The Orient Express: King of Trains, Train of Kings

The journey to the Express was not a simple one. For upper class travellers to enjoy a luxury, non-stop train ride across seven nations, it would take the dream of a lovesick Belgian engineer, with his rather interesting supporting cast: an American industrialist, the inventor of US tabloid journalism, the Prince of Wales, and one of the most prolific mass murderers of the 19th and 20th Centuries.
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Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Arnaldo Teodorani
Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
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[@reneemoreno8030]

I was fortunate to travel on the Venice Simpleon Orient Express in 1987. Venice to Paris and it was a fairy tale, the sparkling crystal, beautiful inlaid cabinetry, the food the service, true elegance. You feel like royalty, it was enchanting. The full moon, lighting the snow peaks of the Alps in the middle of the night, just magical.

[@arianafox365]

Renee Moreno damn I’m jealous!

[@KaladinVegapunk]

Haha you and Chris Willoughby up above have almost the same comment, phrased really similarly, just ones 80s the others 70s Yeah, that sounds so gorgeous, love train rides through picturesque locales and that sounds one of a kind

[@KaladinVegapunk]

I went to europe in 2006, I wish I'd hopped on it right before it closed

[@semaj_5022]

I'm not really the *luxury* type, but that just sounds so freaking amazing.

[@Flaubert]

My grandgrandfather was one of the drivers of the Orient express. Thank you for doing this video. 💕

[@erikroberts3545]

WOW! That's incredibly cool! 😀👍

[@Jen-zk9se]

Great grandfather

[@linkin0983]

That's really cool 🙌🏻

[@chillywill]

No he wasnt prove it.

[@Flaubert]

@@chillywill shall I Post a pic? Lol

[@chriswilloughby2098]

I had the opportunity to travel the sister train to the Orient Express, called the Istanbul Express, in the fall of 1972. The route was the same as that of the Orient Express from Istanbul to Milan after which it proceeded to Hamburg instead of Paris. I took the train from Istanbul to Milan and remember feeling like I was in an old spy movie as the train was steam powered from Istanbul to Sofia and the high pitched whistle was right out of the soundtrack of one of those old movies. The border experience at the Bulgarian border also fit the bill as the Bulgarian border guards were about as friendly as one would expect from communist officials, which they were indeed at that time.

[@gilbydog7350]

Sweet. I had not heard of the Istanbul Express linking through to Hamburg from Istanbul and Milan before.

[@Cory_Dora]

Chris Willoughby like the movie The Grand Budapest Hotel! Well, thats as far as I can relate anyway. Sounds like a grand adventure!

[@donnarobinson7480]

That must have been a memorable experience. Fantastic. X

[@kentcourtney5535]

Thanks for adding this insight.

[@hidesbehindpseudonym1920]

0

[@davidfeuerstein8430]

In my hometown in west Austria i always saw the Orient express passing. I loved seeing the nice shiny+blue golden weagons and their white roofs passing. On a rare occasion there even was a Steamtrain pulling it. :D

[@TheArmchairist]

I did a variation of the Orient Express last summer, 2019 at age 18 on my own! Started in Maastricht, Netherlands to Aachen - Frankfurt - Vienna - Budapest - Novi Sad - Belgrade - Sofia - Istanbul in about 15 days. I stopped in most cities and had a great time. On the Belgrade - Sofia leg, we got stuck just before Pirot because the trains melted. 3 Serbian teens got to the closest shop and got rakija, beer and cigs for everyone. We (the Serbs, some Germans, a Spanish couple and I), went to the first car and claimed it our own. (Most people had hitchhiked to Sofia anyway since we were close to the border) We had a great time smoking inside and getting absolutely wasted. By the time we arrived at Sofia Central, 3 guys were unconscious, and the Bulgarian police came in. They laughed at us and even escorted us to the nearest benches (It was 2 am by then). It was super uncomfortable but we got woken up by another agent at around 7 am who probably thought we were homeless (well we were in some way), I then walked to the hostel looking like absolute garbage and they were kind enough to let me check in at that. That was a legendary day

[@sajefitz9694]

Great story. Envious. Will hope to duplicate a similar experience ...

