From Saturday November 3rd until Sunday November 11th there will be an exhibition at the railway museum located Brussel Noord Station (Belgium) celebrating the 50th anniversary of the TEE (Trans Europe Express) trains. The now defunct network of international first class only trains, which role has been taken over by the also second-class passengers carrying Eurocity trains and the still expanding network of dedicated high speed lines in Europe. On November 3rd and 4th there will be a modest display of TEE coaches and locomotives involved in hauling the TEE trains at track 1 of the Brussel Noord Station. The museum used to be closed, but is reopened for the occasion.
It could be argued that the TEE "brand name" saved the medium distance European passenger train at a time when airlines and super highways were expanding dramatically and provided the inspiration without which the current web of high speed rail services would not have developed.
In a Europe still recovering from the destruction and wear and tear of WWII the immaculate TEEs with their excellent catering, all reserved seating and efficient crews, running to schedules designed to appeal to international businessmen kept the fire burning for rail travel in an increasingly competitive environment.
I can remember travelling on a number of them including the "Mistral", "Rheingold", "Settebello", "Catalan Talgo", "Cisalpin" and the "Aquitaine."