Train Orient-Express. Paris-Constantinople

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Today we are going to take a look at the history of the legendary Orient Express, visit the station of Sirkeci in Istanbul. Let's see the car, which traveled the Imperial and Sultan's personality. Let us remember the assistants of mankind - street lights, which faithfully served on the railway.

This year, Orient Express is celebrating their 135 years! He first went to Constantinople from Gare de l'est station to the music of Mozart in 1883

American the his Pullman sleeping cars was the mastermind behind a Belgian engineer Georges Nagelmackers. So there was a hotel-restaurant on wheels luxury class in the form of "Orient Express".

The Orient Express train is a Luxury train",

which has become one of the most popular objects for writers, spies, artists, travelers, businessmen, kings, sultans and other extraordinary personalities. The culprit of the train was the private company Orient-Express Hotels. The train had a chic restaurant, Luggage compartment and even a small library.

Orient-Express is a passenger train that ran between Paris and Constantinople from 1883. The ticket price was very aristocratic - about 2000 bucks for us for 3000 km. total $ 1.5 per kilometer. Very valuable was the trip. For comparison, the current cost of a ticket Istanbul-Paris on the plane from $ 450 (business class) for 3.45 travel time. And say we poorly live:)

A frequent guest of the train was Agatha Christie, who was rocked in a luxury car for such a wonderful novel as "Murder on the Orient Express." What an atmosphere was interesting in the way to create a stunning story community.

All the passengers took part in the murder of a man to avenge the death of a little girl Daisy

Agatha Christie moved all the events to Yugoslavia, but in fact the snowfall at a small station in Turkey gave the basis of the novel. We learn a lot through the eyes of Agatha about the train. First, even in winter it was difficult to buy a ticket, Hercule Poirot was just lucky. Detective describing the audience of his car a little surprised by the diversity of the audience. The Orient Express in Roman is a three-day trip. But to be precise, the travel time without delay was 67 hours.

Its popularity "Orient-Express" still gets from the art in its different directions

In the filming of a film based on the novel by Agatha Christie shot by Sidney Lumet (1974) involved two real car "Orient Express". After the shooting, James Sherwood, an American billionaire, bought them at auction.
The 2017 production of the same novel by sir Kenneth bran surprised not only by the "Orient-Express" (2 copies), built specifically for the film, but also by the made copy of Sirkeci station. The film is no less attractive views of the old Constantinople.

It's only a few moments moving the brainchild of George Nagelmackers on the way from Paris to Constantinople in our days

Even after the Crimean war, the Ottomans decided to build a railway to connect Constantinople with Europe.

But attempts to negotiate with the British broke down three times. The Belgian Baron banker Maurice de Hirsch helped the Ottoman Empire to start the construction of the railway. But only 15 km of railway tracks were made in 1871. Then laid a section of paths along the coast of the sea of Marmara in 1972. The first station of Sirkeci was built in 1873.

Beautiful new building of the Sirkeci railway station was built only in 1890 on the project of the Prussian architect August Ahanda

The Prussian architect August Ahand built a station in the style of European Orientalism and area of 1200 square meters. Sirkeci station has never been rebuilt and preserved in its true form. It became a decoration of the old district of Fatih. In memory of the "Orient Express" was the restaurant, which is still its name. Not only tourists but also residents of Istanbul like to meet here. Now the station is under restoration and serves more as a decoration of the city. And in Turkey, the most popular long - distance mode of transport is comfortable buses. And in Europe and not only already fly, and do not go on the railway tracks a lot of "Orient-Express" from Istanbul.

The name of the train "Orient-Express" in the world has become an eternal brand

Monument to "Orient-Express" at Sirkeci station in Istanbul

Postcard of 1900 with the image of "Orient Express". The Museum" Koch " hangs a picture based on the postcard. Indeed, the first train consisted of only 5 cars.

The schedule of the train "Orient Express"

Miniature models of old trains in the Museum "Koch". Istanbul

The Ottoman 32 Sultan Abdul-Aziz (1830-1876) ordered the construction of a carriage to travel to Europe. In 1866, the car was ready. He's in front of you in the photo.

Wax figure of Sultan Abdul Aziz in his comfortable car

The beauty of the scenery of the Sultan's car

In the same car could not resist the travels of the Emperor of the Austrian Empire Franz Joseph I (1830-1916) and Archduke of Austria Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914).

The engine room of the "Orient Express"

Stoker in the engine room of the "Orient Express".

In the first world war had to stop the movement of the "Orient Express". That's clear. How the train could move between the warring parties. But Germany later let his train to Constantinople. But it lasted only until the end of the war. Then the German train was removed. The present Express on the move once again only to Budapest. In Constantinople was commissioned a new composition called "Simanski Orient Express" and she was going to bypass Germany.

Hard survived "East Express" world war II. Many train cars were lost, and the infrastructure was destroyed. After the restoration of the "cold war" it was difficult and unsafe to travel by train. Check and attacks on the borders have made the trip unbearable. Lost that magical comfort and abundance of "Orient Express". So gradually died the glory of the famous train. Quietly and gradually vanished luxury. Now the cars were carrying young people and many migrants.

The last way "East Express" has done in 1977

But the museums and private collections preserved exhibits of the famous train. Around the world in private possessions of wealthy people travel analogues of the "Orient Express", so, for fun. Therefore, the memory of the legendary composition lived, lives and will live.

Lights-servants of Railways

I cannot ignore the beautiful historical exhibits of railway lanterns. Their species in this direction there were a great many. Different lights were used for certain purposes. Railway lights can be divided into street and wagon. Previously, buffer lights were very popular. They were used on the back cars of trains and on the cars of horse-railway. They differed in the big sizes and were used for lighting the way. The largest of them were called Monstre and cost quite expensive (from 50 to 100 rubles).

In the photo you can see the railway lights preserved in the Museum of Koch

The conductors of passenger cars had the whole instructions for the use and operation of car lights

One wrong step and could happen fire, because they worked on kerosene. Therefore, the lights necessarily had a stand, and he was locked with a key. Due to the use of kerosene lamps in the train, the cars are often compared with winter huts.

End lights were very important. They were usually with a glass of red. Installed on the last car and indicated the size of the train. Initially worked on kerosene.

In the photo, two turnouts and one buffer. There were also lanterns that were used by road workers. They were called signal lights. On the sides of the cars were attached so-called side lights. In the reserve rooms of the train, where there was no need for a lot of lighting, used candle lights. You have to be very savvy to understand the types of railway lights.