[@vwtraveller]

I had the pleasure of riding the Orient Express in '97 from Stuttgart to Munich at midnight. It was by chance as our tickets were valid and we just needed to transfer to Munich. The train car was rather full and somewhat run down, but the aura of it's past glory was still in the air. The giant leather plush seats were amazing and I'm happy to have experienced the Orient Express once, at night, even if it was only for a few hours.

[@resileaf9501]

There's something deeply nostalgic about that train. I'm not really sure how to explain it. It's like a link to an old age that isn't really that distant. A mix of modern and antique culture. Or something.

[@rondoggish]

It's one of the most important engineering and multi cultural objects in human history. This thing came and gone in a instant in nour timeline but will be remembered by the right kinda historians in the future

[@vidahasselburg3841]

Resileaf what he said .

[@appa609]

It's only nostalgic if you don't use them anymore. Trains in China are about as nostalgic as an A320.

[@jeffreyherman9454]

But you HAVE explained it -- and very well, I think. People enjoy the evocation of "the old that isn't really THAT old". It was, I believe, the reason, for example, of much of the recent worldwide popularity of the series, "Downton Abbey", and it is the reason, as well, for people's fascination with World War II film fiction, to give just two examples.

[@jeffreyherman9454]

(continuing -- a correction) I should have said "FOR much of the recent worldwide popularity".

[@brentgranger7856]

This is Geographics! I never thought you guys would do a video about a railway. Maybe you can do another famous railway, the Trans-Siberian Railway.

[@Nyctophora]

I'd love to see this too!

[@sallylynnschur4278]

The cross-Canadian train (Via Rail #1) which runs between Toronto and Vancouver, is not quite as luxurious, but is also historic, and was used as the setting for at least one murder mystery, The Edge, by Dick Francis. How many other trains/murder mystery fans out there?

[@ammarsiddiqui3602]

That is the longest railway isn't it

[@wilmafistfit4788]

Or trans continental or trans Atlantic

[@djdarbary]

Hear! Hear!🍀

[@UncleNathan]

My good friend Candace and I traveled on the Orient Express, round trip London -Venice-London, in 1998. The U.K. part of the journey started at Victoria Station when we boarded the British Pullman and journeyed to Folkstone for the channel crossing via hovercraft, then boarded the Orient Express proper at Boulogne, France. The train took us south to Paris, then east to Switzerland, Austria, and then into Italy and Venice. It was a fantastic trip!

[@sallylynnschur4278]

I rode the train from Geneva to Venice in 1984. While it was past its prime, it was still glorious, and I will always consider the experience one of the highlights of my life. I love trains, and this was the best train ever!

[@peterhansen5804]

As a perhaps fun side note, in 2001, I travelled in a possible remainder of the original Mitropa trains from Sofia to Budapest. The train itself was a steam train! And the carriages were marked as a DR train (East Germany, not DB West Germany), even though it was run by the Bulgarian national train company. The carriages were very luxorious, with 2 people per compartment - white linen, washroom and electricity. Each car had a purser from whom you could get hot water for your tea. That trip was truly a time travel. And it took 26 hours.

[@flaviusclaudius7510]

I'm glad you brought up the Congoese Genocide, even if it was a brief mention, when you mentioned Leopold II-many channels would just ignore it if it weren't the main point of the video. Kudos to you!

[@jamessuttie1261]

My wife and I travelled from Venice to Paris to London on our honeymoon in 1990 on the Orient Express. It was fabulous.

[@armygirl85fuckhitler74]

Omg that sounds amazing!!

[@michaelrowsell1160]

I wet on the Simplon Orient Express when I was ten years of age to Venice.What fascinated me were the cabins and how they switched from day use to night use and back again.

[@Nyctophora]

I took this route too, I was seven and I remember the hugeness of the mountains to me at that age!

[@craigpumphrey2228]

No way. I was just looking up the Orient Express on KZbin yesterday, and couldn't find any good video on it was hoping you would make one.

