ABSTRACT
The loss of the internal German services was accompanied by a temporary cut in the Calais-Vienna route, which was forced to run in two portions: Calais-Cologne, Mainz-Wien. Thus began the practice of running the Calais portions of trains to Central Europe via Paris and later through north-eastern France. The Russian Government and railway authorities have given every facility for this interesting trip.’ Anyone of the upper classes who had read in The Times of the junketing laid on for the inauguration of the Orient Express must have jumped at the opportunity. On arrival at the Invalides, the car was found to be too big for the entrance, and the suggestion that some pilasters might be removed caused consternation in the Fine Arts Department. Finally the Army Engineers, directed by the Wagons-Lits engineer, managed to wangle it through the doorway by tilting it to one side and building a special raised track for the wheels.
