There is a good chance you may be familiar with the Orient Express. It is after all one of the most famous luxury trains in history. So much so, it is the feature of many books including Agatha Christies Murder on the Orient Express and its many films and TV adaptations. Take a look below for 23 fun and awesome facts about the Orient Express.

1. The Orient Express was a long-distance passenger train service created in 1883.

2. It was developed by the Compagnie Intdrnationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL).

3. It is best known for its journeys from Paris to Istanbul. However, shorter journeys were also possible such as London to Paris. The train is also known for making trips around European nations that include Vienna, Berlin and Prague.

4. In an episode of Michael Palin’s ‘Around The World in Eighty Days’ aired in 1988, Michael travelled on the Orient Express, travelling from London to Victoria to Innsbruck. However, the train was unable to continue on to Venice because of a strike on the Italian railways.

5. The 6-day journey from Paris to Istanbul and back again could only be selected once a year!

6. With the assistance of coal stoves, each carriage was kept nice and warm. A small radiator was also included in the carriages.

7. In TV soap EastEnders, the characters of Den and Angie Watts had their honeymoon on the Orient Express. This was part of one of soaps most famous storylines ever and it was here the truth about Angie’s illness was revealed.

8. The 1930s was when the Orient Express was at its peak of popularity. At this time there were three parallel services running under the ‘Express’ group.

9. The train, although very luxurious in many ways, does not include showers or baths but passengers do have access to washbasins and toilet facilities.

10. A fan was included in every carriage compartment to help passengers to keep cool. Passengers were also allowed to open their window should they want to.

11. In more recent times electrical outlets had been fitted for users of electrical equipment, but note WiFi has never been made available.

12. The role-playing game Call of Cthulhu features the train in one of its famous campaigns: ‘Horror on the Orient Express.’

13. In Hawaii, there was a musical band named ‘Liz Damon’s Orient Express.’

14. It is said that more than 1.1 million dinners have been served on the Orient Express which comes to almost 4 million courses!

15. It is interesting to consider that the Orient Express was a great showcase of luxury at an era when travelling was overall much rougher and with more danger than later times.

16. The route of the train was to change several times during its years of service.

17. The first tasty-sounding menu served on board the train consisted of oysters, soup and Italian pasta, a fillet of beef with ‘château’ potatoes, turbot with green sauce, chicken ‘à la chasseur’ and ‘chaud-froid’ of game animals. Sweet options included a buffet of desserts. Sounds yummy!

18. In the USA, from 1989 to 2008 there was an American Orient Express that operated routes across North America.

19. Due to the First World War, in 1914 the Orient Express’ services were suspended.

20. At the start of the Second World War, the service was once again interrupted, this time not resuming action until 1945.

21. Other, non-related routes occasionally adapted the Orient Express name or used a slight variation.

22. On the 14th December 2009, the Orient Express ceased to operate. The main reason at the time that was provided was due to the increase in high-speed trains and cut-rate airlines.

23. A private venture courtesy of Belmond runs the Venice-Simpton Orient Express train that uses original CIWL carriages from the 1920s and 1930s and continues to run to this day. Its route includes the original Orient route from Paris to Istanbul. Let’s go!