[@djdarbary]

Another hit from the House of Whistler! Keep 'em coming. Another luxurious mode of transport, worthy of the Whistler treatment, were the Pan Am Clippers. Dare we hope? Keep up the good work, and all the best.👍🏼👍🏼🍀

[@stephjovi]

I once took the Orient Express from southern Germany (munich) to Austria. I just took the first train early in the morning affter having been to a concert. I couldn`t believe it when the train arrived and it was called the Orient Express. Lot`s of migrants, it seemed very exotic. But mostly just crowded really old and not in a good condition. I`m not surprised it was discontinued a few years later

[@Caterfree10]

That French President dude sounds amazing and I’m now praying we get a Biographics video on him.

[@nurmaybooba]

I love train travel and have never had the privilege to travel outside of the US and Canada but the Orient Express fueled my imagination. Alas trains are a chore in the US and to think the nice sleeper was invented here!

[@Stettafire]

I also have never left the UK. I would love to have the opportunity to travel and see continental Europe.

[@dojokonojo]

With all the private suites fit for an Arab oil sheikh, the Airbus A380 first class is the Orient Express of the 21st century.

[@1kinut800]

My parents for one of their anniversaries, took a trip on the Orient Express. I think dad had become intrigued with the luxury that a train could have by watching all those Agatha Christie remakes. They were gone for a few weeks, can't remember now if they spent time in Paris or something or if their whole trip consisted of that train trip. This must have been 30 years ago since dad's been dead for 10 years. Usually one or the other of them would come back gushing about their trip but this time, neither said much except that there were long stretches out the window of nothingness, no trees, no houses, just empty scrub land so it wasn't all that entertaining. I have always loved trains--not that train spotting nonsense--love riding on them even the crowded commuter trains; had the Orient Express continued to function, I would have been saving for the last 25 years just so I could afford to ride it just once. There was also for a short while an American Orient Express, ran across only the US but the owner had gone to the expense of making the train cars look like the old original OE train with etched glass, velvets, wood, etc. I had wanted to ride that too but it died before I could save up enough. Sigh. I do wonder what happened to the original OE train cars--are they rotting away in some train yard or field? Seems such a shame since I would be willing to live in one (redone slightly with modern plumbing, electricity, gas, insulation, a nice bed.

[@3DRiley_]

Some got lost, others got the interior switched and were reused for other services, some have been placed in museums. Very few have been restored and got upgraded boogies so they can travel at up to 160 km/h on the tourist/historical Venice-Simplon OE service mentioned at the end of this video. More exciting is that recently some wagons that were thought lost forever have been recovered in Poland on the border to Belarus. The story behind it is quite interesting: a person working on his PhD about the history of the OE spotted them in the background of a KZbin video. 13 carriages in total were recovered and are currently undergoing restoration with the intent of using them on another tourist/historical service between Paris and Istanbul.

[@adrikrotten880]

Murder on the Orient Express is probably one of my most favorite stories to date and possibly one of the best/most influential murder mysteries out there. If you haven't read it, please do (don't watch the new movie; it sucks). Also, don't spoil to yourself who the real killer is.

[@daeseongkim93]

Zane Andersen the movie was alright

[@kylezmcgee455]

Reading the book right now :)

[@jmbpinto73]

@@daeseongkim93 I liked it too, they had to deal with the fact everyone knows the history by now. The TV series, by David Suchet as Hercule Poirot was good as well.

[@MCreedon34]

I loved the book n was so excited for the new movie but I mean I liked the movie but its always hard for movies to stand up to books

[@allychat8496]

The most recent adaptation of the story in movie format with Johnny Depp I believe was quite good and I enjoyed it.

[@Yvolve]

Great video! I do feel there's a missed opportunity to use maps. It would give a good impression of the scale.

[@marquamfurniture]

Excellent video, but I would have liked more photos of the interior and artifacts.

[@kentcourtney5535]

Maps are the essence of geography.

[@flowertrue]

@@marquamfurniture Simon loves maps

[@samboyco3093]

We stayed in the Esplanade hotel in Zagreb last Nov where they used to put all the Orient Express passengers when they reached there. It has most definitely retained its class and charm from back in the day.

