Tito's Train - Audio Tour
Welcome!
Introduction
Welcome to the Blue Train Audio Tour. Join Fay as your guide through seven stops that reveal the history, stories, and hidden details of this extraordinary train. From royal dinners to moments of national memory, each carriage holds a piece of Yugoslavia’s past — inviting you to step back in time.
Josip Broz Tito led Yugoslavia from the end of World War II until his death in 1980. Charismatic and politically skilled, he united a diverse nation and maintained its independence during the Cold War. Both admired and controversial, Tito’s legacy continues to shape the region. He is buried in the House of Flowers in Belgrade, a memorial dedicated to his life and leadership.
Built in the 1950s in Maribor, Slovenia, the Blue Train represented both luxury and Yugoslav unity. Its royal-blue carriages featured native woods, Murano glass, and Czech crystal, all crafted by local designers. Powered by Yugoslav-made diesel-electric locomotives, it could reach 120 kilometres per hour — an impressive speed for its era.
The Blue Train served as Tito’s travelling stage for diplomacy and display. Aboard it, he hosted figures such as Fidel Castro, Haile Selassie, Indira Gandhi, and Richard Nixon. When Queen Elizabeth II toured Yugoslavia in 1972, the train became a symbol of Tito’s careful balance between East and West — a moving showcase of power, hospitality, and prestige.