The Orient Express: History's Most Glamorous Train

[@megaprojects9649]

Thanks to Shaker & Spoon for sponsoring today's video. Visit shakerandspoon.com/megaprojects to get a $20 off coupon at checkout.

[@--enyo--]

I loved the video of you making it and looking so happy at the end. 😂 But it does look pretty cool.

[@KevinTomlinson1]

Yeah man, you covered that for the entire first two minutes...we know.

[@sirrliv]

Fun bonus fact: In 1988 the Orient Express even went to Japan! To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Fuji TV, the broadcaster partnered with Hitachi Ltd to bring the surviving Orient Express carriages on a grand tour from France, across Germany and Poland, through Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railway, and finally across China to Hong Kong, to ultimately take part in a 3-month tour throughout Japan. The project cost roughly 3 billion yen and saw the train make several tours throughout the Japanese islands, reaching as far north as Sapporo and as far south as Kumamoto. In order to fit the 3ft6in Japanese narrow gauge Hitachi built special bogies especially for the cars and station platforms were altered along each route to ensure the wider European carriages could fit, with a pair of JNR coaches being used to adapt between the Japanese automatic couplings and the French screw-link chain couplings. For the final leg of the tour between Ueno and Kyoto JNR restored an aging D51 Class steam locomotive No. 498 to operation especially for the occasion; from November 2018 to March 2019 D51 498, which survived into preservation, was specially repainted to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Orient Express '88.

[@megaprojects9649]

That's amazing.

[@wrightmf]

Now that is a real Orient Express. Going only as far as Istanbul is not what I consider "Orient" destination.

[@theloverlyladylo9158]

If time travel tourism ever becomes possible, a trip on the Orient Express is the top of my todo list

[@aceundead4750]

Just get a big blue box that's bigger on the inside than it is outside. Dont forget to take the brakes off otherwise it makes a wheezing sound

[@aaronmichael9450]

probably likely with VR tech in a decade or so

[@dsw1664]

Its still running. Just costs around $15K a night.

[@megaprojects9649]

I'm excited for time travel tourism tbh.

[@nicopavvi8494]

@@aceundead4750 that would make the train explode... In space...

[@timmellor2599]

There is one Orient Express still running (operated by Belmond, I think) from Venice to Paris via Simplon. It uses those beautiful blue coaches too. However, there is mooted a re-introduction of the original route slightly further north and arriving in Istanbul (over five days). Prices for the Venice-Paris one are eye-wateringly expensive, and the Istanbul train doubles that! I still want to experience the beauty of the trains and that service beyond any other (on board a train)

[@pamelamays4186]

Magic Spoon in the morning, Shaker & Spoon at night. Simon's day is covered!

[@DavidMiras]

Some say, he'll even engage in spooning at night...

[@megaprojects9649]

This isn't even a joke.

[@AlixFlemmer]

You know you’re doing KZbin right when you have enough channels to do different videos on the same topic

[@emmata98]

It is a shame that you need multiple channels in the first place

[@John-qh5dv]

Anything more than 2 channels is obsessive my opinion

[@bobfg3130]

@@John-qh5dv And you're wrong. It's called having a business.

[@bobfg3130]

What other video, Flem?

[@AlixFlemmer]

@@bobfg3130 he does a vid on his Geographics channel

[@amrastheluckywoof5524]

There's a variant of the Oriënt Express that travelled through Belgium last year (and past my house as well). It's scheduled to return in April this year. As I live close to the Belgian Dutch border, I got the opportunity to walk around the train cars when they got a scheduled technical inspection. I even said hi to a colleague of mine who got to drive it. It is one amazingly beautiful train. And recently, I've been to the Belgian national train museum, where there are currently two actual cars of the Express on display. Their beauty is unmatched. It's a phenomenal experience to just walk through the cars.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

3:05 - Chapter 1 - Le Début 5:05 - Chapter 2 - La belle époque 8:50 - Chapter 3 - Après la guerre 11:20 - Chapter 4 - La fin 14:00 - Chapter 5 - L'héritage

[@johnwolf2829]

VERY glad to see one like this from Mega-P. I think the O.E. of today is a little more active, and yes they do use original carriages. The original inspiration came from a visit to the US and a look at the Pullman cars coming into use. The work and determination to overcome the obstacles to making all this work deserve a documentary of it's own. BTW- have you ever heard of The Train Killer, the serial killer that targeted whole trains? He got an Orient Express, too.

