OVERSEAS TOURS
LCGB Overseas Study Tour 02/12
Samba and Steam in Brazil Circular 3
Plans are now well advanced for our first tour to Brazil and we will be
closing bookings on this shortly. This is a unique opportunity. The programme
incorporates 12 preserved steam operations, some with scheduled steam, some
with charters, museums, a preservation centre, some real working steam (Sentinel)
and two days in vibrant Rio de Janeiro with its very interesting transport
infrastructure.
The programme (where possible) avoids late arrivals, and incorporates various
places of general tourist interest. It will be suitable for partners. We
are basing the tour on the use of VW ‘Kombi’ self-drive transfers.
If you wish to register, can you please do so in the next few days.
Proposed programme.
Thursday 23 Feb
Depart Lisbon on TAP day flight to Rio de Janeiro. Taxi to airport hotel.
Note: there are various TAP options to Lisbon from London/Manchester. Discuss
for personal preference.
Friday 24 Feb
Collect self-drive vehicles. Six-persons per 9-seat vehicle. Depart on long
journey to Sao Joao del Rei for 2’ 6’’ 1-Estrada de Ferro
Oeste de Minas. Time should permit a stop at Petropolis Museum to see Leopoldina
Rack Loco. Arrive SJdR/Tiradentes in time to ride or photograph the 17:00
from Tiradentes. Stay tourist hotel SJdR 3 nights. Group meal SJdR near
station.
Saturday 25 Feb
(Clocks go on for winter time)
Photograph or ride two return steam-hauled trains from SJdR 10:00 &
15:00 (loco. turns)
Visit SJdR Railway Museum.
Sunday 26 Feb
Photograph or ride two return trains from SJdR 10:00 & 13:00
(loco. turns). Tourist time in Tiradentes after last train.
Monday 27 Feb
Early departure for long journey to Rio by road. Visit to 2-Fazenda Mato
Alto Farm (south of Rio) en route for 4km railway (0-4-2, 2-4-0T, and 2-4-0
MG). Stay in Copacabana area of the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro for 3
nights.
Tuesday 28 Feb and Wednesday 29 Feb
Free time ‘paygo’ in RdJ to experience this vibrant city. You
can do your own thing, or a public transport programme/recommendations will
be put together to incorporate:
Corcovado rack railway
Sugar loaf cable car
Rio Railway Museum, if this can be arranged (someone is on the case)
Santa Theresa Tram
Niteroi Ferry
Barao de Maua Station
Note: it would be possible for a group to go to Gruçai where there
is preserved steam.
Thursday 1 March
Early departure by road to Passo Quatro for am and pm steam charters on
MG 3-Trem da Serra da Mantiqueira. Stay tourist hotel Sao Laurenco for 1
night. Possible 2-10-4 plinth en route for very early starters.
Friday 2 March
Morning steam charter on MG 4-Trem do Aguas. Visit ABPF repair facility
and Amsted Maxion (for working steam Sentinel) at Cruzerio. Stay en route
towards Sao Paulo 1 night.
Saturday 3 March
Travel to Campinas to spend day at 5-Viacao Ferrea Campinas Jaguariuna MG
for 3 locos in steam. Stay Campinas for 1 night.
Sunday 4 March
Early visit to 6-Ferro Perus Pirapora for 600mm Alco 2-4-2ST.
Then Imigrante Museum Sao Paulo for 7-Trem dos Imigrantes (5’ 3’’
steam working for 1km every 30min). Finally, 8-Trem dos Ingleses 5’
3’’museum at Paranapiacaba for museum and 5’ 3’’
loco in steam. Incline brake loco positioned outside for photography. Return
vehicles to Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport and stay nearby hotel.
Monday 5 March
Early morning flight Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport to Joinville. Collect vehicles.
Shunting, runpasts and cab-rides on charter with steam loco on ABPF system
at Rio Negrinho. 9-Trem da Serra do Mar MG in 1.5 hour ‘windows’.
Stay near Apiuna 1 night.
Tuesday 6 March
10-Ferrovia das Bromélias MG - (ex-EFSC Santa Catarina Railway) a
short railway that has viaducts and a tunnel for 2 charters. Depart for
Curtibanos, evening arrival for 1 night.
Wednesday 7 March
Early departure to Piratuba for charter on 11-Trem das Termas Piratuba MG
Stay 1 night Piratuba or nearby.
Thursday 8 March
Leisurely departure to return vehicles to Chapeco airport, for flight from
Chapeco to Florianopolis. Collect new vehicles. Transfer to Garopaba. Stay
2 nights by the sea.
Friday 9 March
Steam charter 12-Trem Rubi/Donna Theresa Christina towards Imbutuba.
Visit Tuberao Museum (28 locos).
Saturday 10 March
Leisurely departure to Florianopolis for flights to Sao Paulo and connections
to Lisbon
Sunday 11 March
Arrive am London (note: Manchester arrival next day but can go out Manchester
return London)
Main Tour prices, as follows, are still being fine tuned but should not
exceed:
£3,500 ex London Heathrow, includes hotel accommodation on a shared
bed/breakfast basis, group dinner on day 1 and one other, all charter trains
and vehicle rental with CDW. Gratuities. Note, see below re possible flight
price increases.
Excludes, dinner (except as mentioned), lunches, drinks, subject to above,
taxis if required, travel on scheduled trains at weekends, tour in Rio,
parking charges, vehicle fuel (est. £50), speeding/motoring fines,
additional unanticipated vehicle rental charges (shared basis divide by
6). Possible flight price increases for those not confirmed.
Tour cost basis £1.00 = R$2.50.
For participants wishing to make their own flight arrangements a land only
price of £2765 applies (based on £3500). Note: land only comprises
Rio de Janeiro to Florianopolis where the ‘international’ flight
sector commences.
Single room supplement: £675.
All participants must be current LCGB members. Details can be obtained
from the LCGB website - http://www.lcgb.org.uk
or by application to the organiser. Travel insurance is required by all
participants.
Note:
1. Brazil is a large country and considerable travel time between places
is to be expected. The tour is arranged to minimize travel time, to ensure
participants experience the country and its culture rather than just the
inside of a vehicle. Some early starts will have to be expected, but late
arrivals will be avoided where possible.
2. We plan to use 9-seater VW Kombi’s, but with only 6 persons within.
We need 2 volunteer drivers, a navigator and an ‘accountant’
for each vehicle.
3. We plan to stay in Copacabana, Rio (beaches will be close) to avoid driving
in the Centro district. The Metro linking all of these is nearby and taxis
are plentiful and cheap.
4. Most of our destinations are tourist venues in their own right, and such
a tour will be suitable for partners.
5. Brazil may have something of a reputation, but security issues will only
be heightened in Rio, and a briefing will be given for this. Elsewhere it
is expected to be ‘normal’.
6. Finally our visit is planned to escape the cold of the north European
winter, and arrive just after the Rio Carnival. The weather is expected
to be hot. With it could come some rain, but hopefully not.
7. All railway visits are arranged in good faith, and we will make every
effort to ensure a steam loco is available. In the event of an unforeseen
failure, an alternative arrangement may need to be substituted.
8. NOTE: British passport holders do not require a Brazilian Visa.
If you wish to book please contact below immediately with formal name for flight reservation, then forward a completed Overseas Study Tours booking form, together with a deposit of £100 per person, payable to LCGB. Final payment will be required be advised.
All arrangements are subject to change. Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me:
Ray Schofield
1, Denton Close,
Kempston
Bedford MK42 8RY
England
Ray.schofield@ntlworld.com
Tel: 01234 303151
Mobile – UK : 07952 927136