Across Europe by Steam: Historic "Crocodile" Joins Autumn Rail Tours

This autumn, Rail Holidays Across Europe will operate a series of steam train journeys covering Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland. Running from mid October to the end of November, these tours will take travellers along historic railway lines and into cities, towns and landscapes known for their cultural and natural significance. The programme combines heritage rail experiences with opportunities to explore regions often overlooked by high speed networks.

The trains operating on these routes combine preserved historic engineering with modern passenger facilities. Each journey is scheduled for fixed dates and follows lines that are rarely used for regular services, giving travellers access to areas where rail travel is part of the local heritage. Moving at an unhurried pace lets travellers soak up the passing views like pages in a storybook and connect more closely with the personality of each place they pass through.

In Germany, from 17 to 26 October, the route will cross the Harz Mountains, passing forests, half timbered villages and the town of Wernigerode with its cobbled streets and hilltop castle. Steam trains will climb towards the Brocken, the highest peak in northern Germany. Austria’s journey, from 26 October to 2 November, includes narrow gauge and mainline steam routes, a funicular to the Mölltal Glacier and a lake cruise on Lake Ossiach.

The French Italian route, from 6 to 16 November, will follow coastal lines of the French Riviera and Ligurian coast, stopping in Nice with its old town and seaside promenade, Monaco’s historic quarter and harbour, Genoa’s medieval centre and Milan’s Gothic cathedral, before visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The final Swiss tour, from 20 to 25 November, will feature the "Crocodile" SBB Ce 6/8 locomotive, passing through the Jura and Emmental regions with their alpine pastures, traditional villages and scenic viaducts.

These itineraries provide a broader choice between rapid point to point travel and immersive journeys where the route itself is part of the experience. They show how travel can be richer when it embraces cultural stories, changing scenery and traces of the past, inviting a way of exploring that lingers in each place instead of hurrying to the next stop. This way of travelling can uncover little gems that might otherwise be overlooked, from everyday customs in small communities to surprising views that appear unexpectedly along the route.