Ahhh! The Orient Express

The mere whisper of the name “Orient Express” conjures up luxury, beauty, abundant living!

It started as a dream.

In 1865, after seeing Pullman sleeping cars running on railway lines  throughout the U.S., Belgian entrepreneur Georges Nagelmackers envisioned a similarly luxurious train that could travel from one end of Europe to the other.

That dream began to take shape on October 4, 1883, when his train, dubbed the “Orient Express” by the press, roared out of the Gare de l’Est station in Paris, France. 

At first, the railway traveled to nearby European cities where passengers could transfer to other trains or ferries.

But by 1889, the service was making its famous 1,700-mile journey to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Because only the rich could afford a ticket on the opulent train, most people know of the Orient Express through the spy novels, vampiric tales, crime thrillers, and dozens of films and TV shows it inspired.

By May 20, 1977, the Orient Express ran its iconic route for the last time, as the age of affordable air travel had arrived. Nagelmackers’ dream came to an end, but the Orient Express remains the most famous passenger train service in history and continues to be run for shorter distances.

If you are interested, certainly, check it out!

In the name of love, joy and abundant living!