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On October 4, 1883, the first Orient Express departed from the Gare de Strasbourg in Paris. It was an ambitious venture, carrying only 24 passengers who were skeptical about the train's potential for success. This doubt stemmed from a botched earlier attempt to launch the service. Travelling through Europe during this period, characterized by burgeoning imperialism and nationalistic tensions, Nagelmackers endeavored to create a railway that transcended borders.
According to historian Rainer Mertens, the railway systems at the time were a “patchwork” of different gauges and safety systems, making Nagelmackers' dream a tremendous undertaking. He had invested his entire fortune into this project, yet the odds seemed stacked against him.