[@joycecook3402]

Your choice of topics, information, and the presentation style of the narrator has captured my interest and I look forward to every video I come across. Many of the other comments offer topics to consider. Thank you for the productions!

[@The_Daily_Tomato]

Ever since i was little i've dreamed of that train. There is just something so mysterious and captivating about it that it's well......Amazing.

[@kam_iko]

there’s also the “Majestic Imperator Train de Luxe” in vienna, which mostly does day trips, but the train/cars look fantastic.

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

Thank you for doing this, my grand father and Grandmother traveled on the original orient express in the 1950s

[@gilbydog7350]

That was a fantastic video about the Orient Express. I knew alot about the train, but I learned a great deal from your video Simon. I hope to go on the VSOE sometime in the next few years. Several thousand dollars for one night travelling from Paris to Venice makes it an expensive experience.

[@murrayscott9546]

As a young Canadian abroad in 1990 I travelled from Amsterdam to Istanbul by train. The first leg, to Munich was on a shiny Western European coach : beautiful views of The Rhine, ruined castles, expensive coffee. Transferred there to another world. 6 passenger sleeping compartments ( mixed ), hill-people, returning migrant workers, budget tourists. Through Bulgaria our passports were confiscated until we reached the Turkish border. During the night, a conductor suggested/accepted a small gratuity so that me and the girl had our own compartment + hanky to cover our pinky. Turkish border guards offered fine welcome and flowers for the ladies. Racing through the I'bul 'burbs : flats on one side, morning sun flashing on the Bosphurus the other. Sirkheji Stn., with its famous cats.: unforgettable.

[@rodneycarey44]

I love Simon’s sarcastic wit when telling a good tale.

[@joannecarolyn1595]

I really enjoyed this episode about the Orient Express! Thanks so much to Simon & the team! Great job guys! ❤❤❤

[@geographicstravel]

You’re welcome. Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@joannecarolyn1595]

I really loved it! Thanks again! Seasons Greetings to Simon & the team 😊❤🎄🎁

[@nikolausbautista8925]

Baghdad in 8 Days, when things were tense, but with a heavy varnishing of Civility... Mercy, those were beautiful times.

[@jopiaspieder1184]

Great job Simon I definitely enjoyed this video and being a railroad buff that I am please do more railroad videos like this one.

[@geographicstravel]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@sarahbaker2342]

All trains are awesome! My husband's grandfather retired from Burlington Northern Santa Fe after 22 years, after seven with the Grand Trunk and Western. This created a massive love of the massive machines in my beloved. Modern trains are truly impressive feats of engineering!

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:05 - Chapter 1 - Leaving the station 5:20 - Chapter 2 - The king of trains 8:00 - Chapter 3 - The train of kings 11:05 - Chapter 4 - A train at war 13:20 - Chapter 5 - The golden age 16:40 - Chapter 6 - Thrill ride 18:55 - Chapter 7 - Rolling into station

[@TheBlindBaker722]

I think it would be so cool to experience traveling on that

[@stephjovi]

it must have been amazing in the 19th century. I took it by coincidence about 2002. It was an old over crowded train in bad shape. I couldn`t believe that that was the once so famous Orient Express

[@Hrabns]

Simon can rail any line with those eyes

[@facina3390]

The Cube Can you eyeball coke? I’m asking for a friend.

[@notsteve1475]

@@facina3390 Yeah bump the hole gram in. then add Visine.

[@BucketPukes1969]

@@notsteve1475 I do that all the time

[@JJMHigner]

Oh yes ;)

[@trinaholman4083]

A couple of the cars were acquired by the Santa Fe railroad and were plying the tracks between Santa Fe and Lamy, NM, in the late 90's. Not sure if they are still there as I left in 2000, but they were fully restored and I had the pleasure of experiencing a tiny bit of their history.

[@coreywright3379]

I married my cousin and family reunions are great!

[@lawiez]

sheldon cooper literally smiled while watching this, bravo!

[@allychat8496]

It’s so unfortunate that such a historic train no longer exists. If you’re looking for a similar adventure by luxury train, consider the Australian Indian Pacific or The Ghan services which still run today at comparable prices to that described in the video above.

