SPRING STEAM IN THE HARZ Five days of steam photo action using three Mallet class locos Wednesday, 30th March – Tuesday, 5th April, 2016 Outline Itinerary & General Information We are delighted to offer the chance of five days of steam action on the famous Harz railway system in Germany in spring 2016 using the line’s iconic Mallet locomotives. Working in conjunction with the long- established and well-respected company Ian Allan, who have been synonymous with transport tours and publishing for over fifty years, we are able to offer an all-inclusive and hassle-free package to cover five days of photography, flights, transfers and accommodation - all you have to do is turn up and take the pictures! Participants will have the full security of Ian Allan’s ABTA and ATOL bonding for overseas trips, giving complete peace of mind for those taking part in the tour. HSB has the longest network of narrow gauge lines in Germany, at 87 miles in total. Many of the routes it encompasses are steeply-graded and scenic, and the system attracts visiting photographers and enthusiasts from across the world. We will fly out to Berlin, Germany on Wednesday 30th March 2016. There are two departure points for convenience, from either London or Birmingham. We will then have a road transfer from Berlin to Wernigerode and will start our photography on Thursday 31st March. We will be based in Wernigerode for the first two nights and final night of the trip and in Quedlinburg on the other three nights. OUTLINE ITINERARY WEDNESDAY, 30th MARCH Flights to Berlin from either London Heathrow or Birmingham Airports. Proposed schedules:- Ex. London Heathrow (T5) / Berlin Tegel – BA 992 – 10:55/13:45 Ex. Birmingham / Berlin Tegel – BE 1853 – 10:55/13:40 (schedule to be confirmed) Upon arrival at Berlin’s Tegel Airport transfer by private motorcoach to Wernigerode. Check-in at the hotel Altora for a stay of two nights on a bed and breakfast basis. 116009 – Harz Mountains – Outline Itinerary – Issue 1 Page 1 of 7 Operated on behalf of TimeLine Events by Ian Allan Travel Ltd. Terminal House, Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 8AS, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1932 255627 Fax: +44 (0)1932 231942 e-mail: [email protected] www.ianallantravel.com/timeline THURSDAY, 31st MARCH Breakfast in the hotel. 99-5901 on vintage train comprised of green- liveried stock. Wernigerode ~ Drei Annen Hohne ~ Eland ~ Drei Annen Hohne ~ Brocken ~ Wernigerode. After seeing the first steam departure of the day from Wernigerode, our charter train will work between Wernigerode and Eland station in the morning, then between Drei Annen Hohne and the summit of the Brocken in the afternoon before returning to Wernigerode, where we have requested a guided tour of the locomotive depot and works. FRIDAY, 1st APRIL Breakfast in the hotel and check-out. 99-5902 on red and cream stock. Wernigerode ~ Drei Annen Hohne ~ Eland ~ Drei Annen Hohne ~ Eisfelder Talmuhle ~ Stiege ~ Quedlinburg After seeing the first steam departure of the day, we will board our charter train, today headed by Mallet No.99-5902. We will work initially as far as Eland, then run round and return to Drei Annen Hohne where we have requested a double departure with the service train leaving for the Brocken; we will also be able to photograph the steam departure for Eisfelder Talmuhle. After a short break for lunch, we will head for Eisfelder ourselves, taking in locations on the route from Drei Annen Hohne ~ Eland ~ Benneckenstein ~ Eisfelder Talmuhle, plus false departures from Eisfelder. Our train will then transfer us to Quedlinburg via Stiege and Alexisbad, arriving in Quedlinburg at 19:00 hours. On arrival in Quedlinburg we will check-in at the Acron Hotel for three-nights on a bed and breakfast basis. SATURDAY, 2nd APRIL Breakfast in the hotel. 99-5902 on red and cream stock. Quedlinburg ~ Alexisbad ~ Stiege ~ Alexisbad ~ Quedlinburg. A very full day of photography. We transfer from Quedlinburg on the 08:30 departure and pick up our charter train at Gernrode, working our way along the Selketalbahn, taking in a variety of photographic locations. We expect to include both double and single departures from Alexisbad and work onto the Hasselfelde branch (loco facing Hasselfelde) before returning to Stiege and from there to Quedlinburg in the early evening. 116009 – Harz Mountains – Outline Itinerary – Issue 1 Page 2 of 7 Operated on behalf of TimeLine Events by Ian Allan Travel Ltd. Terminal House, Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 8AS, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1932 255627 Fax: +44 (0)1932 231942 e-mail: [email protected] www.ianallantravel.com/timeline SUNDAY, 3rd APRIL Breakfast in the hotel. 