|
Belle Epoque Of The Orient Express By M Wiesenthal w/Dust Jacket
The Belle Epoque Of The Orient Express By M Wiesenthal
Hard Cover with Dust Jacket
Copyright 1979 FIRST EDITION
96 Pages Over 84 color photographs and 47 illustrations
The Orient Express is not just another train. It was almost a myth. In spite of the vast changes in all fields which have characterized this century, it was the most famous train of all times. Authors, musicians, artists, and movie directors have all drawn inspiration from it for the creation of works which will appear in the history of art.
Nevertheless, the Orient Express we know today is not that luxurious train of the beginning of the century. Even the route has undergone some changes. The original route of the Orient Express passed through Vienna and Budapest to reach Istambul it was on this same route, close to Budapest, where Blasco Ibanez, the Spanish writer, suffered an accident.
"I get up," says the novelist. "One of my feet sinks into a soft, resilient thing wrapped up in blue cloth with golden buttons. It is the belly of the waiter who was serving us a few moments before. He is lying on his back, with his arms wide open, his eyes bulging with fright and he doesn't get up off the floor, in spite of my treading on him... I can't recognize the dining car. Everything broken, everything smashed... Bodies on the floor, overturned tables, torn tablecloths, running liquid, in fact it is hard to know just which is coffee, which is liqueur and which is Hood."
Blasco, so accustomed to duels and revolutions, was not too affected by this event. He got out of the wreckage as best he could, walked across the cultivated fields to the nearest town and returned to Budapest by tram. Derailments, at that time, were really almost expected anecdotes in the adventure of the journey. Expresses like the Trans-Siberian usually ran off the rails twice during the journey. The lines of the East, badly laid, showed chilling balances: over 16,000 accidents per year in a single province. Fortunately the crawling speed of the train reduced the number of victims.
As a result of political changes caused by the wars, that historic route through Budapest was replaced by a new one linking Paris with Milan, Belgrade, Sophia and lstambul through the Simplon tunnel. This train, known as the Direct Orient Express or Simplon Orient Express, the only line linking Paris and lstambul directly, remained in service until 1976.
All pictures are of the actual item. There may be reflection from the lights in some photos. We try to take photos of any damage. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use by the railroad. Please email with questions. Publishers of Train Shed Cyclopedias and Stephans Railroad Directories. Large inventory of railroad books and magazines. Thank you for buying from us.
Shipping charges
US Shipments: When you add multiple items to your cart, the reduced shipping charges will automatically be calculated. For direct postage rates to other countries, send me an email. Shipping varies by weight.
Terms and conditions
All sales are final. Returns accepted if item is not as described. Contact us before making a return. No warranty is stated or implied. Please e-mail us with any questions before bidding or buying.
Thanks for looking at our items.
| 
