Part 5/9:
The inaugural trip of the Orient Express became a testament to Nagelmackers' planning and innovation. With esteemed passengers aboard, including Henri de Blowitz, a journalist from The Times, and notable diplomats and bank directors, the trip was not only a demonstration of luxury but also of diplomacy.
Edmund About, a journalist accompanying the trip, initially harbored reservations, skeptical that Nagelmackers could deliver a service superior to existing train offerings. However, the attention to detail—from elegant dining arrangements to the sophisticated design of the sleeping compartments—changed his mind.