[@ilarious5729]

Excellent, one of my favourite trains! I fell in love with it when I saw the Hercule Poirot movie on it as a kid and have been fascinated by it ever since. Thanks KZbin papa!

[@ilarious5729]

Aaaand now that you talked about the book on the video I *have to* rewatch it lol

[@darthvader073]

Another fun fact about Agatha Christie's novel: It was written that the train stopped in the mountains between Brod and Vinkovci in Croatia. In reality, those two towns are 60 km away and are located in the flattest area of Croatia. There are no hills in sight, let alone mountains.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@4G12]

Those were the days of real journalism, when journalists literally prevented wars with the power of truth.

[@johnwolf2829]

Good call. As opposed to today, where everything the media puts out seems designed to make everyone in the world hate everyone else in the world.

[@silverXnoise]

That calibre of journalism still exists, it’s just not nearly as common because the economics involved with funding journalism are radically different today. But here in the US ProPublica does an admirable job of reporting important and substantial stories with relatively few unhealthy influences and overt biases/agendas. Still, how the audience receives such information and what they do with it matters at least as much, and has seen equally significant changes over the last several decades. All that said, 24-hour news is pure trash on all sides of the political spectrum.

[@laurendoe168]

Truth doesn't sell. Cater to people's prejudices (confirmation bias) and fears (paranoia) - THAT'S what sells.

[@TheMattc999]

@@johnwolf2829 that's exactly what they're trying to do. If they get everyone to hate everyone else we're that much easier to control because we're focused on each other and not paying attention to the real enemy.

[@johnwolf2829]

@@TheMattc999 This is the message that needs to get out there, across all borders. And when the Trolls try to shut you down, just remind them that "yesterday's Conspiracy theory is today's Spoiler Alert" :D

[@mrspaceman2764]

I actually rode on a train in Switzerland that included a couple cars from the Orient Express (or so they said). Very cool regardless!

[@coastie0228]

Love your channels Simon! Keep serving up that tasty knowledge!

[@captwrecked]

Suggestion? There is a disused NORAD Underground facility in North Bay, Canada that has a great history and a cloudy future. Would love to see a video on it!

[@oswb8225]

Sounds very interesting, eh Simon? 🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@deephish]

Yes yes this one please Simon!!

[@zch7491]

The real orient Express is the friends we made along the way 🥰

[@MimeHTF5]

Your Friends are Trains?

[@Kaidhicksii]

So, this was the Orient Express. I wouldn't say it's gone anywhere: not when there's still the service you mentioned at the end running today. I think the real Orient Express was really just all the routes it travelled throughout its history, and not just one singular route. After all, they all bore the name in one form or another. As a lifelong train lover, once I was done with my memes, I HAD to watch this. :D

[@tonyj8949]

Excellent Simon! I learned a lot from this one. Now to make it big so I can take the new Oriental Express! The kids' college can wait!

[@lawreecefluellen4872]

MegaProjects-always right on time like a train in the USSR. 😀

[@MimeHTF5]

Or in Germany

[@slcpunk2740]

That joke was actually about Mussolini but the real meaning has been lost to time, many thought it meant all the trains in Italy ran on time but they didn't. It was about how you can't complain to a fascist that you don't like how they're running things.

[@seanmorgan2356]

@@slcpunk2740 Simon has a top tenz video which explores/explains that

[@rooseveltbrentwood9654]

Da comrade, right on time for your trip to gulag! After all we have received reports that you are doubtful about the glorious new collective farming methods…

[@swampfox984]

I was debating on watching this since I just watched your geographic video on this train. But I am glad I watched it. Much different video.

[@ceebee2858]

Would this be the right channel to detail the time the Indiana Bell building was moved 90° over the course of a month without disrupting the use of the building? I couldn't find that you've already told us about this - please do! I'm so curious about how it was done.

