European Railroad Discussion > Central Europe steam train website?

I have a friend who will vacationing in Germany & Switzerland - possibly also Austria - next spring, exact dates TBD. Is there a website that lists special steam trains - especially mainline runs - and events in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland? Such a website existed 10 years ago, but I haven't been able to find it in the past several years. Or should I direct him to the leading operators websites (OEG in Austria, UEF and a lot more in Germany, etc)?

Thanks! - Doug Debs

The UK based magazine Today's Railways Europe, which is published monthly has a directory of European mainline railfan focused operations, steam and non steam. No idea how comprehensive it is though.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/17 11:51 by 86235.

Particularly for Germany, including eastern Germany, a good place to start is the "Drehschiebe Online" (Deutsche "Drehschiebe" = English "Turntable" - a German version of Trainorders) website: https://www.drehscheibe-online.de/ds_redaktion/ds_termine.php

Hint: Deutsche "Termine" = English "Events"

Next, consider visiting the websites of individual railways and museum lines. Following are links to many steam-powered narrow gauge lines in (mostly) eastern Germany:

Döllnitzbahn: http://www.doellnitzbahn.de/cms/index.php
Fichtelbergbahn: http://www.fichtelbergbahn.de/
Harzer Schmalspurbahnen: http://www.hsb-wr.de/
Lößnitzgrundbahn: http://www.loessnitzgrundbahn.de/
Mecklenburgische Bäderbahn Molli: http://www.molli-bahn.de/
Rügenschen BäderBahn: http://ruegensche-baederbahn.de/home.html
Weisseritztalbahn: http://www.weisseritztalbahn.com/
Zittauer Schmalspurbahn: http://www.soeg-zittau.de/cms/
Schwarzbachbahn: https://www.schwarzbachbahn.de/

Museums - and - Diesel-powered Lines which occasionally host visiting steam locomotives:

Dampf-Kleinbahn Mühlenstroth: http://www.dampfkleinbahn.de/
Frankfurter Feldbahnmuseum: http://www.feldbahn-ffm.de/
Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn: http://www.iks.hs-merseburg.de/mansfeld/
Mecklenburg Pommersche Schmalspurbahn Freunde: http://www.mpsb.de/
Museumsbahn Schönheide: http://www.museumsbahn-schoenheide.de/
Pressnitztalbahn: http://www.pressnitztalbahn.de/bahn3.html
Prignitzer Klienbahnmuseum ("Pollo"): http://www.pollo.de/
Sauerländer Kleinbahn: http://www.sauerlaender-kleinbahn.de/
Waldeisenbahn Muskau: http://www.waldeisenbahn.de/de/
Zittauer Schmalspurbahn: http://www.soeg-zittau.de/cms/

Finally, consider visiting the websites-of or contacting via email some of the better known charter organizers:

Farrail: http://www.farrail.net/
Plandampfteam Lo/Rie: http://www.plandampfteam.com/news.html
Markus Behrla: markus.behrla@t-online.de
Marcus Dettenberg: marcus.dettenberg@web.de
Lukas König: lukas_koenig@online.de
Thomas Boßdorf: dampfsonderzug@gmx.de

The UK is a different story, with so many preserved lines and special events, this respondent makes no effort to keep current regarding the UK. Feel free to send a PM with specific requests. Perhaps a well-informed European friend can offer the requested details.

The U.K. based Steam Railway Magazine lists heritage lines galas and private charters each month.

Here is another one, and is available in Englsh, German and French This is the best that I have found.
Its not all steam, but any type of rail.


http://railway-planner.net/?page=&lang=en&PHPSESSID=hp9m1kl91slh81lmi67vrvdmm1


I am far from a expert in the steam or rail field of Europe, but only from what I can come up with, researching for a trip my self.

Austria - Switzerland - France - Germany are the major areas, but some of the more eastern country's can come up with a surprise or two. Some heavy 2-10-0, 4-8-4, 4-8-2 2-8-2 and 4-6-2 among lots of smaller power. A few were US built for army use during WWII.

As in the US, heavy main line steam is not able to be promoted many months in advance, making plans difficult in vacation planning.
Few are operated during the summer heavy tourist season, June July August when equipment, crews, track capacity can be a limiting factor.

Many of the steam/museum sites are narrow gauge, ranging from two feet to metre . Smaller but some fine little locomotives.
Lots of museum and lines with main line diesel, electric, Trams (street cars),modern light rail,cog railways etc.
Find so many web sites are not kept up to date.

Steam powered lake steamers can be found in Switzerland and Dresden Germany. Makes for a fun and scenic outing.

In Germany The Harz Mountain Region has a 1000 mm gauge system with three lines, regular scheduled public use operation that may be the best bet for many. Its heavy tank type 2-10-2 power. Some rail cars also. This is a year around operation.

Web site www.hsb-wr.de Schedules are included in the European Rail Timetable. Purchase info www.europeanrailtimetable.eu

Please those with first hand on the spot knowledge are welcome to correct/add to what I have posted.

Ed



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/17 17:57 by mundo.

Here is another site of Europe rail interest.

TRAVELING THE RAILWAYS OF EUROPE https://egtre.info/w/index.php?title=Main_Page