[@bencefulop7174]

I like both channels (Bio & Geographics) a lot, just some fact correcting for the part at 14:50: a) "Biatorbágy", not "Biatorbay" (I must admit the latter would definitely sound cooler). b) the bomber, Matuska was indeed sentenced to death, but never executed, as he fled prison during the chaos of 1945. his latter life is unknown.

[@johnfife3062]

Excellent presentation! As for the Orient Express, it's more than a train, but an idea and an ideal that's bound to be recreated time and again. The Caledonian Sleeper is one current example.

[@RambleRandi]

I'm enjoying this channel, Simon and editors! I enjoy seeing some more in depth topics from you guys

[@mac24seven]

Not the Orient Express, but I had the priveledge of throwing away a few thousand dollars on a similar style train, The Blue Train, from Cape Town, South Africa to Johanasburg. I left an extremely in depth an d lengthy review on Trip Advisor on my utter disappointment. Basically, long story short: if you have ever been on a cruise ship you know what it's like to be on a luxury train: except it's more comfortable, better and more options for food and obviously more room. I learned all the brass and "wood" and mirrors on the ships is styled from these trains. The difference being on the trains its all quality materials (real wood, better quality build, etc). Ugh, I could go on and on. I pissed away my money because I was told it was the most amazing thing ever. I'm pretty sure the guy who said that was just hammered for 2 days from the open bar.

[@patternwhisperer4048]

Do you and the team behind those videos ever rest??? Making all those videos in the different channels non/stop while keeping a high quality. Respect man

[@stephjovi]

I think Simon is the only link between all the channels. The teams behind are different

[@puzzledzimbo]

Always wanted to experience the Orient Express. Also the luxury trains of South Africa which were created after the gold and diamonds were discovered.

[@b.griffin317]

orient express ends service in 1977. concord enters service in 1976. hard to imagine these two crossed paths. you could fly supersonic from new york to paris and then take the OE from paris to instambul. smh. 70's sure were an interesting time.

[@geographicstravel]

I love crossovers in history like this. Nice.

[@jmbpinto73]

Is a shame that supersonic air travel was discontinued, and most airlines leaned toward low-cost. Air travel became a chore, since 2001.

[@pamelamays4186]

They need to make a movie about this.....wait!

[@HenrikoMagnifico]

Damn I would have loved to ride it

[@shahancheong9792]

The Venice-Simplon Orient Express (different company, but using original antique carriages) still runs the same route today. Start saving your pennies - it ain't cheap.

[@SenorHybrido]

You still can - the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express restored a number of its carriages and even revamped a few into modern suites. Fares start from 800GBP per pax per way from London to Paris, though if I were going to splurge on something like that, I would save a while longer and go for the full experience of the London-Venice route that starts from 2.5k GBP per pax per way and takes 24 hours. Alternatively, there is the northbound Venice-London route that costs a little less starting from 2.2k GBP per pax per way, but IMHO it just feels a little off, somehow, to take the Channel Tunnel shuttle train at the end of the journey instead of the beginning.

[@zf4hp24]

Took the VSOE from Venice to London in 1984 on my honeymoon. Still married to this day, so it must have worked its charm!

[@Fuchswinter]

Reading all these comments, I would have loved to travel on the Orient Express. A shame it was discontinued while I was in middle school

[@kentcourtney5535]

I will have to pull out my Alfred Hitchcock collection and watch ”The Lady Vanishes” again. This was a great and inspirational video. Classic trains are so interesting.

[@merana59]

We were visiting Istanbul, when our son in law pointed out a fun down building. He was surprised we didn't recognize it as the terminal of the famous Orient express! We thrilled we saw it, once we knew what it was!

[@thatguy-pl8py]

Guess you could say this video format is ON the rails this time

[@lagitanavderoscio]

Excellent 👌 - Stories within stories within a Story!

[@Bariom_dome]

If i could travel everywhere, it would be by train. So elegant, fascinating and surely more secure than a plane.

