Jill and I embarked on yet another of the Railway Touring Company expeditions, this time for a return visit
to the Czech Republic and two forays into Poland. travelling on October 3rd 2023 from Stroud to Stansted Airport via London and
the Elizabeth Line to Liverpool Street . We flew out to Prague on the 5th of October and after checking in, toured around parts of this
wonderful city with the Vlatava River and its many bridges. A vibrant and cosmopolitan city it is.
DAY 2. We kicked off with a double Vintage Tram tour around the city and then a lunchtime visits to the Vytopna Restaurant
where your food/drinks order is delivered to your table by rail. All computerised and programmed to your table. Then more
tram bashing to complete the day.
DAY 3. A coach transfer to the Solva Quarry Railway, the first of several narrow-gauge lines we visited whilst in
Bohemia. There was plenty of steam action and run pasts plus a shed visit to keep us entertained. Back to the tour hotel for lunch and then
a tram ride out to the
Vltava River, then to the north-west of the city in a 1960s-70s built tram to get the Metro back into the city centre.
DAY 3. After breakfast, a walk to Praha Hlavni Nadrazi station for Eurocity 141 "Ostravan" to Ceska Trebova. We then changed to
a regional service to Mladejov and Morave for a round trip on the narrow-gauge line of the same name. A buffet lunch was
enjoyed at the museum before returning to Praha.
DAY 4. This morning started with the green Metro service to Hradcanska. Here we boarded an Arriva service from Praha Dejvice
to Luzna u Rakovnika. A visit to the Czech premier Railway Museum before joining a steam charter to Kralovice and back behind
Class 354 4-6-2 tank locomotive. A truly awesome experience, with the local fire service watering the loco in the rain.
All too soon over and back to Praha.
DAY 5. This morning we boarded R867 "Svitava" from Praha H.L.N. to Usti and Orlici and this time a very short narrow-gauge
track around the museum. Run pasts were organised with plenty of clag out the tops of both locomotives and then a tour of the
industrial museum. This contained vintage cars, machinery, and various stationary engines, of which the logo on one was just like
the style of writing that R.A.Lister used.
DAY 6. This was our transfer day to North-East Czech Republic to the city of Ostrava. From Praha H.L.N. by train EC 115
"Cracovia".
A local trolley bus took us to our second hotel for a quick check in before taking a vintage 1920s tram on a tour around this city.
Also seen was the rail grinding train in operation and in a yellow livery, much like Network Rail uses. The tour concluded with a
visit to the Dolni Vitkovice Heritage Park.
DAY 7. Breakfast, then a trolleybus to Ostrava Svinov on R850 to Tremesna ve Slezsku for another private charter to Osoblaha and back,
plus a short trip on the diesel service train sandwiched in. New track and new locos for me! Double heading and a buffet lunch
into the bargain, plus a few beers. We returned on the same route.
DAY 8. Today we crossed the Polish border by road to the town of Rudy, a first for us on Polish soil. Another steam charter
and after this, a good lunch at the charming Chata Polaka local restaurant. This completed, we then visited
the landmark radio tower at Gliwice which was used for transmitting during WW2.
DAY 9. Our final day and once more crossing the border onto Poland for the Bytom Railway. A charmed and informative
visit to the marshalling yard, and then the narrow-gauge train to Miasteczcko Slaskie Terminus. The day was then concluded with
a very late lunch at the same restaurant as yesterday.
The following day we flew back to Britain, concluding yet another great Railway Touring Company epic. Next year, maybe Germany and possibly
the Great Britain. Ian & Jill Thomas. Please scroll down the page for the photo gallery.
Copyright of all pictures in this gallery belong to I and J Thomas.