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An Austrian Railway Feast: Monday, May 9
Friday, May 20
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Please call
us with questions, bookings:
800-478-4881
www.irtsociety.com
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An Austrian Railway Feast:
May 7-20, 2005
Led by Werner Schorn
"Many thanks to each of you for your careful planning to make 'An Austrian Railway Feast' I believe my most enjoyable IRT trip, with its abundance of all types of trams and trains; great city tour directors; and our wonderful tour director, Werner Schorn. Many other IRT tours…have been great, but, to me, Austria was the tops!" - A.J., Florida
"Werner was super and led us all with vigor and enthusiasm." - R.N., Connecticut
Daily Itinerary
Friday, May 6
Depart U.S. for Munich.
Saturday, May 7
Munich (D)
Arrive Munich this morning and transfer to our hotel beside the main railway station. Meet your fellow tour participants and tour leader, Werner Schorn, this afternoon and enjoy a walking tour of the city. Visit the Marienplatz, the square in the heart of the city, where the Glockenspiel chimes with a display of jousting knights and dancing coopers. We'll also see the Frauenkirche, the vast late Gothic hall-church whose two domes have become a symbol of Munich. This evening we will get to know each other better over a welcome drink at our hotel, followed by dinner at the Olympia Tower revolving restaurant overlooking the city.
Overnight: Hotel Maritim, Munich
Sunday, May 8
Munich trams / Deutsches Museum (B)
This morning we'll enjoy more of the city's highlights on our tram tour of Munich with local guide. After time for lunch on your own, we'll head to the Railway Department of the Deutsches Museum, one of the world's largest museums of science and technology, on the Theresienhöhe near our Hotel. There is an excellent civil engineering section, including Railway Hall, which houses several famous steam engines-among them the 1912 S-3/6 which powered the Bavarian Express-as well as the first electric locomotive (circa 1879).
Overnight: Hotel Maritim, Munich
Monday, May 9
Munich to Innsbruck / Zugspitz (B, L)
There are several ways to travel from Munich to Innsbruck. We've chosen the slower route, taking a local train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Here we will board a train of the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn to Zugspitzplatt. There, it is a simple hop aboard a cable car, which will take us to the Zugspitz summit, highest peak in Germany (9,725 feet). On the way up, we will stop for a special guided visit to the Zugspitz workshops.
The summit observation area offers incredible views of the Alps (weather permitting). We pause for lunch at the summit restaurant before returning to Garmisch, where we will visit the local railway museum. Upon arrival in Innsbruck this late afternoon, we'll check in to our hotel. This evening and dinner are at your leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Europa Tyrol, Innsbruck
Tuesday, May 10
Innsbruck (B, D)
This morning we'll enjoy a streetcar tour of Innsbruck, ending at the Streetcar Museum, or Lokalbahnmuseum, where we enjoy a private tour.
The afternoon will be at your leisure. One great excursion out of Innsbruck: the Stubaitalbahn. This mountain-climbing streetcar takes passengers to Fulpmes, high above Innsbruck on the south wall of the Inn Valley. The line affords wonderful views over the entire valley, especially as the sun sets.
Overnight: Hotel Europa Tyrol, Innsbruck
Wednesday, May 11
Innsbruck (B)
Today is at your leisure to further explore Innsbruck or the Austrian countryside on your own. The city offers many opportunities for cable railway trips, including Hungerburgbahn, which takes passengers to the Alpine Zoo.
Werner will be leading railfans on an optional daytrip over two great routes. These trips will take you to the Swiss and Italian borders. The first heads west to Feldkirch, on the border of Switzerland, passing through the 6.2-mile Arlberg Tunnel at the northern end of the Rhaetian Alps en route. Next we head south for a trip up the Brenner Pass and back, with beautiful mountain scenery along the way.
Overnight: Hotel Europa Tyrol, Innsbruck
Thursday, May 12
Zillertalbahn & Achenseebahn (B)
Today's itinerary features two steam, narrow-gauge trains. Our first trip is on a local train to Jenbach, 22 miles east, where we'll board a 31-inch gauge train of the Zillertalbahn for a round trip behind steam up the flat, broad Ziller valley to Mayrhofen. Return to Jenbach and board a train of the meter-gauge Achenseebahn, a steam-powered cog railway. We'll ride to the Achensee, also called Tyrolean Ocean, and return by the same route.
Overnight: Hotel Europa Tyrol, Innsbruck
Friday, May 13
Innsbruck to Salzburg (B, D)
There are several routes one can take from Innsbruck to Salzburg. We'll take the one that remains within Austria's borders, via Kitzbuhel, Zell-am-See and Bischofshofen. This is one of the most scenic rides in Austria, with exceptionally beautiful views of gorges, lakes, mountains and rivers.
Upon arrival in Salzburg, we transfer to our hotel, where there will be time to freshen up before our afternoon excursion on a special train of the Salzburger Lokalbahn. We take this local railway from Salzburg to Oberndorf behind an electric engine built in 1909. Oberndorf is home of the church in which "Silent Night" was written and first performed. There will be time to explore Oberndorf on your own. Upon returning to Salzburg, we'll visit the Lokalbahn's workshops. Dinner will be together at the hotel this evening.
Overnight: Hotel Atlstadt Radisson, Salzburg
Saturday, May 14
Salzburg (B)
Today is at your leisure in Salzburg, a lovely city to explore on foot or tram. Spend the morning marveling at the beautiful blooming roses in Mirabell Gardens, visit one of the many Mozart sites or take a day trip out of the city. Recommended trips include Berchtesgaden, site of Hitler's infamous Eagle's Nest, and Lake Chiemsee with its island castle, paddle steamboat and narrow-gauge steam train from the station to the boat. Werner will be happy to help you plan your day.
