This new tour, based in Darmstadt, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, allows us to visit a variety of museums steam railways, in the region of Hesse and the Rheinland Palatinate.

PROVISIONAL OUTLINE ITINERARY

Wednesday) Morning departure from London St Pancras to Brussels, and thence onward via Koeln and Mannheim to Darmstadt.

Thursday) A short journey to Speyer for the Technical Museum which houses a wide variety of transport and industrial exhibits. The city also has a very fine six towered cathedral

Friday) Today is a public holiday, and first we enjoy a short steam run from Darmstadt Dotzheim to Forsthaus and return, followed by a visit to the railway museum at Darmstadt Kranichstein.

Saturday) To Wiesbaden, at the foot of the Taunus Hills, for the Aartalbahn, a 23km museum line which runs to Hohenstein, followed, time permitting, by a ride on the Nerobergbahn funicular in the city.

Sunday) To Neustadt Weinstrasse is the start of a 13km steam line to Elmstein, and we take a return trip before visiting the steam museum at Neustadt. The town is also the start of the German Wine Road, which continues to the French border.

Monday) A day to visit the ancient university city of Heidelberg, the former capital of the Rheinland Palatinate.

Tuesday) Retun home via Koeln and Brussels.

OUR HOTEL

We shall be staying at the Ramada Hotel in Darmstadt. Tour price is £725 per person sharing twin or double room, with £95 single supplement if required. This includes travel with the group from London, all visits as outlined, and hotel accommodation, which for this tour is arranged on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.