9 Facts about the Orient Express Exhibition at Gardens by the Bay

Last Updated on 2021-03-19 , 3:56 pm

The Once Upon a Time on the Orient Express at Gardens by the Bay officially opened on the 17th of March, promising to bring visitors back to the famous European train’s heyday and relive the experiences of those who were once lucky enough to be passengers.

Well, now that we can’t take a Malaysian train anymore, might as well try a French one.

Haven’t heard of the exhibition before? Fret not—here are nine facts to tell you all you need to know.

1. It showcases carriages from the original Orient Express

Yep, you read that right. No lame replicas here: the exhibition will feature the very same carriages as the ones that made some of the most glamorous journeys across Europe early last century.

So precious, aren’t they? In fact, they are designated a national treasure of France.

The carriages, painstakingly shipped from France late last year, consist of a passenger car, and one of the only three remaining fourgon cars—a kind of wagon used to ferry luggage or cargo—in the world today.

The icing on the cake is the original locomotive engine, which is a whopping 158 years old and still pristinely preserved.

2. It has almost 140 years of history

The train service operated by these ancient carriages has an appropriately illustrious history.

The Orient Express was the brainchild of Belgian George Nagelmackers, who envisaged “a train that would span a continent, running on a continuous ribbon of metal for more than 1,500 miles”.

Lucky for him that COVID-19 didn’t exist back then.

Anyway, the Orient Express first started operating in 1883 from Paris to Vienna. Over the years, it broadened its list of destinations to a whole range of places like Budapest, Milan, Luxor, and Constantinople (what we now know as Istanbul).

It was the first international express train and the most luxurious, attracting the likes of royalty, nobles, and diplomats with its reputation for glamorous comfort.

The service survived the Second World War, resuming operations in 1945 after the cessation of hostilities, and continued until 1977 when the last Paris-Istanbul service ran.

Its fame and long history have earned it an enduring place in pop culture, being featured in famous works like Dracula, From Russia with Love, and Murder on the Orient Express.

3. The original decorations have been restored for the exhibition

Things aren’t always in the best shape when they are a hundred years old. But lucky for us, the exhibition spared no effort restoring every bit of the opulence the original trains were known for.

Visitors can enjoy a feast for the eyes in the passenger car, adorned generously with lemon burr and pewter marquetry. Posters and newspapers from the era adorn the wooden walls for an even more immersive experience of a journey back in time.

To truly complete your millionaire taitai dreams, decorations like Cordoba embossed leather ceilings, Lalique crystal bas-reliefs, and Gobelins tapestries are aplenty in the exhibition.

I don’t know what those are either, but they sound expensive. Guess that’s the point.

4. This is the first time the carriages have left France

Remember how the carriages are a French national treasure? Well, they are so cherished by Frenchmen that this is the first time they have been shipped overseas.

And to Singapore, no less—a place without winters but with constant humidity that the sweat coating your skin makes it impossible to forget.

Protecting the precious artefacts from this challenging climate and the arduous journey is no easy feat. The carriages were contained in infrastructure specially built for the purpose, and meticulously moved to Gardens by the Bay after arriving in Singapore.

Fret not that you are going to see the exhibition in some drab shipping container. The trains are housed in an enclosure resembling Paris’ Gare du Nord station, making your visit seem even more like a journey to 1920s Europe.

5. Orient Express Train is travelling around the world

They’d better get the shipping right, though, because these carriages are in for more bumpy rides.

That’s because this exhibition is part of a world tour: it’ll also visit China and the Express’ old destinations of Egypt and Italy.

We here in Singapore are fortunate enough to the first ones to see them, save for whoever was in Paris in the 2014 exhibition.

6. There’s also a museum experience

There are more than just carriages at the exhibition as if seeing a 150-year-old specimen of arguably the most famous train in western culture isn’t enough.

On display together with the cars are more than 300 antique items from the Orient Express’ heyday.

These range from uniforms of the train crew to original teacups used by the passengers, and even vintage, custom-made Louis Vuitton trunks that were a status symbol for passengers at the time.

The history aficionados among us are also in for a treat with an exhibition of Nagelmacker’s journey as he sought to create the Orient Express.

Documentaries and film clips are shown to flaunt the rich cultural legacy of the service, and visitors can catch glimpses of recreated scenes along its original route. Think Vienna, Luxor, Istanbul… All without a COVID-19 swab test.

7. There’s even an escape room

What other museums can claim to have that?

The Escape Room is an entirely new feature, unique to the exhibition’s stop in Singapore. It will be based on Murder on the Orient Express, where visitors play the role of a detective solving thrilling mysteries.

It is, so mysterious that it hasn’t yet opened. Perhaps go and boast on your Instagram you are the first to solve it?

8. You’ll be eating well there

You’ll probably be hungry coming out of your third try at the escape room. The good news is that the Orient Express Cafe is located right on-site, in a replica of the famed Anatolia dining car decked out in the same extravagance as the rest of the train.

Diners can expect a sumptuous meal befitting of the train’s luxury, specially crafted for the occasion by Michelin starred chef Yannick Alleno.

As is expected, the meal doesn’t come cheap, with the lunch set costing $188++ per person and the dinner $298++.

But if you are willing to pay, you can enjoy highlights from the menu like sunchoke cream, black truffle, chives and golden croutons and Gunma Wagyu grade 5 served like a millefeuille, capers jus.

What even is a wagyu millefeuille????

There is also the Orient Express Road Cafe, with snacks like pastries, sandwiches, and salads, priced from a much more reasonable $7.

9. You can combine the visit with a staycay

While you can’t stay on the train itself, you can go pretty close with the Classic Journey Through Time staycation package.

Offered in collaboration with Fairmont Singapore, the package entitles you to a one-night stay at the hotel, as well as complimentary breakfasts and two special Orient Express cocktails.

The whole deal will set you back S$438 (S$538 on Fridays and Saturdays), and you can use your SingapoRediscovers vouchers to offset the cost.

If you didn’t spend them the moment you got them last December, that is.

Once Upon A Time on The Orient Express is available from 12 Dec 2020 to 13 Jun 2021.

Gardens by The Bay

18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953

West Lawn (Next to Bayfront Plaza)

Price: $25

Admission free for 2 Years old and under

Opening Hours:

• Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday: 10.00am – 9.00pm
• Wednesday and Thursday: 10.00am – 7.00pm
• Saturday: 10.00am – 10.00pm

Operating hours are extended on selected days: 12 & 13 Feb: 10am – 10pm

Featured Image: Facebook (Orient Express Exhibition Singapore)