Overnight: Hotel Atlstadt Radisson, Salzburg
Sunday, May 15
Salzburg (B, L)
East of Salzburg are several local railways operated by Stern & Hafferl. We'll ride Gmunden's streetcar line, shortest in the world, which runs a mile and a half down to the town's lakefront; a meter-gauge line from Gmunden to Vorchdorf-Eggenberg; a standard gauge line from there to Lambach; and the ÖBB's main line from Lambach to Vöcklamarkt. Here, you are welcome to branch off on your own: some may wish to take another S&H narrow gauge line to Attersee.
Overnight: Hotel Atlstadt Radisson, Salzburg
Monday, May 16
Salzburg to Graz (B, D)
Another leisurely ride awaits us today as we head south over the Tauern Railway, passing through the five-mile Tauern tunnel. A change of trains in Villach and we travel on to Selzthal, stopping here to visit the railway museum there.
Arrive in Graz this evening where we will have dinner together at our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Daniel, Graz
Tuesday, May 17
Graz; Semmering Pass (B, D)
In the morning, we'll take in Graz by foot and aboard our chartered streetcar with guide, ending at the city's tram museum.
Then we depart Graz by regular train for one of the highlights of this tour: a ride over the Semmering Pass. This line is considered the first mountain railroad in Europe. The Semmeringbahn, recognized by UNESCO, was begun by railway engineer Carl Ghega in 1848. Opened in 1854, it is still regarded as one of the greatest pieces of railway engineering in Europe.
You may choose to take the express train to Vienna, or a series of local trains, stopping along the way to take photographs of the line. Dinner will be taken together at the hotel this evening.
Overnight: Hotel Europa, Vienna
Wednesday, May 18
Mariazellerbahn & Ybbstalbahn (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel, we head to charming St. Pölten and ride the electrically powered 31-inch gauge Mariazellerbahn up into the mountains. The line was electrified in 1911, and its six-axle, siderod-drive locomotives are original equipment-though rebuilt with new bodies. The line also has a new electric-powered train set that reportedly cost as much as a TGV. Transfer from Mariazell to Lunz am See via motorcoach. From Lunz am See, we will pick up a local narrow-gauge train heading north to Amstetten via Waidhofen a.d. Ybbs, known as the Ybbstalbahn. At Amstetten, we'll hop an Intercity train back to Vienna.
Overnight: Hotel Europa, Vienna
Thursday, May 19
Vienna (B, D)
Enjoy a combination walking/tram tour of Vienna this morning with local guide. Stroll along the Kärntnerstrasse, one of Europe's most beautiful boulevards, and see the Opera House (Staatsoper). Also nearby are the Hofburg, 13th-century home of the Imperial family, and the Imperial Apartments. Our tour will end at the city's Streetcar Museum, where more than 80 historical streetcars are on display on over a mile of track in a former depot.
Our farewell dinner will be this evening at a local restaurant in Vienna.
Overnight: Hotel Europa, Vienna
Friday, May 20
Tour ends (B)
Your tour ends after breakfast at the hotel this morning.
Tour prices:
Double: $4,806 per person
Single supplement: $700
Included in the cost of the tour:
· Accommodation in the hotels as mentioned in the program including buffet breakfast, service charge, taxes and porterage in & out
· Lunches and dinners as mentioned in the program (welcome and farewell dinners include wine and coffee)
· 3-day transportation cards for Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna
· Tram tours in Munich, Innsbruck, Graz and Vienna with expert guide
· Entrance fees to Deutsches Museum (Railway department only), Lokalbahnmuseum, railway museum in Selzthal, Vienna Tram Museum, Graz Tramway Museum
· Guided visit to repair shops at Zugspitze
· Lokalbahn roundtrip train from Salzburg to Oberndorf including visit to the repair shops
· Supplements (when necessary) and reservations in first-class wherever possible
· Separate luggage transportation: Munich-Innsbruck, Innsbruck-Salzburg, Salzburg-Graz, Graz-Vienna
· Group coach transfers where necessary
· Ticket for transfer from Vienna hotel to Vienna airport
· Services of full-time tour guide, Werner Schorn
Not included in the tour cost: Airfare; railpass; costs of obtaining passports; meals not listed in the itinerary; optional sightseeing unless specified; any expenses of a personal nature, including all forms of travel insurance, laundry service, all alcoholic beverages and all personal beverages other than those included at group meals. Gratuities for tour leader.
Railpass options:
Please note that a European railpass will be required for this journey. There are numerous options depending on your travel plans. Sample rates below for a first class passes in 2004. New pass rates will go into effect as soon as they are announced for 2005.
15-day Eurailpass: $588 per person
15-day Eurailpass Saver: $498 per person
(Please note passengers must travel together at all times with Saverpass.)
Eurail Selectpass (good for any 3 adjoining countries)
10 days in 2 months: $564
Eurail Selectpass Saver (two or more people traveling together)
10 days in 2 months: $480
Many other passes are available if you wish to extend your vacation in Europe. These include the 21-day Eurailpass, first class: $762 p.p.; 21-day Eurailpass Saver, first class: $648 p.p.
The Eurailpass is good in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Extra hotel nights can be arranged before or after the trip at tour hotels. Prices upon request.
Click here for complete terms and conditions of this tour.
The Society of International Railway Travelers
1810 Sils Ave., Louisville, KY 40205
800-478-4881 or 502-454-0277
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-478-4881
www.irtsociety.com
Send us e-mail with comments or questions