[@petterandersson7429]

I met passengers from the late orient express in Milan I think, in 1983.

[@theveganrancor3678]

Remember if you have someone waiting in Constantinople they will be waiting in Istanbul

[@AlexLee-qw4re]

Bravo, great video. Thank you for your time and effort!

[@user-oq3np3pu8o]

Bruh, the movie "Murder on the Orient Express" perfectly express the feeling of mystery perfectly

[@Mladjasmilic]

Kusadak was only village where train had regular, but not planned stop. Many villagers worked at Belgrade junction and took Orient express back home. Then, once train entered village station, they would pull emergency brake. So, to avoid this, drivers would make full stop. My home village.

[@bigtuna5030]

Megaprojects always makes my deployment amazing thank you Simon for another great video! Don't forget Kursk I'm salvating of the idea you narrating the tragedy of the Kursk

[@dlbstl]

I wondered what "wagon-lits" meant since I had seen it travelling abroad. Thanks!

[@skyden24195]

At the end of the 2019 Netflix film, "Murder Mystery," Nick and Audrey Spitz (Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston respectively) are rewarded by Monte Carlo law enforcement for helping solve a murder mystery. Their reward: an all-expenses paid trip on the Orient Express. 😄

[@dbrhall]

Dear friends at MegaP, thank you for your work. I would like to strongly suggest that you continue with these videos about extraordinary trains with the very best and extraordinary and international famous trains from the last century. I strongly think that you would have an enormous audience for them. If I may suggest, I would pick (to start with a few): From CIWL: Sud-express (Paris to Lisbon), Cote d'Azur From DRG: Rheingold From DB: Merkur-Heinschell-Wegmann-Lorelei From SNCF: Mistral-Palatino From SBB: Iris-Vauban From FS: Treno Azzurro From Renfe: Puerta del Sol-Lusitania Express You have already covered the GTL's and the Big Boy, however, you could (and very much ought to) do something about: SBB: Be/Ce 6/8 Krokodil, Ae 8/8 or Ae 8/14 or Ce 5/6 Elephant Renfe: 2-4-2 Confederación or Garrat LNER and LMS Garrat Est-SNCF Mountain 2-4-1 DRG 05-06-08-10 There is a general lack of information in train hobby and your research and love of actual facts will certainly draw some light. All the best and keep well. D.

[@chasmarischen4459]

Enlightening. Thank you.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

I don't know if it still runs but Euro Night 262/3 Paris Est to Vienna Westbahnhof use to be called the Orient Express and I caught it a few times in the 1990's.It was just a normal train and you where unlikely to meet Agatha Christie or Sir Peter Ustanov on it! After the TGV was extended to Strasbourg it terminated /began in Strasbourg which made it less attractive.Perhaps OBB have brought it back as they alone amongst Europe's railways seem proactive about developing new/old routes.

[@sirsmartypants7086]

Wow I can't believe how expensive it was and is still now 😳

[@rebasack21]

From the moment i saw the title and through the entire video my nerd brain wouldn't stop going around about the Dr Who episode where there was a space version of this train that was haunted by a mummy... Simon probably wouldnt like it lol

[@MobyTheMerpup1852]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think he forgot to mention that it was used in old 102 Dalmatians

[@--enyo--]

Cool, I’ve been waiting for this. I really liked the Geographics video on it.

[@FallenPhoenix86]

Algorythm's next suggested video: Geographics: "Orient Express: King of trains train of kings."

[@nicopavvi8494]

If you are interested the 1920s and 1930s coaches are parked in the train yard of Mestre, a town near Venice, Italy.

[@ryateo1]

I grew up with ,middle class, being the definition of "Bourgeoisie". I feel like people use it to mean powerful and affluent now. You also did say the average Frenchman was living on about $8,000 a year at this point.

[@J3scribe]

A nice story well told. I really enjoyed it. Thanks.

[@24934637]

Another interesting and informative look into a world that is beyond my financial means! While it WOULD in theory be a possibility for me to undertake a journey on this train, I do NOT consider it to be a sensible way of spending my finite resources! At just over £4K per night I'd rather walk!

