Steam in Yugoslavia
Saturday 31st May to Monday 9th June 2008
The Railway Touring Company is introducing several new countries on this tour, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia, before continuing into Serbia. Formerly these areas were part of Yugoslavia. We have lunch and dinner each day in good restaurants or on our train, and stay in four star hotels. Our trains use several steam locomotives from various countries.
Saturday 31st May
Fly to Ljubljana
We depart London mid morning flying to Ljubljana arriving around lunchtime where we check into the Grand Hotel. Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is situated between the Alps and the Mediterranean. It has managed to retain traces from all periods of its history, from the Romans through to the Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau periods. We have an afternoon tour including the railway museum which owns over fifty steam locomotives with about twelve being kept there. (D)
Sunday 1st June
Into the Julian Alps
Our coach takes us north to the Julian Alps and Jesenice, a steel town in the Upper Sava Valley. We see the River Sava many times on our journey to Belgrade. Jesenice is close to the Austrian border, appropriately our train is hauled by an Austrian steam locomotive (2-8-0 25.026), with vintage coaches. Our scenic trip passes through mountains and by Lake Bled, a glacial lake surrounded by mountains and forests. It heads on to Nova Gorica, situated on the Italian border, where we leave our train and return on our coach by a pretty route to Ljubljana.
(B L D)
Monday 2nd June
East through Zagreb
We have another steam locomotive today (2-10-0 33.037). After leaving Ljubljana we head east on the secondary line through Trebnje to Sevnica. Here we join the main line following the River Sava, and cross the border into Croatia and reach its capital, Zagreb. We pause here while our locomotive is serviced, while we have a quick tour of Zagreb, before continuing to Osijek.
The attractions of this city include the main square and the River Drava. We visit the tram museum and have a tram ride. (B L D)
Tuesday 3rd June
South into Bosnia
The same locomotive hauls us south today, through Vinkovci, a large railway junction, to Gunja then across the Sava, leaving Croatia and entering Brcko in Bosnia. Here another steam locomotive (2-10-0 class 33), owned by the Kreka Coal Mine complex takes us to Tuzla. (B L D)
Wednesday 4th June
To Doboj
Today our steam locomotive (again 2-10-0 class 33) takes us from Tuzla to Doboj and back with vintage coaches. Doboj, situated where the Usora and the Bosna Rivers meet, has the oldest railway station in Bosnia, built in 1878. Other attractions include the Doboj Fortress, from the early 13th century, that overlooks the town. Alternatively it is possible to stay in our Tuzla hotel and perhaps have a swim, or explore the town. (B L D)
Thursday 5th June
Narrow Gauge Train
We visit the Kreka Mine steam depot at Bukinje, near Tuzla. Recently there were six class 33 and four class 62s here with several working.
Our class 33 takes us from Tuzla to Bancovi where we transfer to the narrow gauge (760 mm) line for our journey of about twelve miles to Turija. There are two steam locomotives available here (25 33 & 83 158) and we should have both operating on our train. We return to Tuzla by coach. (B L D)
Friday 6th June
To Belgrade
A road coach takes us across the border into Serbia and on to Loznica where there was a narrow gauge line.
We travel on the standard gauge with a steam locomotive (2-6-2 class 01) to take us through Ruma to Belgrade where we check into our hotel for three nights. Our train in Serbia is two vintage coaches with a restaurant car.
(B L D)
Saturday 7th June
To Resavica
Today our steam locomotive takes our train to Marcovac before taking the thirty mile branch for Resavica on which we have a tank locomotive built 1899 (0-6-0 126.012) piloting our 01.
The tank engine belongs to the colliery at Resavica. We return from Resavica to Belgrade. Alternatively, it is possible to stay in Belgrade for the day, to relax in the hotel, or explore its historic areas and buildings and its many parks, monuments, museums, cafés and shops. (B L D)
Sunday 8th June
To Novi Sad
Our 01 steam locomotive takes us through Pancevo to Zrenjanin visiting the railway works where steam locomotives are still overhauled. From here we travel to Novi Sad, located on the Danube where the Petrovaradin fortress dominates the city. There is also the historic neighbourhood of Stari Grad, with many historic buildings and shops. We return to Belgrade where we have our farewell dinner. (B L D)
Monday 9th June
Return to the UK
We have a sightseeing tour of the city and then join a special train with a tank locomotive (2-6-2 class s1). It runs alongside the Sava River to the Kalemegdan Fort which overlooks the area where it joins the Danube and where our train stops. Part of the fort dates back to the first century and makes a nice backdrop for our photographs.
