There are a lot of these in Europe. I dont see them talked about nearly enough.
So I will talk about the only program that I know anything about, maybe some others will chime in with other options in Europe.
Hungary, Budapest as a starting point. Its called MAV Rail Tours and the website is https://www.mavrailtours.hu/hu/ Now, you will see an option to switch to the English language site ... dont do it. As bad as the Hungarian site is, and its not good, the English site is worse. Good thing is, it means they arent marketing to tourists so its still a Hungarian thing for the most part. And if you like this, you might like the Hungarian Railway Museum which claims to be
one of Europe’s largest open-air and first interactive railway museum
visitors can not only view the old machines, but also try them out
themselves. They can travel on a real locomotive, get in a Chaika car
converted for rails, operate a handcar, ride on the turntable or on a
horse tram.
Two working turn table and dozens of steam, classic and vintage engines and cars. Not far from Heroe's Square. https://vasuttortenetipark.hu/en/home/
More of the train trips at their facebook https://www.facebook.com/mavrailtours
Some of these are vintage trains, some are steam (check the details at the listing). Some are more modern but the best of the modern doing interesting routes like the Semmering Express route. Some are pretty long hauls out of the country, some just to the next station as an excuse to hitch up the vintage dining car and serve dinner on the rails.
MRT Express
2025.02.22.Semmering Express
2025.04.26.PIVO Express Adventure trip to Brno
2025.06.21.Midsummer Night's Dream Express
2025.07.26.Semmering Express to Graz
2025.09.27.Semmering Express
Nostalgia trips
2025.04.20.Steamy Easter in Gödöllő
2025.04.20.Steam cloud pendulum between Gödöllő and Hatvan
2025.05.24.A steamy trip to the Danube Bend
2025.06.07.A steamy trip to Székesfehérvár
2025.06.28.A steamy trip to the Tatras
2025.06.28.Steamy pendulum between Tata and Komárom
2025.07.05.A steamy trip to the Danube Bend
2025.08.23.A steamy trip to the Danube Bend
2025.09.27.A steamy trip to the Danube Bend
Candlelight Express Dinner Trains
2025.02.14.Valentine's Day Candlelight Express
2025.11.11.St. Martin's Day Candlelight Express
MRT Regio
2025.03.02.Buso Express By special train to Mohács
2025.09.20.Kadarka Express By vintage special train to Szekszárd
Behind the scenes secrets
2025.04.26.Behind the scenes: The Istvántelk Steam Workshop
2025.05.10.Behind the scenes: Ferencváros Railway StationTicket sales are closed. All tickets are sold out!
2025.06.14.Behind the scenes: Ferencváros Railway Station
2025.06.28.Behind the scenes: The Istvántelk Steam Workshop
2025.08.30.Behind the scenes: The Istvántelk Steam Workshop
2025.10.11.Behind the scenes: The Istvántelk Steam Workshop
And here is a funny note. The picture shows a black steam engine with a soviet red star on the front. Pretty typical of the post war era. The funny note. The seatm engine is U.S. mfg sold to Hungary in 1946. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/M%C3%81V_411%2C118.jpg/600px-M%C3%81V_411%2C118.jpg
