Paris-Chantilly by steam train

[sunshine817]

Hi all -- saw this in yesterday's Le Parisien, and thought someone might be interested:

L’AJECTA, le musée vivant du chemin de fer de Longueville, organise un voyage en train à vapeur à Chantilly le 3 octobre. Au départ de la gare du Nord à Paris, le trajet sera effectué dans des voitures grandes lignes de 1 r e et 2 e classe des années 1930 ainsi que dans une voiture Pullman de grand luxe. Et pour que ce voyage dans le temps soit complet, cette journée comprend la visite du musée des Tramways à vapeur et des chemins de fer secondaires de Butry-sur-Oise (95) et la visite du château de Chantilly (60).
Réservation sur le site Ajecta.org. Renseignements au 01.64.08.60.62.

The AJECTA, the living museum of railroad Longueville, is organizing a trip to the steam train at Chantilly on October 3. A From the Gare du Nord in Paris, the trip will be done in a large car lines 1 and 2 r th e class of 1930 and in a Pullman car luxury. And for that time travel is complete, this day includes a visit to the Museum of Steam Tramways and railways secondary Butry-sur-Oise (95) and the visit of the Château de Chantilly (60).
Booking on the site Ajecta.org. 01.64.08.60.62 information.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

This sounds great - wish I were going to be there!

[nutsabouttravel]

I took a quick look at the webpage and saw that this train is going to take @ 2 1/2 hours (one-way!!) Looks like fun, but I don't think I have the patience.
Mary

[sunshine817]

Oh, I don't think that speed or efficiency was ever intended to be a part of that one.

It's a special one-off trip for those with a penchant for riding the rails the old-fashioned way, and/or for afficianados of steam trains.

We're thinking seriously of going...what a neat way to travel!

(Of course, I'm the one who would love to book a ticket on the OLD Orient Express, too.)

[nutsabouttravel]

Yes, of course it's all about nostalgia...just not sure I want it that much just to go to Chantilly. HOWEVER, I have always dreamed about taking the Orient Express all the way to Istanbul. Magical!

[mossie]

Nostalgia is all very well. I remember we used to get the original smut from steam trains.
That made you sit up.
Just little oily black bits which flew out of the chimney and made a mess of all they landed on. Just the thing for a posh dress, or freshly scrubbed face. ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Sunshine and nutsabout - if you dream about the "old" Orient Express, check out the Royal Scotsman train in the UK. I did this about 15 years ago and was totally entranced. It is completely over the top, but I always have had a thing about trains and I loved it as a one-time experience (although I would have been happy to do three days - at the time the only option was six, and that was just "too much fun" all things considered).

The train itself was the most amazing part of the trip - absolutely gorgeous, and much of the time used old steam engines. The photos on their web site area quite accurate - burlwood panels, etched glass, etc etc. (Plus, this was my first experience with heated towel racks, and started a total addiction that's still in full force . . . :