[@joniroxanne96]

Nice, as in Niš in Serbia. After the Istanbul bit, the rest takes place in Yugoslavia (now Croatia, among many others), with the train trapped between Vinkovci and (Slavonski) Brod. #IAmFromCroatia #CantUTell #IstrianPeninsula

[@Auradnor]

It's so strange seeing Simon sat down after binging so many Brainblaze videos lmao

[@duckydarrick7460]

Another train you might cover is the City of New Orleans, made famous by the folk song of the same name.

[@EAWanderer]

A beauty to behold with a memorable legacy! 🚂🚞🚞🚞 If I remember correctly, you did this before on Geographics I think a few years ago.

[@psycofire93]

Thank you for getting They Might Be Giants stuck in my head, mate.

[@BillHalliwell]

G'day Simon, I can't really recall all the radio broadcasts I've done over the last 35 years or more; however, back on the 30th of November 2019 you covered this topic, entitled 'The Orient Express: King of Trains, Train of Kings'. You presented this on your Geographics channel with, I might add, a significantly smaller beard than the bushy beauty you sport these days; in fact it looks more like one of my former 'hangover beards' where I was too 'sick' to entrust my shaky hands to a cut-throat razor. The far superior Geographics video is, virtually, a copy of this, latest, video except for the fact that it ran for 21:54 and contained many more interesting details, side stories and vignettes which explained the chequered history of The Orient Express far more succinctly. This Megaprojects video became, I think, a bit too clogged up with that various historical journey’s map and by the fact that you spoke so quickly it was difficult to take it all in. Please, Simon, don’t become a ‘prisoner’ to your sponsors or writers and feel you have to, vocally, rush through mountains of tiny detail that, frankly, no one has a chance to recall, especially when you attempt to cover the same story in a mere 16:28 Your Geographics video on this train is a magnificent, compelling story of the various characters that tossed champagne down their throats or threw punches in movies about the train. It was so good it attracted 494,048 views back in November 2019. This video also reminded me why I subscribed to all your channels; because you are an extremely talented V/O and ‘live read’ artist. I know about such things as I’ve done your job on radio, intermittently, over many years. I bowed out of that work when sponsors wanted me to voice 60 seconds of dialogue in 30 seconds. Instead, I concentrated on doing normal film reviews and critiques on radio. It never will make me rich but it does fulfill my love of doing live radio. It’s a dying art; please keep your inherent talent alive and well. Cheers, and all the very best for 2022. BH

[@michellecrocker2485]

No doubt the one of the best Poirot mysteries. Just sayin

[@benwetzel8449]

I'm shocked you never mentioned the explosion that wrecked the train in 1931, with Josephine Baker on board.

[@Silverhornet81]

"Istanbul not Constantinople" I laughed at the They Might be Giants reference.

[@mrspaceman2764]

If you're an alcoholic but not too picky, get Shaker and Spoon!

[@charliebrown1408]

Excellent video 🖖🖖

[@michaelpipkin9942]

Can you do the history of The Thunderbirds? Not the TV show, the AIRSHOW! The aircraft are always evolving, the history is decades long, tragic, and they've entertained millions.

[@skyden24195]

The first five years of my life started at Nellis AFB, NV: home of the USAF Thunderbirds! (I love those airplanes)

[@corrbhan5138]

The photo shown approx. 2:20-2:25 was clearly taken in the Netherlands, probably Amsterdam Central. The type of sign was used for decades in the country; "Spoor" shown in the sign is Dutch for "Track". Yet, as far as I know, the Orient Express never crossed the Netherlands.

[@amrastheluckywoof5524]

There's one running to and from Amsterdam since last year, once per year. It crossed the Belgian border into The Netherlands a mere 7 km from where I live. It travelled past my house.

[@wmoscati]

Like I said for the UP turbine, I'll watch and like any railroad based story you put out Simon. Well done.

[@Jaytwisty23]

Last time I was this early Simon only had 27 channels

[@Cryodrake]

You should do the ITER fusion reactor!

[@sampilcher7196]

Nagelmackers is probably the best last name I’ve ever heard

[@How2Man_101]

Henri Blowitz looks like 18th century Dr. Phil.

