How much does it cost?

From £2,615 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,532 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Once in Germany, yes, rail travel between all the heritage lines and cities is included, along with a Dresden transport pass. Getting to Germany is priced separately: the GBP 2,615 base price assumes independent travel to Gotha; Eurostar and connecting rail from London St Pancras costs from GBP 2,895 in Standard Class or GBP 3,095 in First Class.

Is it escorted or independent?

It is an escorted tour with an experienced Railtrail Tour Manager throughout.

One night at the Hotel am Tierpark in Gotha, then eight nights at the InterCity Hotel in Dresden.

Which heritage railways are included?

Nine lines: the Lössnitzgrundbahn, Zittau Railway, Weisseritztalbahn, Fichtelbergbahn, Waldeisenbahn Muskau, a Leipzig mainline excursion, the Döllnitzbahn, Schönheide Museumbahn, and the Pressnitztalbahn.

The only departure currently listed is in May 2027, priced from GBP 2,615 per person, with a single price from GBP 3,140.

Railtrail Tours · Escorted tour

Spring Steam in Saxony 2027

10-day escorted steam rail tour through Saxony's heritage railways

Spring Steam in Saxony is a 10-day escorted tour from Railtrail Tours, travelling from London to Gotha by Eurostar before settling into the InterCity Hotel in Dresden for eight nights. The itinerary rides nine heritage and narrow-gauge lines: day 2 brings the 750mm Lössnitzgrundbahn from Radebeul, and day 3 the Zittau Railway's branch lines to Jonsdorf and Oybin. Day 5 climbs the Fichtelbergbahn's Hüttenbach viaduct to Oberwiesenthal, Germany's highest town, and day 6 features an exclusive charter on the Waldeisenbahn Muskau past a former open-cast mine. Day 7 adds a mainline steam excursion from Leipzig, and day 9 combines the Schönheide Museumbahn with the Pressnitztalbahn's river-course line to Steinbach. Afternoons and evenings in Dresden are left free, with an included transport pass covering the Schwebebahn and funicular. An experienced Railtrail Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. This suits railway enthusiasts who want an intensive, single-base tour covering an unusually large number of Saxony's heritage lines.

