Eritrea: Great Italian Steam Adventure
December 2, 2000 through December 10, 2000
Highlights:
Cab rides, photo runpasts everyday, a charter train everyday, workshops
visits. Exceptional steam
tour for the first time ever. This line built in 1890 is one of the
most extraordinary feats of a colonial
engineering. The line is going through gorges, viaducts, climbing close
7.000 feet above the hot plain.
About 82 km are already rebuilt and it's possible that more Km will
be in operation before the tour
started. We hope to be able to run all the way from Massawa to Ghinda
(70 Km). Exceptional
Steam charters with Mallet 0-4-4-0 (442.54 and 442.55). Two Breda 0-4-0
are also in quite good
condition and the two old Fiat railcars. Mixed steam charters are planned
each day. Fascinating
narrow gauge (900 mm). Don't miss this amazing tour.
Transnico contact points below
DAY 1 - Saturday, December 2: Depart from London / Europe with
Lufthansa (LH 594) at 13.15 to
Asmara. Connecting flights from all Europe to FRA. Arrival in the evening
in Asmara (22.55).
Overnight in Asmara.
DAY 2 - Sunday, December 3: Free morning to discover the city
or to rest. In the afternoon, we will
visit the workshops, shed and station. You will have the opportunity
to explore also in the afternoon
the city. Don't miss the magnificent cathedral (1922) built in the
Lombardian style and not far from a
bustling market. Overnight in Asmara. Today's included : Breakfast
& Lunch.
DAY 3 - Monday, December 4: Early morning charter bus to Massawa.
The road from Asmara to
Massawa, 65 miles (105 Km) long, is both spectacular and beautiful.
It descends from 8.000 feet
(2.438 m) to sea level, with hairpin bends on the escarpment and magnificent
views over the coastal
desert strip. The road also passes the famous Orthodox Monastery of
Debre Bizen. In Massawa,
visit of the railway installations, shed and workshops. Early afternoon,
we board our first steam
charter with a mixed composition and hauled by a magnificent 0-4-4-0
Mallet N° 442.54. We are
planning to run over great gorges and bridges all the way to Ghinda.
Our steam charter will leave
from the Sea coast and reach Ghinda at about 3.500 ft (1.000 m). Plenty
of photo runpasts. Return
to Asmara by charter bus. Overnight in Asmara.Today's included : Breakfast
& Lunch.
DAY 4 - Tuesday, December 5: Today, we depart by charter bus
to Ghinda. First, we visit the
workshops as Ghinda is the base now of all engineering works. Much
of the rolling stock are based
here. We board in the morning our charter train Fiat railcar built
in the 30ties for about 20 Km and
return. Upon back, we board in the afternoon, a small charter train
hauled by the Breda 0-3-0 for
some kilometers. Return by charter bus to Asmara. Overnight in Asmara.
Today's included : Breakfast & Lunch.
DAY 5 - Wednesday, December 6: We return early morning to Massawa.
Our steam charter will be
waiting for us hauled by the other Mallet 0-4-4-0 N° 442.55 to
run all the way to Bhinda. The train
composition will be different than the first trip. Many photo runpasts
as usual. Upon arrival late
afternoon in Bhinda, we return by charter bus to Asmara. Overnight
in Asmara. Today's included :
Breakfast & Lunch.
DAY 6 - Thursday, December 7: Early morning, transfer by charter
bus to Bhinda. Upon arrival, we
will organise a small steam show with all locomotives running. After
that, we are planning a
doubleheader with the two Mallet N° 442.54 and 442.55 all the way
to Massewa. Several photo
runpasts will be organised and we will reverse the both engines. Late
afternoon, return to Asmara.
Overnight in Asmara. Today's included : Breakfast & Lunch.
DAY 7 - Friday, December 8: Our last day with a steam charter.
We depart first to Massewa. Our
steam charter hauled partial way in doubleheader with a flat car between
the two locomotives and a
freight train will run all the way to Bhinda. A old Fiat railcar will
be running just in front of the steam
train and you are free to ride in the both trains. For video, the spectacle
is exceptional from the railcar
when the both train are running. Return late afternoon to Asmara. Overnight
in Asmara. Today's
included : Breakfast. & Lunch.
DAY 8 - Saturday, December 9: Free day in Asmara for relax, shopping
or to photograph the best
scenery in the town. The same evening, transfer to the airport for
our Lufthansa flight LH 595 to
Frankfurt leaving at 00.20. Early afternoon, the rooms must be liberated
and all luggage can be
placed in a safe room. Today's included : Breakfast.
DAY 9 - Sunday, December 10: Departure Lufthansa flight LH 595
at 00.20. Arrival in Frankfurt in
the morning (06.35) and connecting flights to all over Europe.
PRICE: of London, Brussels : GBP 1.895 / BEF 109.860 / EURO 2.475 / USD 2.910
Our price includes :
Our price does not include:
Full tour details and booking forms from:
TRANSNICO INTERNATIONAL & GROUP S.A. TRAIN TOURS
Avenue Montjoie, 114 B - 1180 BRUSSELS, Belgium
Tel : 00 32 2 344 46 90 (6 L)
Fax : 00 32 2 346 56 65
E-mail : transnico.international.group@skynet.be
Internet:: http://www.transnico.com/
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