end of line for orient express

Terrible news!  One of the world’s classic standards of luxury in travel, the Orient Express, is making its last trip today.  Established in the 1880’s, the Orient Express was considered an iconic means of travel which would take one from London or Paris to Istanbul.

Sadly, its is meeting its demise due to quicker TVGs and discount airlines.  I would contend that the OE set the standard for elegant long distance travel in confined areas (providing a template for some Steampunk’s airship interiors), and its loss is a small and disapointing notice of the disappearance of another era.

For more details on the Orient Express’ last trip, please visit:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121365224
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/06/orient-express-scrapped-final-journey
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/12/7/13152/7148/travel/The+Orient+Express+Train+Loses+Steam,+Finally+Calls+It+Quits
http://www.pragmatik.org/blog/2009/12/r-i-p-orient-express/

and a bit of historical background on the Orient Express is located here:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/petroctrelawny/100005497/the-orient-express-reaches-the-buffers/