This is Wagon Lits voiture-salon-bar number 21013 at Wansford. The "Compagnie International des Wagon-Lits et des Grands Express Europeens", or "International Sleeping Car and Great European Express Company" was established in 1872 in the Belgium city of Liege by Georges Nagelmackers, the son of a Belgian banker. While on a trip to America he saw the Pullman operations there. He realized emulating them with sleeping and restaurant car services in Europe could also be successful. In 1883 the World's most famous train started running. By 1889 his train was running from Paris to Istanbul and became known as the "Orient Express". |