Crimea to Calcutta, U.S.A. to Former U.S.S.R., 2005 "Roundhouse of Rail Tours" Spans the World

International rail travelers' society announces 2005 tours to Austria, central Europe, Russia (including the Trans-Siberian) and the Crimea, Scotland, New Zealand, India, the Arctic, Canada, China and the USA. Whether traveling in luxury with gourmet meals or chugging behind tiny mountain steam trains, the world by rail is romantic, relaxing and fun.

(PRWEB) November 11, 2004 -- Chug up a narrow-gauge Alpine pass. Dine on roasted quail in a Scottish, 1920s-era, wood-paneled diner. Gaze from a rear train car platform at moose cavorting in Canadas wilds. Steam through tea fields up to Darjeeling, a British India hill station.

All this and more is possible with The Society of International Railway Travelers®, whose 2005 roundhouse of rail tours has something to fit every confirmed train travelers destination, style and budget. Please call for The Societys complete tour list, which is now available.

The Societys Signature Series tours are exclusive rail-based group itineraries featuring professional, full-time IRT tour leader; small group of fellow travelers; four- and five-star hotels; most meals; special amenities and/or prices for IRT members. They also include baggage handling; most gratuities; and one years free membership in The Society. Below is a quick synopsis of The Societys Signature Series tours:

1) An Austrian Railway Feast. Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Graz and Vienna. May 7-20. Includes Bavarias mountain-climbing Zugspitz railway, steam-powered Achensee railway and Zillertal railway, tiny Mariazeller railway, and mainline trains galore. Lead by IRT Society veteran and European railway specialist Werner Schorn. $4,450 per person, double. Single supplement: $540.

2) American Orient Express Transcontinental Rail Journey. May 11-20. East coast to west, USA, from South Carolina to Louisiana to Rio Grande to Southwest, ending in L.A. Hosted by rail author/photographer Karl Zimmermann. Rates from $3,990. Book by Feb. 10 to save $300 per person.

3) Crimean Express by Private Train. May 22-June 4. St. Petersburg, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and the Crimean Peninsula. Limited availability, especially in upgraded accommodations. Priced from $5,395 per person.

4) Railing through the Capitals of Eastern Europe. June 7-20. Budapest, Prague, Bratislava, Krakow and Warsaw. Explore efficient tram systems; experience beautiful country train rides and numerous transportation museums. Price to be announced.

5) The Royal Scotsman Classic Tour. July 26-30; Optional extension: July 30-Aug. 2. IRT Society owners Owen and Eleanor Hardy host this ultra-luxury tour. Begins, ends in Edinburgh. IRT Society has chartered entire train; space available for 36 passengers. Cost: $5,045 per person if booked by Dec.15. Add optional four-day rail extension, and save $900 per person. Additional extension: Return crossing to U.S. on Queen Mary II.

6) New Zealands Rail Wonders. North and South Islands by rail. Oct. 7-29. Mainline Steam Trust Locomotive Depot, Glenbrook Vintage Railway, mainline rail on Raurimu Spiral, Gisborne Vintage Steam Train, Wairarapa Rail Line, Ferrymead History Village and Railway, Tranz Alpine Express, Shanty Town Steam Railway, Taieri Gorge Railway, Kingston Flyer, overnight cruise on the Doubtful Sound. Trip includes stays in Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Napier and aboard the historic vintage steam ship Earnslaw. Price to be announced.

7) American Orient Express Rockies and Sierras Tour. Oct. 12-18. Brand-new departure for U.S. luxury train San Francisco -Denver through Rockies. Colorados Moffat Tunnel; Arches, Canyonlands ,Yosemite National Parks. Tour host: rail veteran Karl Zimmermann. Rates from $3,290. Book by April 15 to save $500 per person.

8) India: By Steam to the Hill Stations. Nov. 14-30; Optional Extension: Nov. 30-Dec. 7. With experienced guide Peter Jordan. Chartered streetcar tour of Calcutta; overnight Darjeeling Mail Calcutta-New Jalpaiguri. Steam train excursions on 2-foot-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, visits to its loco shops and museum. Traverse famed Batasia Loop, with spectacular views of snowy Kanchenjunga-worlds third-highest mountain peak. Road vehicles for photographers accompany train. Other highlights: Shimla Mountain Railway in Himalayan Foothills, Shimla steam charter, Taj Mahal, lively bazaars; River Hooghly cruise. Starts at $3,950 per person. Optional extension: on luxury train Palace on Wheels for eight-day tour from Delhi.

The Societys Explorer Series tours are for more independent travelers and vary from adventurous to luxurious. These rail-based tours feature: train manager, many meals, baggage handling, some gratuities and one years free membership in The Society. Below is a quick synopsis of The Societys Explorer Series tours:

1) Arctic Steam Express. June 11-26. Destination: worlds most northerly railway station, Pechanga. Private, steam-hauled Trans-Siberian Express runs St. Petersburg-Moscow before heading north to Arctic Circle. Tour starts at $5,395 per person. Limited availability, especially in upgraded accommodations.

2) Canadian Rockies Steam Express. July 12-18. Vancouver-Calgary on private train headed by steam. Canadian Pacifics Empress #2816 pulls California Zephyr dome cars and former BC Rail day cars. Travel by day, overnight in hotels and lodges. Dome upgrade very limited. Price to be announced.

3) Trans-Siberian Express. Aug. 19-Sept. 1; limited availability other dates. Moscow-Vladivostok 6,000 miles across Russia on privately owned train. Off-train touring. Priced from $5,395 per person. Limited deluxe quarters with full en-suite bathroom.

4) China Orient Express: Beijing to Hong Kong. Oct. 23-Nov. 2. Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Terracotta Warriors in ancient capital of Xian, Chengdu and two-night Yangtze cruise through Three Gorges. Price: $4,675 per person.

5) Churchill Northern Adventure: Polar Bears & Northern Lights. Oct. 20-27, Nov. 3-10. VIA Rails Hudson Bay to Manitobas northern sub-arctic region-where the polar bears play by day and Northern Lights dance across the sky at night.

6) China Orient Express: Hong Kong to Beijing. Nov. 1-11. Guilin, Li River cruise, visit to 600,000-year-old Reed Flute Cave. Tour highlight: transit over Chengdu line, one of worlds most spectacular routes. Tortuous passes, precariously perched bridges over deep ravines, many tunnels. Cities include Xian, Hohot, vibrant capital of Inner Mongolia, Kangzhuang, where tour will visit Great Wall. Price: $4,675 per person.

The Society of IRT, an international group whose members enjoy rail travel, has been in business since 1983. For more information, contact The Society of International Railway Travelers: (800) IRT-4881; FAX: (502) 458-2250; email: tourdesk@irtsociety.com or on the web at www.irtsociety.com.

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