After returning to Belgrade station we go to Belgrade airport for our flight back to London. (B)
Fly to Ljubljana
We depart London mid morning flying to Ljubljana arriving around lunchtime where we check into the Grand Hotel. Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is situated between the Alps and the Mediterranean. It has managed to retain traces from all periods of its history, from the Romans through to the Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau periods. We have an afternoon tour including the railway museum which owns over fifty steam locomotives with about twelve being kept there. (D)
Sunday 1st June
Into the Julian Alps
Our coach takes us north to the Julian Alps and Jesenice, a steel town in the Upper Sava Valley. We see the River Sava many times on our journey to Belgrade. Jesenice is close to the Austrian border, appropriately our train is hauled by an Austrian steam locomotive (2-8-0 25.026), with vintage coaches. Our scenic trip passes through mountains and by Lake Bled, a glacial lake surrounded by mountains and forests. It heads on to Nova Gorica, situated on the Italian border, where we leave our train and return on our coach by a pretty route to Ljubljana.
(B L D)
Monday 2nd June
East through Zagreb
We have another steam locomotive today (2-10-0 33.037). After leaving Ljubljana we head east on the secondary line through Trebnje to Sevnica. Here we join the main line following the River Sava, and cross the border into Croatia and reach its capital, Zagreb. We pause here while our locomotive is serviced, while we have a quick tour of Zagreb, before continuing to Osijek.
The attractions of this city include the main square and the River Drava. We visit the tram museum and have a tram ride. (B L D)
Tuesday 3rd June
South into Bosnia
The same locomotive hauls us south today, through Vinkovci, a large railway junction, to Gunja then across the Sava, leaving Croatia and entering Brcko in Bosnia. Here another steam locomotive (2-10-0 class 33), owned by the Kreka Coal Mine complex takes us to Tuzla. (B L D)
Wednesday 4th June
To Doboj
Today our steam locomotive (again 2-10-0 class 33) takes us from Tuzla to Doboj and back with vintage coaches. Doboj, situated where the Usora and the Bosna Rivers meet, has the oldest railway station in Bosnia, built in 1878. Other attractions include the Doboj Fortress, from the early 13th century, that overlooks the town. Alternatively it is possible to stay in our Tuzla hotel and perhaps have a swim, or explore the town. (B L D)
Thursday 5th June
Narrow Gauge Train
We visit the Kreka Mine steam depot at Bukinje, near Tuzla. Recently there were six class 33 and four class 62s here with several working.
Our class 33 takes us from Tuzla to Bancovi where we transfer to the narrow gauge (760 mm) line for our journey of about twelve miles to Turija. There are two steam locomotives available here (25 33 & 83 158) and we should have both operating on our train. We return to Tuzla by coach. (B L D)
Friday 6th June
To Belgrade
A road coach takes us across the border into Serbia and on to Loznica where there was a narrow gauge line.
We travel on the standard gauge with a steam locomotive (2-6-2 class 01) to take us through Ruma to Belgrade where we check into our hotel for three nights. Our train in Serbia is two vintage coaches with a restaurant car.
(B L D)
Saturday 7th June
To Resavica
Today our steam locomotive takes our train to Marcovac before taking the thirty mile branch for Resavica on which we have a tank locomotive built 1899 (0-6-0 126.012) piloting our 01.
The tank engine belongs to the colliery at Resavica. We return from Resavica to Belgrade. Alternatively, it is possible to stay in Belgrade for the day, to relax in the hotel, or explore its historic areas and buildings and its many parks, monuments, museums, cafés and shops. (B L D)
Sunday 8th June
To Novi Sad
Our 01 steam locomotive takes us through Pancevo to Zrenjanin visiting the railway works where steam locomotives are still overhauled. From here we travel to Novi Sad, located on the Danube where the Petrovaradin fortress dominates the city. There is also the historic neighbourhood of Stari Grad, with many historic buildings and shops. We return to Belgrade where we have our farewell dinner. (B L D)
Monday 9th June
Return to the UK
We have a sightseeing tour of the city and then join a special train with a tank locomotive (2-6-2 class s1). It runs alongside the Sava River to the Kalemegdan Fort which overlooks the area where it joins the Danube and where our train stops. Part of the fort dates back to the first century and makes a nice backdrop for our photographs.
After returning to Belgrade station we go to Belgrade airport for our flight back to London. (B)
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Price
| Price per person | £1495 |
| Single supplement | £175 |
Price includes:
- Flights London to Ljubljana and Belgrade
- 9 nights bed and breakfast accommodation
- 8 lunches (some on train) and 9 dinners
- Tours and coach journeys as detailed
- Transfers to hotels
- Entrance to museums as detailed
- The services of a tour manager
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner