth visiting. Also the German Officer Claus von Stauffenberg is buried here. Stauffenberg was a leading member of the German resistance and he tried to kill Adolf Hitler in 1944.

DAY 8 Hamelin

In a little less than three hours the train will take you to Hamelin. Your hotel is located in walking distance from Hamelin rail station. Who is responsible for the towns fame? Of course the “Rattenfänger von Hameln””, the “ Pied Piper of Hamelin“! For centuries now, the “Pied Piper” has been the town’s landmark, quite often especially during the summer there are open air plays showing the somewhat sad story of the loss of Hamelin´s children.

Visit Hamelin’s beautifully restored Old Town , which is also quite unique as the historic Old Town is still to be seen almost uninterrupted by modern buildings on the main roads. There are a great number of historic stone- and timber-framed-buildings to be seen, many of them build in Renaissance style , such as the “Rattenfängerhaus” ( Piet Piper house ), the “ Dempterhaus ” and the “ Hochzeitshaus ” (wedding-house). The Glaserlebniswelt ( Glass Adventure World ) of the Glassworks Hameln was created in the historic Pulverturm ( Powder Tower ). In the lobby, you get information on the 6,000-year-old history of glass as work material. Here you are at the heart of the Glass Adventure World – the glassworks and glass engraving shop where you can watch the glassblowers at work every day.

Day 9 Frankfurt

Since your rail tickets are flexible – and you have various choices for train connections bringing you back to Frankfurt – you may spend most of the day in Hamelin before traveling back to Frankfurt. Of course – if you have seen something in Frankfurt you would like to take a closer look you may also take a train in the morning. Total travel time from Hamelin to Frankfurt is a little more than three hours. Accommodation in Frankfurt will once again be in walking distance from Frankfurt Central Station.

Day 10 Frankfurt Int. Airport

Today you take the train for a very short train ride from Frankfurt Central Station right into the terminal of Frankfurt International Airport. You have a wide variety of trains going during the day and you may take a train at your convenience . The train ride takes about 11 Minutes.

 Would you like to download an overview of the  10 Day German Fairy Tale & Berlin Rail Circle Tour (10R04) as a pdf  to print it out or to forward it to a friend? Please download it right here:  

Download Itinerary

This is already included in the price of your tour

The tour package we provide includes a day by day itinerary as well as all tickets, vouchers, and information necessary to enjoy a great independent tour. It also contains general information about the cities you visit which you can download from our website once your tour is confirmed. Book Tour

This is not included in the price of your tour

• Airfare from/to your origin to/from Frankfurt Int. Airport
• all meals other than breakfast (which is included)
• gratuities (tips)
• parking fees

You have booked the tour already and would like to download the to- europe tour package  for this tour now? Please download them right here:

Download Package

  GERMAN FAIRY-TALE ROUTE (CUSTOMIZED TOUR) Dear Thomas, Just wanted to write and say what a wonderful holiday we had. The highlight was the stay in Trendelburg Castle, a truly wonderful setting. The views from the restaurant were breath taking. Kassel was also very impressive with the Hercules monument, would be interested to see that when all the work if finished. A friend of mine is now sounding interested in doing a similar sort of trip to ours so I will be passing on your details to him. Thank you for all your help. I think in a few years time we may do Kassel to Frankfurt and finish off the trail so will be keeping hold of your details. Kind regards – Liz W., Great Britain 

We are fortunate to have travelers from all over the world on our pre-packaged tours and we would love to have your feedback! If you have been traveling along this tour with us please leave us a review below – we greatly appreciate your time! (your Email address will not be displayed)

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The team at To Europe , Thomas , Michaela and Diana did a fantastic job organizing our customized tour and the recommendations for walking tours was great! The tour itself was wonderful. We were in Kassel on a Wednesday and were able to see the majestic water feature in its full glory.Berlin was well worth the additional day. The hotels were all well located and a good standard .We took the first class option .. especially with luggage.Highly recommend this tour .

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Frograil Rail Tours

Rail tours for rail enthusiasts.

• Railfan Locations

With the dedicated help of many contributors, Frograil has begun to compile a series of "tours" that a vacationing or visiting railfan can take. These are just what the heading implies: You can print out the tour, start at point A, and get all the way to point B, even if you've never visited the area in your life. As you can imagine, putting together even a relatively short segment of such a tour is quite time-consuming, and the pay is lousy. Therefore, the list of completed and in-progress tours is fairly short, but once done, the data is good indefinitely. The list will grow steadily over time.

