ON THIS DAY IN 1883…

On this day 130 years ago, in 1883, the ‘Express d’Orient’ made its inaugural run from Paris to Constantinople (modern day Istanbul). It was Europe’s first transcontinental railroad, and covered 1,700 miles in 81 hours; a huge technological feat at the time. Funnily enough, it wasn’t entirely by rail at this point – that happened in 1889 – instead the train was transferred onto a boat to cross the Danube, continued on rail to Varna, Bulgaria, and finally was ferried across the Black Sea by steamship to Istanbul. This poster from 1888, depicting the journey it took.

 

During the 19th Century, western interest in East & Central Asia was growing, influencing art, clothing and theatre, and Istanbul was considered the ‘gateway to the east’. The forty guests, made up of social elites, spent the four days on the Orient Express in restaurants, sleeper carriages, salon cars, smoking compartments and ladies drawing rooms. Here we show sketches from the time that display the exterior and scale, the ornate interiors.