[@bobsaget6252]

Sounds like one big Wes Anderson movie

[@Ciech_mate]

It's something I think about occasionally but know little about so thanks for this one Simon, no ads at the beginning either, I appreciate that even more

[@marcpeterson1092]

Agatha Christie's other inspiration for the story was a case (or several) of the real train being stranded by weather.

[@billhardy7870]

Wonderfully intersting and informative. Thank you!

[@justinpaul3110]

I deeply appreciate your channels. Nice work.

[@RossTheBossTrotter]

Well done sir! One of your best so far....

[@geographicstravel]

Thanks! :)

[@briangraham1024]

Yup, did that trip in 1989. Fantastic! It's great to get some of your "bucket list" events done while your'e young.😊

[@thekeytoairpower]

Mispronouncing Poirot's name is a Christie meme, and Simon leans into it.

[@geezergeezer1]

Poyrot

[@MCreedon34]

@Sam Bacon Belgium right?

[@allychat8496]

Both mispronouncing Hercule Poirot’s name and mistaking him as French were common plays throughout the Agatha Christie series.

[@Stettafire]

@@allychat8496 The character would often get annoyed by it, it led to quite a few interesting conversations between characters

[@sarahhomrighausen7349]

"it seems like despotic rule and timely train service go hand in hand".... I LOVE IT. Having travelled the world before and after the USSR, I can't believe how TRUE that comment is....

[@nikkigriffin08]

I feel genuinely saddened at the fact that I am too young (27) to have ever ridden on The Orient Express during it's good times...especially being a Agatha Christie fan who loved the book, a huge Sean Connery fan & 007 fan in general, and the fact that as an American, the european trains that we rode on when I was little and we would go traveling all over Europe each summer we'd go to a new place...they all seemed luxurious to me. And the plane that we took to get from the US to Germany was so nice too like it was 2 stories with a bar, we would usually fly business class which was already great with great service, good food, free movies to watch on the little tv, and a chair that laid almost entirely flat, plus they gave you so much stuff like slippers & a robe & all sorts of nice soap, body wash, etc. a few times we flew the same airline & same type of plane but got upgraded to first class bcz we had so many points or something and I remember being surprisingly disappointed and totally understood why my parents generally always just booked business class bcz the only real difference was that the food was a bit nicer, the seats laid back an extra 2 inches, and had like this extra foot support thing. I think it was Lufthansa that we flew back in the late 90s and up till like 2010. I thought it was so nice bcz it definitely was compared to all US airlines, but then one of my friends traveled to Dubai and somewhere else in that region and they took pictures of their plane's either first or business class area (can't remember which he flew) and just the plane in general, and my mind was blown, they basically had personal cabins.

[@viper2help]

I'm from Ruse, Bulgaria, The Orient Express was here this year as a part of an attraction, but sadly I didn't manage to see it.

[@tobytaylor6679]

Splendid Simon👍🏻

[@lylaclark3977]

Am enjoying life getting thru my bucket list in the midst of normal life.... Such as the Nutcracker at Covent Garden and Les Mis in Dublin next Sept with good friends, Swan Lake by Russian Ballet yet to be achieved, to sing all the great Choral Pieces such as Mozart's Mass in D minor and, Davorak Requiem, Mozart' Requiem, St John'Passion etc etc which I have and am doing as a Soprano in the prestigious Maynooth Choral Society, Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland for the last decade, to name a few bucket list favourites achived n yet to be.... But the ultimate one has to be the journey on the Orient Express, well Simplon express now, which I am looking forward to achieving, again with fun company in the nearest as possible future..... So did enjoy this Bio Simon, it inspires me to achieve my bucket list and my own journey/travels of the Orient Express (well Simplon express) but am enjoying the effort in achieving it, as well as hopefully actually achieving it as soon as practicable as possible, dont mind the build up to such a trip haha.

[@brucoder]

Outstanding!

[@markw4263]

Typically thorough and entertaining presentation!

[@ziggy8253]

“All aboard the Whistler Express.”

[@IETCHX69]

Quite possibly your finest work , Si .

[@brendakrieger7000]

Thank you❤ I love trains🚂

[@shannmcclellan2157]

My Grandparents loved it.

