Day One Thursday 8th January 2009. With pick ups around the M25, Sevenoaks and Ashford we travel by coach to Folkestone for the mid-morning crossing to France. On arrival in France, we travel directly to the Marriott Hotel in Heidelberg, our base for the next three nights. Comfort stops will be made en route for lunch and dinner. For those who wish to go by air or rail, this can be arranged. |
Day 2 Friday 9th January 2009.
The Exhibition at Sinsheim. The exhibition has approximately 6,000 metres of track of both 5” and 7¼” gauge, laid out in three of the five halls and this takes some six weeks to assemble! One circuit of the running line takes about 15 minutes to complete and at any one time, there must be about 30 different locomotives of all types on the track and a huge selection from all over the world are on show. There are also G gauge model railway layouts, road going models as well as those used on the boating pool. Stationary, hot air and IC engines are also displayed. |
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There is also a fantastic array of trade stands with many foreign exhibitors making the journey to the show – and over the three days of the exhibition, some 25,000 people come and enjoy an exhibition in the warm, despite the sometimes chilly temperatures outside. |
During the weekend you can also visit the Auto & Technik Museum within walking distance of the exhibition, with around 3,000 exhibits from the field of technical history. Exhibits range from a collection of the earliest motorcars to modern racing vehicles, motorcycles like the unusual Ferdinand Schlenker mono-wheeled cycle, interspersed with the fashions of the period. Within the collection are also full-sized railway locomotives, tractors (steam and IC), and aircraft, including much from WW2 as well as many military vehicles.
On Saturday 10th January 2009 Another day at the show for the model enthusiasts or for those looking for something different we will make an excursion to another museum in the area, final arrangements to be confirmed shortly.
Sunday 11th January 2009 Another day at the model engineering exhibition or alternatively we plan a whole day visit to the sister museum, Technik Museum Speyer, which now includes U boat U-9, a 466 tonne submarine of the Federal Navy, that was brought to the museum on a 160-wheeled transporter! Railway locomotives, including the Chinese “Qian Jin” that had to be transported on its side to the museum due to its height, plus a super selection of fire-fighting equipment. As the show closes the coach will head off back to Bonn for an overnight stop.
Day 5 Monday 12th January 2009. The coach group will arrive in the UK early evening.
Price per person for the coach tour: £350 sharing a twin room. Single room £425. Price includes three nights’ accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Marriott Hotel, situated on the River in Heidelberg close to the old town and one night with dinner at the Mercure Hotel, Bonn for those travelling by coach. All excursions plus one entrance charge will be covered each day. All road travel is by climate controlled executive coach; return tunnel crossing and the services of a tour manager. Not included: drinks, gratuities, and meals other than those stated above. The hotel in Heidelberg is within walking distance of the town centre and has a nice restaurant and pub style bar. Price for flights or rail travel available on application and please contact Linda on the number above. Following last year’s successful joint venture, once again Martin and Elizabeth Cook, SMEE Members are kindly collecting booking forms and payments and helping to escort this tour. They can be contacted on 01732 452706 or click here to send an email. |
