Large Luggage on the Local Bus / ICE Trains

It might help if you told us the dimensions of your 'large' bag. Large to me would be bigger than a roll-aboard.

To help with useful advice, could you please specify the size of these large and smaller pieces of luggage. Its very vague. To me a large piece would be a 28" suitcase, while a small one would be my crossbody purse. Others would define them differently.

It sounds like this may be your first time travelling in Europe. A useful reference for train travel is the Man in Seat 61 website. This section deals with luggage: https://www.seat61.com/luggage-on-european-trains.htm#top Cross country buses (coaches) normally have luggage stored under the bus, with personal items such as a day pack kept with you at your feet or in a rack overhead. City buses and metros- you keep them with you, and with your day pack on your front, rather than on your back.
There is also an entire section of this site devoted to packing tips:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light as well as a forum section:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing

I highly recommend reading them. Most experienced travellers who use public transportation know the wisdom of packing lightly and using the smallest luggage that meets their needs. For example a one week trip could easily be managed with a carryon size suitcase and a day pack. Or if you have specific needs, perhaps one size up to a 24" suitcase. Neither of which would be called a large piece. And it goes without saying that nothing of value (passport, prescription medications, wallet, money, tickets, electronics) should ever be put in your suitcase. Keep them securely on your person or in your day bag which you always keep with you.

Most experienced travellers who use public transportation know the wisdom of packing approprately for their trip and thats generally less than many would presume.

i was wondering what the rules are on travelling with these items. Are there specific places I need to put my luggage on the ICE train/buses?

There are no special rules. You just need to be able to handle your luggage yourself; there are no porters. You can store your luggage in the luggage racks (often at the ends of the carriages), but you don't have to. It often fits between two seats facing each other. There are no luggage racks on public buses. On long-distance buses such as Flixbus, luggage is stowed away and is inaccessible during the journey.

I often travel with a case that is maximum check in size (and consistenly gets delivered on the oversized belt at Schiphol...)

On German trains it has never been a problem to stow it. I either put it in the overhead racks (which are remarkably large) or in the luggage rack at the end.
On buses you can just put it in the space reserved for large items. Buses in Europe have low entry, and space for things like prams and even bicycles. A suitcase is not a problem.

My suggestion however is not to go for a squat spinner, but rather for a more oblong rolling duffel style luggage. These fit better on trains, and having two fixed wheels, is better suited for the kind of abuse your luggage will get while traveling. I drag mine up and down stairs, in and out of trains, over cobblestones and even through the snow, and it takes it all without issue. And when you set it down it does not roll away...

consider Mr Steves' suggestions - https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light

I have traveled extensively through Europe in my 60s and 70s (and I'm a short, non-athletic female) with suitcases between 24" and 25" high including wheels and handles. I think I head out with a bag weighing over 30 lb.; the weight drops through the trip.

I manage (so I assume you can), but I don't recommend it unless you truly have no option. It is a struggle for me to get my bag onto a train quickly (on some trains you must go up three very narrow steps) or up a flight of stairs if a train station (or hotel) has no elevator or escalator. There is no hope of my lifting the bag above about waist height, so I have to remain in the vestibule of the rail carriage to babysit the bag if I can't find an accessible place to store it. That happens fairly often on busy trains during peak travel season (France in August...eek, and Belgium has a lot of rail carriages with only over-seat racks).

Intercity buses are a great deal easier. I can easily lift my bag one foot off the ground to get it into the luggage hold.

I've never really worried about luggage theft, but I suppose that's mostly because my suitcases have always been inexpensive and I don't wear jewelry or stylish/expensive clothing. I just don't see why a thief would be interested in my luggage as opposed to the much better-looking bags others use. Still, I am careful to carry electronics, medications and other critical items in a packable tote bag that stays with me on the train or bus.

Loss of a wallet or a smartphone is a much more likely event than luggage theft, though I believe pickpocketing is somewhat less likely in Germany than in some other countries. But then, I was pickpocketed in Veliko Trnovo, Bulgaria, so you can never let your guard down.

"There is no hope of my lifting the bag above about waist height, so I have to remain in the vestibule of the rail carriage to babysit the bag if I can't find an accessible place to store it."

Don't hesitate to ask someone to help you. I am a tall man, and I have no issue lifting even a 25kg suitcase in to the luggage rack. I will always help someone if needed.

You can't leave your luggage in the vestibule. That is actually against the regulations, as passages must be kept free. Unless there is a special luggage area there, like on some Swiss Trains. In that case I just put my suitcase there, and go to my seat. There is no need to babysit your luggage. it is not going to walk away on its own.

But here is another tip: On many regional and commuter trains (eg. most trains in Belgium and the Netherlands) there are indeed no luggage racks at the end of the cars. But you can often put luggage between seat backs. That is one reason why I believe a rolling duffel is the best for train travel. You can often just slide it in between there.

I hate to say this, but if you are only traveling for 7 days, why are you bringing a large piece of luggage? With only 7-8 shirts, 1 extra pair of pants, your socks, underwear and toiletries, this will all fit easily into a small carry-on rolling bag.

Though people are usually happy to help, you should pack accordingly so that you can take care of your own bag, unless there are medical issues that prevent this.

I only stay with my luggage in the vestibule if there is simply no other place for it; I do know about the handy space between back-to-back seats, but not all carriages have that set up. Some vestibules have flip-down seats, so it seems OK to remain there. I have to be in the vestibule with my bag so I can move it from one side of the carriage to the other, depending on which door opens at each stop.

People have been very helpful about lifting my bag for me when I'm seated in an 8-person compartment with only overhead storage, but that can get awkward. I can't safely remove the bag from a high shelf at my destination, so things become difficult if my helper gets off the train before I do.

I feel an obligation to deal with my luggage since I packed it. It has never been impossible to cope, just sometimes unpleasant.