99-5906-5 on red and cream stock Quedlinburg ~ Alexisbad ~ Stiege ~ Alexisbad ~ Quedlinburg. Another very full day of photography. We again transfer from Quedlinburg to Gernrode on the 08:30 departure before joining our train, today headed by ex- industrial Mallet No.99-5906-5, working our way along the line as far as Stiege. We again hope for double and single departures from Alexisbad and those who know this stretch of line will be fully aware of the photographic potential of this section. We will return to Quedlinburg at 19:00 hours. MONDAY, 4th APRIL Breakfast in the hotel. 99-5902 on red and cream stock. Quedlinburg ~ Alexisbad ~ Stiege ~ Hasselfelde ~ Stiege ~ Eisfelder Talmuhle ~ Drei Annen Hohne* ~ Wernigerode. * an opportunity for an additional trip up the Brocken (not as part of the charter train) … for those who would like to do so, please pay at the booking office at Drei Annen Hohne on the day. Steam out of Quedlinburg, with run-pasts on the section to Gernrode, then round the loop at Stiege and to Hasselfelde to get us in position to do the shots on the Hasselfelde branch (loco facing Stiege) with the church and town in the background, and on the section to Birkenmoor and Eisfelder Talmuhle, plus false departures from Eisfelder before our train takes us back to Wernigerode via Drei Annen Hohne. Early evening check-in once again at the Altora Hotel, Wernigerode for one-night on a bed and breakfast basis. TUESDAY, 5th APRIL Breakfast in the hotel followed by a prompt departure from Wernigerode by private motorcoach transfer to Berlin’s Tegel Airport. Return flights to either London Heathrow or Birmingham. Proposed schedules:- Ex. Berlin Tegel / London Heathrow (T5) – BA 993 – 14:30/15:30 Ex. Berlin Tegel / Birmingham – BE 1854 – 14:20/15:20 (schedule to be confirmed) Our programme obviously envisages a great deal of train travel over much of the HSB system. Rather than go for transfers by road once we are in the Harz, we have arranged our transfers (plus luggage) by rail to give us more metre-gauge mileage! The itinerary envisages us being at the correct locations for photography when the light is potentially at its best. As well as using our own knowledge of the system, we have taken advice from local photographers to give us the best possible chance of obtaining high quality photographs. We cannot, of course, guarantee the weather, only that we will be in the right place at the right time to take advantage of favourable lighting conditions. We have deliberately scheduled the trip to include a weekend to assist those who are still working with leave. 116009 – Harz Mountains – Outline Itinerary – Issue 1 Page 3 of 7 Operated on behalf of TimeLine Events by Ian Allan Travel Ltd. Terminal House, Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 8AS, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1932 255627 Fax: +44 (0)1932 231942 e-mail: [email protected] www.ianallantravel.com/timeline The price includes:- return flights from the United Kingdom (Heathrow or Birmingham) to Berlin, return coach transfers from Berlin to Wernigerode, five days of photographic charters including transfers by rail within the HSB system and six nights’ accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. We have opted for the ‘bed and breakfast’ option to allow our participants the choice of dining at our hotels in the evening or visiting other restaurants in Wernigerode and Quedlinburg. Hotels used are three star and all have ensuite facilities. It will be possible to book either a single room, a twin room sharing or a double room for those travelling with their wives or partners. It is marginally more expensive for the single room option, but regular travellers will be aware of this. We have chosen what we feel is the most cost-effective option on flights, with two departure points, from Birmingham International and from London Heathrow. The two groups will meet at Berlin and be transferred onwards by road to Wernigerode together. Please ensure that your Passport and European Health Card are in order and in date in good time prior to departure. It is marginally more expensive to fly from Birmingham than from London, as different airlines operate services from each location. TOUR: 116009 COST PER PERSON from … Single occupancy £ 1,420.00 Departing London Heathrow: Sharing a twin room £ 1,380.00 Sharing a double room £ 1,380.00 Single occupancy £ 1,475.00 Departing Birmingham International: Sharing a twin room £ 1,435.00 Sharing a double room £ 1,435.00 We know that a number of you may like to bring your wives or partners with you and they may be ‘less keen’ on railway activities than you! Therefore, we are offering a special rate for those accompanying participants but not taking part as photographers to include travel and accommodation but not the photography element of the trip, though they are of course very welcome to travel with us on the trains throughout if they would like to do so.