FRANCE: Steam around Paris
14. - 20. September 2026

On a very compact railway tour, we will explore the 600mm narrow-gauge steam railways around the French capital (with a prologue in Belgium...). The French holiday season is already over, and we can visit the railways without the usual tourist crowds. We will primarily photograph charter trains, visit the railway depots, and organize night photography. A fantastic steam locomotive adventure in our western neighboring countries!

The program is still being developed (as of January 2026). If you are interested in regular updates about this trip or have suggestions for the itinerary, please send me an email !

Itinerary:
13. September 2026, Sunday:
All participants will meet in the late morning hours at Cologne Central Station (Köln Hbf) and travel by ICE to Brussels-North. From there, a chartered bus will take us to Pairi Daiza Zoo. Those not traveling via Cologne should meet the group at Brussels-North Station. Only a few years old, the zoo's design included a narrow-gauge (600mm) railway, which, thanks to the dedication of the zoo owner and the railway's technical director, has become a real attraction. Currently, three steam locomotives and several diesel locomotives are operational. We will arrive at the zoo in the afternoon and photograph the scheduled passenger trains. After the public train rides have ended, I have arranged for night photography at the engine shed. Dinner and overnight stay at the zoo's own hotel.

14. September 2026, Monday:
The park doesn't open until 10:00 am, but we'll start running the first photo freight trains from 8:00 am. All operational steam locomotives will be in use, either single-unit or double-headed, pulling various train sets. A diesel-hauled train is also planned. By noon, we should have covered all potential photo spots and will then leave the zoo. We'll take the bus back to Brussels and from there a regular train to Paris. Overnight stay in a centrally located, good-quality tourist hotel.

15. September 2026, Tuesday:
After an early breakfast, we will visit the preserved narrow-gauge railway at Tacot des Lacs. Many German locomotives, including those from Borsig, Henschel, and O&K, have found a new home here. Among them is a Jung steam locomotive (7502/1937), which is operational and will pull a charter photo train for us. I hope that we will be able to take some beautiful pictures in the forest and on the many bridges, with some foliage already beginning to change color! In the evening, we will continue our journey to Pithiviers. Dinner and overnight stay in Pithiviers.

16. September 2026, Wednesday:
The Pithiviers to Toury Tramway (TPT) was a nearly 31 km long narrow-gauge railway with a 600 mm track gauge, running from Pithiviers to Toury, primarily serving two sugar factories. Passenger service ended in the 1950s, and the last freight train ran in 1964. Fortunately, the first 3.5 km at Pithiviers have been preserved as a heritage railway, where we will be running our charters today. Trips are planned with steam traction and one or two narrow-gauge railcars, followed by night photography at the engine shed. Dinner and overnight stay in Pithiviers.

17. September 2026, Thursday:
We return to Paris and visit another 600mm gauge railway in the Parc des Chanteraines. This line, which only opened in 1981, is usually dominated by diesel and battery-powered trains, but we will select a steam locomotive from the Parc´s extensive collection of Deceauville products for our photo charter. An O&K (7429/1914) will also be on display. Overnight stay in Amiens.

18. September 2026, Friday:
One of France's most famous heritage railways is located in Foissy, just about 40 km east of Amiens. The French army built the 600 mm narrow-gauge railway in 1915 during the First World War along the Canal de la Somme. Situated on the front line, it was used for military freight transport from 1916 to 1918. Up to 1,500 tons of freight were moved daily! After the First World War, the railway was extended for sugar beet transport; there was no passenger service. The railway also survived the Second World War, but was finally closed in 1972. By this time, however, the "APPEVA" had already been founded, the heritage railway that still exists today. The remaining section is now known as the "P'tit Train de la Haute Somme" (Little Train of the Upper Somme); it is the last remaining 600 mm narrow-gauge railway from the trenches of the First World War still in operation.

Steam and diesel locomotives from almost all major manufacturers are represented in the extensive collection. We will be running freight trains with different locomotives and varying consists across the entire line. Night photography will round off today's program. Overnight stay in Amiens.

19. September 2026, Saturday:
Today is a regular operating day for the "P'tit Train de la Haute Somme," and we will be able to observe and photograph the steam locomotives being prepared for service. We will spend the day riding the scheduled trains on the heritage railway and return to Amiens in the evening after the end of regular museum railway operations. Overnight stay in Amiens.

20. September 2026, Sunday:
Morning transfer to Amiens train station and return journey to Cologne by train via Paris Nord.
End of the tour.

Tour prices and services are not yet known.