[@workaholica]

Today I found out the classic Orient Express went through my home town Karlsruhe.

[@Harshpednekar24]

India’s Maharaja express is pride of India you roam whole India with its an royal palace on wheels Maharaja express is orient express of India

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

Ooh big words Simon ..lol Zeitgeist ffs !haha 😄

[@malusignatius]

Annnd now I have They Might Be Giants stuck in my head.

[@almighty3946]

You’ve already done a video on the Orient express and I prefer the other one

[@vasilerogojan4520]

I know that Simion had already a video about the Orient Express on Geographics channel.

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@RickRobinCagnaan]

Orient Express was covered in explicit detail in the GeoGraphics video and now this.

[@sandybarnes887]

King of Trains, Train of Kings. As told on Geographics circa 2 years ago.

[@morantaylor]

No mention of the Call of Cthulhu module "Horror on the Orient Express"?

[@sejembalm]

1:55 when show begins. Screw Shaker & Spoon!

[@gergelyhangodi9008]

Maybe the real Orient Express was the friends we made along the way.

[@DJL78]

Why no mention of what Belmond is doing today? They are offering an experience that is arguably more luxurious than the original.

[@melangellatc1718]

$2k for a train ticket? I spent $6.5k on my dog and $4k for a Mötley Crüe ticket....

[@vodnikdubs1724]

Istanbul was Constantinople Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople

[@GeraldBlack1]

They may have survived falling off the train, but they landed on all those bullets!

[@paulsnickles2420]

Very interesting video

[@cathyb1273]

Nice video. And just a little thing, in wagon-lit, the ”t” is silent 😉

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

🙈 So glad somebody already commented this!! Was a bit hard to listen to Simon narrating this one without giggling like a loon... 😂 "Wagons Lit" as he says it sounds a bit like the passengers were rolling blunts along their way!

[@cathyb1273]

@@anna_in_aotearoa3166 😂😂

[@MrBibi86]

*Back when train travel was luxurious*

[@JohnnieWalkerGreen]

(2:34) Istanbul was Constantinople... Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople... Been a long time has gone, Constantinople...

[@tombillard5264]

Nothing like a luxury when getting killed lol

[@Veptis]

And yet, we got cars everywhere.

[@nicholascorbett1256]

Started to make a comment about him previously doing this topic, then I remembered Simon doesn't give a damn what we think lmao

[@peterkirby1753]

According to They Migh Be Giants... 🎶Istanbul was Constantinople Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople Been a long time gone, Constantinople Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night🎶

[@KlaximumSkroeft]

Tell Shaker and Spoon to sponsor Brain Blaze, everyone knows that's the drinking channel...

[@indrajithg]

Alright, Simon is selling underwear as well. Do I care? Absolutely not. Thanks for the awesome content brah. 😍

[@kelvinkane5604]

Title: Murder Video: Cocktails are cool

[@XD-vr9qb]

Simon do a video on the i400 submarines

[@studiolezard]

You should have your cue cards written phonetically for foreign languages.

[@robertabell9182]

Imagine the actual stories lived out on the Orient Express? Intriguing to say the Least. All day long Yahoo

[@MimeHTF5]

I woud say that the real Orient Express or Expresses was the luxurios Sleepertrains run by the CWLI

[@tjkaz5419]

I met Lana and Sterling there. It was a trip.

[@toddlerj102]

Zeitgeist you protagonist lol 😆

[@BlacklistBill]

Suggestion: do a video on either one of those tunnels (Simplon or the Japanese one). Longest tunnels in the world... Hellooooo.... Megaprojects

[@olly5764]

maybe not a mega-project, but why not also look at the Golden arrow and the Night Ferry Pullman trains from London?

[@damokkles7063]

oh i had to actually listen twice to see what you were saying about wagons lits :) (vagon lee)

[@isaaclux2128]

Orient Express Pt. 2, by Simon

[@biocybernaught3512]

Comercial ends at 1:56

[@TheBooban]

15:00 $23 000 how can it cost so much?!

[@jennycraigadventures3314]

Simon, it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople.