Steam in Germany?

[dhbaun]

Hello,

I will be in Germany this spring and would like to find a steam excursion somewher near Dusseldorf or Cologne.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

[CarterB]

The best true operating steam lines in Germany are the one in the Harz Mountains (wernigerode/nordhausen)
http://www.germanytourism.co.uk/pages/s ... ony_anhalt.
and around Dresden.
http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk/pages/ ... axony.html
Some museum operations closer to Cologne are:

http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk/pages/ ... halia.html
http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk/pages/ ... inate.html
If you buy a DB rail pass before you go, you will find getting from Cologne to anywhere in Germany is fast and efficient, so you could literally get to Dresden or Nordhausen, spend the day on a steam line, and take a night train back. The nacht zugs (night trains) in Germany are quite good, and if you don't mind 'roughing it' a bit, the liegewagen is only about a $20 surcharge over your rail pass.

A good travel planner for Germany is;http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en

Here is a 'sample' trip:
Köln Hbf 17.06.04 dep 06:47 ICE 553
InterCityExpress
BordRestaurant
Hannover Hbf 17.06.04 arr 09:28 9

Hannover Hbf 17.06.04 dep 10:00 4 IC 2279
InterCity
Bicycles conveyed - subject to reservation, Number of bicycles conveyed limited, BordBistro
Northeim(Han) 17.06.04 arr 10:54 2

Northeim(Han) 17.06.04 dep 11:05 13 RE 16109
RegionalExpress
Number of bicycles conveyed limited
Nordhausen 17.06.04 arr 12:20

Nordhausen 17.06.04 walk
4 min.
Nordhausen Bahnhofsplatz 17.06.04

Nordhausen Bahnhofsplatz 17.06.04 dep 13:14 HSB 8916
Harzer Schmalspurbahn
2nd class only, Harzer Schmalspurbahn (private railway)
Eisfelder Talmühle 17.06.04 arr 13:54

Eisfelder Talmühle 17.06.04 dep 13:57 HSB 8904
Harzer Schmalspurbahn
2nd class only, Harzer Schmalspurbahn (private railway), Steam train
Wernigerode 17.06.04 arr 16:18

Wernigerode 17.06.04 dep 16:31 2 RB 37092
RegionalBahn
Number of bicycles conveyed limited
Vienenburg 17.06.04 arr 16:56 3

Vienenburg 17.06.04 dep 17:01 1 RB 24669
RegionalBahn
Number of bicycles conveyed limited
Braunschweig Hbf 17.06.04 arr 17:35 3 a

Braunschweig Hbf 17.06.04 dep 17:49 6 IC 2034
InterCity
Bicycles conveyed - subject to reservation, Number of bicycles conveyed limited, BordBistro
Hannover Hbf 17.06.04 arr 18:23 11

Hannover Hbf 17.06.04 dep 18:31 12 ICE 554
InterCityExpress
BordRestaurant
Köln Hbf 17.06.04 arr 21:14
Duration: 14:27; runs not every day, 1. May until 31. Oct

OR stay a while longer on the dampf bahn and take the overnight train back from Berlin


Wernigerode 17.06.04 dep 19:30 2 RE 3614
RegionalExpress
Number of bicycles conveyed limited
Hildesheim Hbf 17.06.04 arr 20:53 3

Hildesheim Hbf 17.06.04 dep 21:34 2 ICE 872
InterCityExpress
BordRestaurant
Berlin Ostbahnhof 17.06.04 arr 23:32

Berlin Ostbahnhof 17.06.04 dep 23:51 NZ 1948
DB NachtZug

Köln Hbf 18.06.04 arr 06:55
NZ 1978 Special offer SparNight, Subject to compulsory reservation, Bicycles conveyed - subject to reservation, Number of bicycles conveyed limited, with special supplement, Sleeping-car, Couchettes, seated coach, snacks and beverages available from sleeping-car/couchette-car attenda Duration: 11:53; runs not every day, 24. Apr until 31. Oct

Email me if you wish, I travel extensively by rail in Europe.