"Riding the rails" is a wonderful and relaxing way of seeing the countryside. These escorted tours visit fascinating destinations using scenic rail routes. These are holidays where you can stretch your legs, watch the scenery drift past the windows of the dining car and avoid the crush or hassle of coach or air travel. Our groups are always small and friendly, usually no more that 20 persons, enabling everyone to get to know each other and giving our clients personal attention.

Our European departures range from the exciting steam operation through the Harz Mountains in winter to rural trains in sunny Provence, steam trains in Austria and Scandinavia, the dramatic mountain railways of Switzerland and trains in the Catalan region of Spain and the Pyrenees.

As an alternative to Europe we offer two special departures, one to Australia riding trains and vintage railcars in the “real” outback, and to Canada for some spectacular trains travelling through the wild, remote, wilderness country.

Railtours has always featured tours to the USA for modern traction enthusiasts, this year we offer a new destination – Missouri and an old favourite California.

With over 14 years of experience in rail based holidays The Travel Bureau are among the leaders in leisure rail travel. We and our knowledgeable tour managers look forward to welcoming you onto one of our tours, indeed many of our customers return year after year.

Harz Winter
Departs Friday 10th February 2006 for 5 days
A maximum value trip visiting the whole of the Harz Metre gauge system. Enjoy steam action and train rides through the snow in this scenic area of germany using the flexibility of a Harz system rail pass included in the tour cost. - Tour Full

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Aussie Outback Explorer Tour
Departs Wednesday 12th April 2006 for 21 days
Visit the "real" Australia, not just the tourist sights. Steam lines, a paddle steamer festival, outback rail lines, small country towns, vintage railcars including the famous "Gulflander" 1930's railcar on its once a week run. Enjoy over 4800 km (3000 miles) of rail travel in this relaxing country. - Tour Full - Relief Tour Departs 22 March

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Swiss Explorer
Departs Thursday 27th April 2006 for 6 days
Ride some of the most spectacular scenic lines of Switzerland – the narrow gauge “Golden Pass” route over the Brunig Pass and through Gstaad to Montreux, the route of the famous “Glacier Express”, the Rhatischebahn over the Albula Pass spirals to S. Moritz, Jungfrau Mountain trains, the dramatic Gotthard Pass and BLS “Loetschberg” line plus relaxing lake cruises.

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Missouri Rails
Departs Sunday 14th May 2006 for 8 days
Photography of freights on the busy routes through the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City featuring UP, BNSF (with helpers) Kansas City Southern, plus CSX and NS. In addition the tour visits the Springdale depot of the all-Alco Arkansas and Missouri RR (20 locos for freight and tourist
passengers services), and the Missouri & Northern Arkansas (MNA) “short line”, local switching railroads plus a dinner train ride on the Branson Railroad through the scenic Osarks.

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Provence
Departs Thursday 18 May 2006 for 5 days
Explore the delightful Provence countryside by rail – the town of Grasse, famous for its perfumes, the dramatic ride into the mountains to Tende and a narrow gauge ride through the Var Gorges. 4 Places left

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Sweden - 3 Gauges Steam Tour
Departs Thursday 6th July 2006 for 5 days
Based in Stockholm, the tour visits three steam worked lines at their peak summer service, plus a vintage steam boat ride and the opportunity to ride trams. 4 places (no single rooms remaining)

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Austrian Narrow Gauge
Departs Friday28th July2006 for 12 days
This comprehensive tour visits no less than 15 narrow gauge lines - 8 steam, 2 diesel, 5 electric including a special charter on a freight only line, plus three tram systems and rides on a variety of OBB and private lines. 4 Places left

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Colorada Railfest and Narrow Gauge Convention
Departs Saturday 19th August 2006 for 11 days
The annual Railfest in Durango is even bigger for 2006 to co-incide with 125th anniversary of the opening of the line to Silverton and the Narrow Gauge Convention. This tour is ideal for modellers with trade
stands, layout tours, lots of extra steam action, visits to historic towns and the huge Caboose Hobbies model shop. 1 place left

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Wilderness Trains
Departs Monday 28th August 2006 for 14 days
An exciting rail adventure – 4600kms of train travel through some of the most remote routes in Canada including the “Polar Bear Express”, dramatic Agawa Canyon and a rail journey past wild and rocky lakes in the road-free Labrador wilderness. The tour also looks in at he Cartier Railway’s remote mining line, rides VIA Rail’s “Corridor” route, the “Canadian” train and country lins in Quebec. This tour is limited to just 12
participants, book early to ensure a place. 3 Places left

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Rail and Wine on the Rhine
Departs Thursday 31 August 2006 for 5 days New Departure date
Enjoy a maximum value short break to the lovely Rhine Valley featuring scenic rail excursions, a superb cruise by classic paddle steamer and wine tasting at festival time

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Back Forest Explorer
Departs Thursday 21st September 2006 for 6 days
Enjoy scenic rail routes, two steam train rides, a cruise along the Rhine, vintage tram tour and historic towns and villages on this short break. 4 Places left

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California Three Passes Tour
Departs Wednesday 4th October 2006 for 11 days
Multiple loco power on heavy freights over the Cajon, Tehachapi and Donner Passes in warm Californian sunshine. UP, BNSF plus Amtrak on steep grades in scenic locations. The tour also visit San Francisco, the
California State Railroad Museum and includes a ride on Amtrak. 1 place left

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Catalan/Pyrenees
Departs Friday 6th October 2006 for 7 days
Enjoy the warm autumn sunshine in Barcelona and Perpignan coupled with
scenic excursions by rail into Catalan Mountains and Pyrenees, ride a steam train, the amazing “Little Yellow Train” and coastal routes. 3 places left

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