What to know before you look closer

Railtrail Tours currently lists only one departure for this tour, in May 2027.
The GBP 2,615 base price covers joining at Gotha and leaving at Dresden with no UK-Germany rail travel; adding Eurostar and connecting rail from London costs from GBP 2,895 in Standard Class or GBP 3,095 in First Class.
Full details of the Leipzig mainline steam excursion on day 7 are still to be confirmed by the operator.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Hotel am Tierpark, Gotha
London to Gotha by Eurostar
Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Gotha for our overnight stay at the Hotel am Tierpark where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.
Day 2railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Gotha to Dresden and the Lössnitzgrundbahn
After breakfast, we depart Gotha by train to Dresden where we travel the short distance to Radebeul for a steam run on the 750mm narrow-gauge Lössnitzgrundbahn, a delightful 17km line which still operates a public service between Radebeul and Radeburg including some street running! Afterwards, we make our way to our hotel, the InterCity Hotel in Dresden, for our eight-night stay where we check in and explore our new surroundings.
Day 3railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Zittau Railway
Today, we travel by rail to Zittau where we ride behind steam on the Zittau Railway to Bertsdorf, a narrow-gauge railway offering many scenic and historic attractions such as the unique spectacle of a simultaneous departure of two steam trains. From here, we ride both branch lines along charming landscapes to Jonsdorf and Oybin before returning to Dresden in time for our evening meal together.
Day 4railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Weisseritztalbahn and free time in Dresden
After breakfast this morning, a short local train ride takes us to Freital-Hainsberg where we join the steam-hauled service over the Weisseritztalbahn for a nostalgic ride on the oldest narrow-gauge railway in public operation along a narrow gorge, through woodland, and past lakes to Kipsdorf. This afternoon, we have time at leisure to use our included transport pass and explore the beautiful city of Dresden including a ride on the unusual, suspended monorail, one of the oldest suspension railways and a marvellous example of engineering and construction, plus the superb single-track funicular railway.
Day 5overnight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Fichtelbergbahn to Oberwiesenthal
Today, we travel to Cranzahl for an exhilarating return ride behind steam on the Fichtelbergbahn, a steeply graded route climbing into the mountains and crossing the mighty 110m long, 23m high Hüttenbach viaduct to the highest town in Germany, Oberwiesenthal, situated at 3,000ft. Here, we enjoy a guided tour of the locomotive shed before retracing our steps to Dresden for an evening at leisure.
Day 6railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Waldeisenbahn Muskau exclusive charter
This morning, we make our way to Weisswasser for an exclusive steam charter on the extensive, narrow-gauge Waldeisenbahn Muskau. This nostalgic journey runs through beautiful woodland and alongside a vast open-cast mine and includes run pasts and fantastic photo opportunities. Afterwards, we enjoy a light lunch at the station before visiting the Museumbahnhof where we can explore the history of the railway through exhibits and stories.
Day 7overnight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Leipzig mainline steam excursion
Today, we journey to Leipzig where we join a thrilling mainline steam excursion in historic coaches, departing from the city's iconic main station (full details to be confirmed).
Day 8railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Döllnitzbahn to Oschatz, Glossen and Kemmlitz
After breakfast this morning, we travel by rail to Oschatz where we depart on the delightful Döllnitzbahn behind the lovely and historic Saxon Meyers. Our journey takes us through the town, past beautiful open fields to Glossen where the local Feldbahn Museum provides a short diesel hauled run and a chance to view their locomotive collection. Afterwards, we rejoin our steam train for the branch line to Kemmlitz before making the return journey to Oschatz and onwards to Dresden.
Day 9railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Schönheide Museumbahn and Pressnitztalbahn
This morning, we travel by road to Schönheide for a return ride behind steam over their scenic, 3-mile, preserved line using classic Saxony Meyer locomotives. Afterwards, we continue to the superb Pressnitztalbahn, a scenic 750mm narrow-gauge railway line where two steam trains operate over this beautifully restored line following a river course through woodland to the village of Steinbach. This evening, we return to Dresden and gather for a farewell dinner at the hotel.
Day 10rail
Return to London
We bid farewell to Dresden and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2A steam run on the 750mm narrow-gauge Lössnitzgrundbahn between Radebeul and Radeburg, including a stretch of street running.
Day 5The steeply graded Fichtelbergbahn climbs the 110-metre Hüttenbach viaduct to Oberwiesenthal, the highest town in Germany at 3,000 feet.
Day 6An exclusive steam charter on the Waldeisenbahn Muskau runs past a vast open-cast mine with run pasts and photo opportunities.
Day 7A mainline steam excursion in historic coaches departs from Leipzig's main station.
Day 9The Pressnitztalbahn's two steam trains follow a river course through woodland on a 750mm narrow-gauge line to Steinbach.

Included

9 nights bed & breakfast plus 3 evening meals
Eurostar and rail travel to and from Germany in the class of your choice
All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,615 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,532 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Once in Germany, yes, rail travel between all the heritage lines and cities is included, along with a Dresden transport pass. Getting to Germany is priced separately: the GBP 2,615 base price assumes independent travel to Gotha; Eurostar and connecting rail from London St Pancras costs from GBP 2,895 in Standard Class or GBP 3,095 in First Class.
Is it escorted or independent?: It is an escorted tour with an experienced Railtrail Tour Manager throughout.
Where do you stay?: One night at the Hotel am Tierpark in Gotha, then eight nights at the InterCity Hotel in Dresden.
Which heritage railways are included?: Nine lines: the Lössnitzgrundbahn, Zittau Railway, Weisseritztalbahn, Fichtelbergbahn, Waldeisenbahn Muskau, a Leipzig mainline excursion, the Döllnitzbahn, Schönheide Museumbahn, and the Pressnitztalbahn.
When does it run?: The only departure currently listed is in May 2027, priced from GBP 2,615 per person, with a single price from GBP 3,140.