[@Luscious3174]

I once rode the express from Manchester to London in the mid 80's after my flight into Heathrow got diverted due to fog. This was before the massive rail accident happened. That was the most frightening train ride of my life. I don't think I have ever traveled on a train since and probably never will. That train we took was going far too fast for the track conditions and the line was cluttered with switches and crossings - nothing like what a proper high-speed line should look like. It's unfortunate that the accident happened and so many lost their lives, but remembering my experience so vividly even to this day all I can say is that accident was absolutely inevitable and unavoidable.

[@skeptock3205]

From what I understand Sylvester Matuska was never executed for his crime of derailment of the Orient Express. He disappeared mysteriously. I couldn't find any record of his ultimate fate. Excellent video. Liked and shared as always.

[@cyclpiancitydweller9517]

This is on my bucket list.

[@STScott-qo4pw]

Simon thank you! I had always wondered. Perfect guy for these videos, too.

[@animalamu]

A somewhat modern equivalent is the trans-siberian railway, I took it to come back to Europe from Australia (obviously flying in to China first) and it’s an experience I highly recommend.

[@charlesrabb5568]

I have ridden on the English coaches on a luncheon train trip. Great service. Wonderful memories.

[@3tou6bi88]

the joke about dictators loving their trains running on time was nice

[@3tou6bi88]

@@altolows7635 thank you, Captain Obvious!

[@zarinaromanets7290]

I didn't get it, what does this refer to?

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

@@zarinaromanets7290 Mussolini's boast that under his rule, trains will run on time (which didn't). It then extended to any dictator with railroads like the Nazi Hermann Goering who screwed their railroads with his unscheduled travels in his personal 6 car train taken from the national railroad. Critics harshly joke that the only railroad that runs on time in the Third Reich is Goering's model railroad in the attic of his home in Carinhalle...

[@quandaledingle8960]

Video on that town in Argentina that's supposedly where alot of high ranking natzis escaped too would be awesome

[@sexysergioscotland6133]

I freaking love these videos 👍

[@dgr8zod]

As someone with interest in trains, I found this absolutely fascinating. But then, it's a Simon Whistler channel, lol. But, fascinating..

[@chantingMajic]

That was awesome!!

[@StrawB0ss]

DO THE GRAF ZEPPELIN NEXT!!! NO ONE HAS EVER DONE A WELL PRODUCED PIECE ABOUT THE GRAF ZEPPELIN!!

[@Poctyk]

The men the ship the dirigible ?

[@StrawB0ss]

@@Poctyk The dirigable.

[@pete5668]

@@Poctyk the men were Led Zeppelin, not Graf Zeppelin. :D

[@Poctyk]

@@pete5668 damn, constantly mistake men and man

[@Rr-qz5rc]

Ahh I really like this episode.

[@mashrien]

7:22 - 7:49 The wheel modification joke got an audible chuckle out of me at 2am. +1 just for that.

[@flowertrue]

What I wouldn't give to take a trip on the Orient Express! I love old trains, and faded glamour, and history. But it will never be.

[@Blaklege63]

That was a fantastic story

[@christophermerlot3366]

I would also recommend 'The Orient Express' a rather dour yet brilliant novel by Gregor von Rezzori.

[@sebaseba6710]

I mean, it sounds really really lovely!

[@swordfish1929]

I don't think "The Lady Vanishes" is set specifically on the orient express. A few of the people on the train are wealthy but it also shows that there is a 3rd class carriage on the train where Iris finds Gilbert listening to folk music. It is one of my favourite films and I have seen it many many times

[@gilbydog7350]

You are right, I looked "The Lady Vanishes" up on KZbin after listening to this video, and it seems to be a multi-class transcontinental European train, but not the Orient Express.

[@JJMHigner]

Ocean Liners--next!!

[@laurettelaliberte8864]

Hell yeah. I'm getting a global eurorail pass and the Orient Express is on one of the lines. :)

[@marioluigi9599]

"Eurorail" lol

[@gierhardtsloan8502]

"Top hat balancing" ok simon, you made me chuckle... Have a like.

[@hannahskipper2764]

Really cool!

[@force8020]

Excellent work

[@geographicstravel]

Thanks :)