Stuff You Absolutely Must Know

Rather than give you a huge, legalistic epistle here, just keep in mind the following:

• There is no official connection, between either the webmaster or any contributors, to any railroad company, and nothing on any of the Frograil pages is intended, therefore, to be construed as being officially connected to any railroad company.
• Private property is just that: PRIVATE . Whether owned by a railroad company or an adjacent landowner, you have no legal right to be on another's property without obtaining prior permission. Trespassing is a serious offense, and the railroad companies are especially (and quite rightly) concerned about corporate liability issues, the safety of their employees, the protection of their assets and cargo, and, yes, your safety.
• Know your rights, though, in these days of heightened security and increased tension. You are still able to take photographs from public areas, even if someone says otherwise. A good source of details about your rights can be found on this ACLU site, http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/know-your-rights-photographers . Another good source is Bert P. Krages' The Photographer's Right page, which has a PDF guide to download to carry with you that explains your rights as a photographer. Krages points out that "neither the Patriot Act nor the Homeland Security Act have any provisions that restrict photography."
• Any comments in red are considered to be of high importance by the Webmaster. Do not ignore these comments.
• Railfanning is fun, but getting bopped over the head with a lead pipe isn't. Pay attention to the authors' treatment of the safety and security issue. If an area is described as being "rough" or some other such adjective, do not go there alone. Indeed, all of us recommend railfanning with at least one male friend. It's just wise.
• We've all done it: Tried to drive with one hand, read a map with another, adjust the squelch on the scanner with another and drive safely at the same time. It is humanly impossible to do so. One more excellent reason to have a friend or friends along.
• This is not a disclaimer, but is important to all railfans: Be a good citizen-railfan. Take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints. Smile and say "hi" to the locals. Always ask yourself if you'd want someone in your backyard or where you work running around taking pictures.

Tour Basics And Protocols

You will be given specific driving instructions, departing from a specific point and arriving at a specific point. In most cases, street names and road numbers are used. We try to avoid things like: "Take a right and then go away's and then take another right." We'll make an effort to tell you: "Take a right on Hightower Street, and go a little more than a mile to another right on Brown Road (VA-325)." We assume the tourist has never been to the area in his life. That is our standard for detailing all driving instructions.

Generally, we'll include info relative to photography. You'll see such comments as: "Because this point is north of the tracks, photography is difficult, and access from the south is not available"

Security and safety, when deemed appropriate, will be mentioned. We don't try to use any specific criteria, but if we feel an area is downright dangerous, we'll tell you, and recommend you avoid it completely. Also, we'll let you know an area is "rough", or that we'd recommend you bring a male friend, etc.

We don't guarantee any traffic activity levels, but we'll try to give you an idea of the volume with an average, such as: "Expect to see 1-2 trains per hour here." All this means is that, arithmetically, you will have between 24 and 36 trains per 24 hours, on an average weekday. In such a place, you can see 4-5 trains in an hour, and then nothing for 3 hours. Sometimes you're hot, sometimes you're not.

Traffic types are usually mentioned: Passenger, both Amtrak and commuter, and freight to be expected are included. This latter might include: "Unit coal trains predominate, with manifest freights a few times a day."

Recommended Packing List

These are just some suggestions. If you're going to be on the road fanning all day or for several days, you'll appreciate these items, and might even want to add to the list. They're presented in no particular order, and the one on the bottom may be just as important as the one on the top.

• Orange baseball cap
• First aid kit
• Snacks and cold drinks
• No alcoholic beverages
• Lawn chairs
• Scanner and frequency list
• Maps -- DeLorme atlases recommended, where possible
• Timetable or station list data print-out
• Self-guiding tour print-out
• Film, video tape, digital camera disks
• Cameras and video recorder
• Batteries for cameras and recorders
• Stiff pad of paper (so you can make notes and send me your additions and corrections) -- Clipboard is recommended
• Recorder. One of those miniature voice recorders is a great tool to have along.
• Pens -- at least 2 distinctly different colors.
• Weed Whacker, small hand pruning saw, lopping shears
• Tours -- By State / Railroad
• Tours -- By Railroad / State

Contact Info

I'd love to get your comments and suggestions. Also, if you're interested in contributing to either the Railfan Guide or to a new tour, give me a holler. I'm Bruce Harper, Webmaster for the Railfan Guide and this growing series of self-guided railfan tours. e-mail me here.