Back in time with Orient Express

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The Railway Museum of Thessaloniki houses a piece of not only greek, but also international railway history. The courtyard hosts two of the three surviving carriages from the legendary Orient Express.

The beds carriage was built in England in 1949 and the restaurant in 1905. The name Orient Express means «Express of the east» and was directly linked to the long and luxurious journeys from Paris to Istanbul.

The inner corridor of the beds carriage.

It belonged to the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (english: International Company of Coaches and Tourism), also known as CIWL. The first route started from Paris on June 5, 1883. The journey lasted 4–5 days and made intermediate stops in Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest and Sofia.

A double compartment with heating and a washbasin that converts into an office. The intermediate doors allowed it to be connected to the one next compartment, so that it could be used by a family.

Due to its great fame, it has been a source of inspiration for writers such as Agatha Christie (Murder on the Orient Express) and Graham Greene (The Istanbul Train). Even some action scenes from the famous James Bond film «From Russia with Love», have been filmed on the Orient Express.

After 1977, the progress of the development of air travel, caused the legendary line to decline.

Today, a rail connection with luxury services that symbolically bears the same name keeps on operating, but it has nothing to do with the journey of the past, since it is limited to destinations in central Europe.

Wooden surface decorated with marquetry.

Switches and controls for carriage lighting.

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