Steam Train Rides through Europe

The age of the steam train is something which tends to be associated to the United Kingdom, given that some of the earliest railways in Europe were constructed in England and Wales. But there are plenty of equally historic railways in France, Germany and especially Switzerland.

The biggest and most famous steam railway journey was the Orient Express which travelled in upmost style from Paris to Vienna. It is still in operation as a first class service but is not pulled by a steam locomotive. None the less, sitting in the carriages alone is worth the money. The steam trains now in operation in Europe tend to be shorter journeys, of around 20 to 30 kilometres, and a good example of that is the Thur to Alsace train in France. It has been restored with four wooden carriages, and goes through some beautiful scenery.

Switzerland has always been a great one for its trains and with that come the reputation for punctuality. Being able to set your watch by an arriving Swiss train is no exaggeration. In the mountains there are all sorts of small restored and even ongoing railways which the train enthusiast will revel over.

Many other countries have trains which climb mountain, such as the Jungfrau, or pass through the most amazing scenery such as the Flam railway in Norway. This passes close by and travels around massive glacial waterfalls and ravines. Its one of the wonders of engineering that the pioneers of railway construction disregarded natural objects with such ease.

One doesn’t often think of steam trains in the same sentence as family ski chalets but this concept is becoming a popular one in some parts of Europe. As part of your vacation package, you will be given a ride to and from the various family ski chalets on one of these old fashioned trains that pull the passengers through the mountain slopes.

Yorkshire is one place in Britain that offers great train excursions across the county and beyond. If you are staying in camping pods Yorkshire, you may want to try out a rail excursion to pass time during the day. The sights are magnificent and you are to have a good time.

Many of the luxury hotels Sharm el Sheikh of a rail excursion tour that features steam powered trains that are operating replicas from a century ago. In tour will take you through a three hour tour that provides you with a look into the region that few outsiders have a chance to experience. Once aboard, you will be served a luncheon featuring a menu of local delicacies and traditional drinks and snacks.