Ironically just as the USA was abandoning rail, Europe was embracing it with a new system of deluxe, high speed, cross border trains.
50 years ago the president of Netherlands Rail came up with the idea of high speed trains that could cross borders easily and give first rate service to both the tourist and business passenger alike. This has since morphed into the ultra fast TGV, Thalys and ICE services.
But it all started with a man and a concept.
Different countries seem to be marking it in different ways , with the French and Italians doing nothing, and the Germans doing the most, with websites, tours, even a reconstituted Rhinegold, complete with restored dome car and pulled by a B-103 loco, all freshly painted in TEE cream and red.
A group of Swiss enthusuast have purchased the old Northlander and brought it back home to Switzerland for restoration and excursion runs.
Lets hope someone buys some of the INOX cars from the Mistral, Cisalpin and Etoile du Nord, re attaches them to a 40000 series locomotive and sets up some wine country tours.
Happy birthday TEE!
Brock
50 years ago the president of Netherlands Rail came up with the idea of high speed trains that could cross borders easily and give first rate service to both the tourist and business passenger alike. This has since morphed into the ultra fast TGV, Thalys and ICE services.
But it all started with a man and a concept.
Different countries seem to be marking it in different ways , with the French and Italians doing nothing, and the Germans doing the most, with websites, tours, even a reconstituted Rhinegold, complete with restored dome car and pulled by a B-103 loco, all freshly painted in TEE cream and red.
A group of Swiss enthusuast have purchased the old Northlander and brought it back home to Switzerland for restoration and excursion runs.
Lets hope someone buys some of the INOX cars from the Mistral, Cisalpin and Etoile du Nord, re attaches them to a 40000 series locomotive and sets up some wine country tours.
Happy birthday TEE!
Brock
