LEGO Set Leak – The Orient Express 21344

Exciting news for LEGO enthusiasts who love the history of trains – the LEGO Ideas 21344 Orient Express has been slated for release on 1^st November 2023, following a leak on the LEGO online catalogue. The catalogue entry has now been taken down, but not before we were able to source some details and pictures.

Back in March 2021, LEGO Ideas member ‘LEt.sGO’ submitted their original MOC of the famous Orient Express train. After receiving a high portion of the fan vote and hitting the 10k milestone, the model was eventually selected for production after it won the top spot at the LEGO Ideas First 2022 Review Stage.

According to the leak, the brick-built train will total 2,540 pieces, making it a large AFOL train building set to rival the Hogwarts Express – Collectors’ Edition 76405 for style and sophistication.

What Is the History of The Orient Express?

The Orient Express is an iconic and romanticised long-distance train service synonymous with luxury travel, intrigue, and style. Its origins date back to 1883 when Belgian entrepreneur Georges Nagelmackers founded the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, a company dedicated to providing elegant and comfortable rail travel throughout Europe and to further, more exotic locations.

The first Orient Express service linked Paris and Istanbul, and the opulent train quickly gained fame for its luxurious amenities, gourmet cuisine, and plush sleeper cars. It soon became a symbol of sophistication and adventure, attracting elite clientele from all over the world. The train’s fame grew through the 20th century, thanks in part to the train’s inclusion in film and literature. The Orient Express’s most well-known appearance was in Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, which saw fictional detective Hercule Poirot solve a murder inside the famed carriages.

The original Orient Express route ceased in 1977 to be replaced by less glamorous services. However, private companies have resurrected the original experience in recent years, offering passengers a taste of its historic luxury.

LEGO Ideas Orient Express 21344 – Features

The Orient Express remains an enduring icon, and the new LEGO set should captivate the imaginations of train enthusiasts who dream of the bygone era of elegant, refined travel.

The official LEGO set differs from the original LEGO Ideas entry, most notably in terms of the front locomotive, which is presented in vivid royal blue. The original fan entry mimicked the Pacific PLM 231 K 8 green locomotive and carriages used by the International Night Wagon Company in the 1930s. In contrast, the final design more closely resembles a classic steam train.

The LEGO Ideas Orient Express 21344 also includes an extra passenger car, providing more opportunities for interior styling. From the catalogue leak pictured above, we can see vintage sofas, beds, a bar and seating all presented in brick-built form. The antique map hanging on the wall also provides a fun, adventurous touch.

The leak also reveals the inclusion of eight LEGO Minifigures, including a waiter, conductor, distinguished passengers, and the driver.

Keep an eye out for the set’s official announcement soon!