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21 years ago the curtain came down on one of the most difficult and yet smoothly and consistently delivered trains in the history of European railways.The British Military Train was born in the wreckage of defeated and broken Germany, and spent its life on the front line of the Cold War. On the 12 May 2012 we acknowledge and celebrate the calm professionalism of railway people, civilian and military, British and German, who did the job, day in day out, without triggering a Third World War. Steam loco 03 1010 from the 1940s and a vintage East German Reichsbahn diesel typical of the later years of the British Military Train will head a train of 1960s carriages, including a dining car, from Berlin to Hannover and back.
5-Day Break
- 10 May – Day 1 – Depart from Birmingham at approx 0730hrs, and London at 10.30hrs to travel to Folkestone where we board the Eurotunnel service to Calais. Onwards to the Eindhoven area arriving approx 19.30 for an overnight stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Our specialist Battlefield Guide, Bill McQuade will join us en route. Bill was stationed in Germany during the Cold War period
- 11 May – Day 2 – We depart after breakfast to travel east through Germany. We continue to Berlin aiming to arrive approx 17.30 where we stay for two nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Our accommodation will be in the Tegel area of Berlin in a 3 star hotel. An optional event is being planned for this evening by the Royal British Legion Berlin branch, details will be forwarded when available. B
- 12 May – Day 3 – Today our coach takes us to Charlottenburg Station for our ride on the “Berliner”, a commemoration of the British Military train that ran from 1945 to 1990 between Berlin and West Germany. The train returns at approx. 20.30hrs, and in the evening Bill will take us on a short sightseeing tour. B
- 13 May – Day 4 – Today after breakfast we depart for the Antwerp area where we will stay overnight on a bed and breakfast basis. We break our journey in the Ruhr valley and see the huge Möhne Dam, which was heroically breached by the men and Lancasters of 617 Squadron in May 1943 under the command of Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC. You can walk on top of the Dam and see the outline of the breach made by the “bouncing bomb. B
- 14 May – Day 5 – We leave our hotel after breakfast and en route to Calais we call at the so-called “Venice of the North”, the delightful city of Bruges. Stock up on some delicious Belgian chocolates before returning on the Eurotunnel crossing to Folkestone. We return to London at approximately 1800hrs, and Birmingham at approximately 2100hrs. B
Included Meals: B=Breakfast
What's Included?
- Specialist Battlefield Guide
- Visits as described
- 4 nights’ accommodation with continental breakfast
- Joining points Birmingham, London or Folkestone Channel Tunnel
- Second class ticket on ‘The Berliner’
Notes
Prices are per person, based on two sharing
Extras:
- Optional excursions
- Single room supplement £79
- Travel insurance from £31.95
OUTLINE TRAIN PROGRAMME
- The Berliner will operate on Saturday 12 May 2012
- 08.40 approx. Train departs Berlin Charlottenburg*
- 10.45 Arrive Marienborn Recreation of British-Soviet security procedures – the “Marienborn Parade”. Chance to explore ruins of Soviet presence at Marienborn station.
- 11.15 Depart Marienborn Slow pass or one minute stop at the actual border to remember German citizens who were murdered at the Berlin Wall, Inner German Frontier and in Stasi prisons, and the allied aircrew who gave their lives supporting the Berlin Air Lift.
- 11.45 Arrive Helmstedt Civic ceremony with Major General(s), and Lower Saxony dignitary. Black Kilts pipe band to lead participants to Grenz Museum for visit with guides. Kameradschaft 248 GSU RMP will be in attendance. A high profile media and local community event.
- 13.15 Depart Helmstedt
- 13.45 Arrive Braunchsweig Photo opportunity with locomotive in platform.
- 14.15 Depart Braunschweig
- 14.45 Arrive Hannover PR event on station. Loco to depot for coal and water.
- 16.35 Depart Hannover Fast run to Berlin, with a pause to water the engines in Magdeburg. To make a “political/historical” point, the train will NOT to stop at Helmstedt or Marienborn – the first ever Berliner not to call. The legendary “Potsdam Port” ritual will be observed before passing Spandau.
- 20.30 Arrive Berlin Charlottenburg
- *All times are provisional and subject to confirmation by German Railways. If German Railways deem that there is a high fire risk in place on either of the days the train runs, it will be hauled by a heritage Reichsbahn diesel of a type common on the Berliner. The Berliner
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