Military Officer - April 2006 - (Page 48)

came from the chef de train as he said, “As you can see, the passenger lies dead in his berth — stabbed. Not once but twelve times.” ■ Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian sleuth, twisted the points of his upward curled mustache as he looked at the bloodied dead man. “The murderer is with us — on the train now … .” A shaft of light from the train’s window moved across the page of the book I was reading, Murder on the Orient Express, as the American Orient Express rounded a curve. The soothing sound of the wheels on the rails and the swaying motion of the car caused my mind to wander . . . Albert Finney, I thought, picturing the face of the actor who portrayed the Belgian detective created by author Agatha Christie in the movie. Then there was Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset — “It’s gorgeous,” Miriam, my companion, sighed, interrupting my reverie. “A snow-laden wonderland.” Following her gaze, I looked out the window. The blue-and-gold cars of the American Orient Express snaked through a forest of evergreen trees, boughs heavy with snow. A cascading stream led to the next bend of the rail line. Through the trees I glimpsed Mount Shasta, a cone-shaped pinnacle of snow. “My breath leaves me, it’s so spectacular,” Miriam said dreamily. “I love this luxurious train. It’s like riding on a magic carpet.” Letting my eyes wander from the ever-changing view, I looked around the New York Observation Car, the 48 MILITARY OFFICER APRIL 2006 A STRANGLED GASP last car on the train. (There are 15 cars, including the engine and crew’s car, eight Pullman sleepers, two dining cars, the piano lounge, the dome car, and the observation car we were relaxing in.) Passengers were seated in plush sofa chairs and on a circular settee, which offered panoramic views through a curved bay window. Mahogany panels and gleaming brass ﬁxtures added to the oldworld ambience, reminding me of photographs I had seen of the original Orient Express, which traveled from Paris to Istanbul, a 65-hour rail ride. That Orient Express began its ﬁrst trip in 1883 and was dubbed “The Magic Carpet to the East.” The American version has its roots in 1945 when construction, or renovation, of the train’s cars began. Many of the vintage carriages were assembled from museums and private collections. The American Orient Express (www.americanori entexpress.com or (800) 320-4206) became ﬁrmly established in the 1990s as a “cruise train.” Today rail routes travel America’s West Coast, the Great Northwest, American Southwest, and the South. Many private companies around the country offer fun excursions on everything from steam locomotives to modern diesels through some of the nation’s most superb natural landscapes. Here are some of MOAA’s top picks: ■ Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (877) 872-4607 www.durangotrain.com In continuous operation since 1882, this Colorado railroad once carried gold and silver ore out of the San Juan Mountains, but passengers have always loved the ride from Durango to Silverton for its amazing Rocky Mountain scenery. ■ Grand Canyon Railway (800) THE-TRAIN (843-8724) www.thetrain.com Offering day trips as well as overnight packages, the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona plies the prairie to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Package options aboard ALL ABOARD this 105-year-old line include motor coach tours of the national park as well as overnight accommodations at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. ■ Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (800) 872-4681 www.gsmr.com This rail line, which departs from both Dillsboro and Bryson City in North Carolina, offers a variety of options, including gourmet dinner trains and mystery trains through the Smokies and excursions into the Nantahala Gorge. Combination tickets allow for a train ride and a whitewater rafting trip. — Deborah R. Huso PHOTOS: PREVIOUS SPREAD AND THIS SPREAD, COURTESY AMERICAN ORIENT EXPRESS http://www.americanorientexpress.com http://www.americanorientexpress.com http://www.durangotrain.com http://www.gsmr.com http://www.thetrain.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - April 2006

Military Officer - April 2006 Contents From the Editor President’s Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Lap of Luxury Magic Carpet of the Rails Blue Ridge Wonderland Salud, Santé, Cin Cin! Cover Story: Wounded Warriors On Duty MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services Pages of History Information Exchange Member Books MOAA Calendar Advertising Index Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - April 2006

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