Occasional stops to change engines also afforded an opportunity to alight and take photos. In scenes reminiscent of a bygone railway age, enterprising Russian women marched up and down the platform selling food and drink to travellers on the regular trains, while engineers tapped wheels and axle boxes.

Providing the only link from Moscow to the Far East, parts of the Trans-Siberian were among the busiest lines in the world. It was built in sections at the behest of Czar Alexander II, as much for strategic as political reasons. Today, the railway remains a vital artery, as passenger and long freight trains flash by every few minutes.

Next stop, Novosibirsk
Arriving overnight in Novosibirsk, we embarked on a full-day tour, visiting a mineral museum, where we were shown which rocks, if touched, would bring us good fortune. More stunning was a visit to the Opera and Ballet House, one of the largest in the world and bigger even than the Bolshoi in Moscow. We were privileged to watch the performers rehearse from the side of the stage. Next day, we had a whistle-stop tour of Yekaterinburg, visiting the rather disappointing church marking where Czar Nicholas II and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918.

Our final day on the train included a visit to Kazan, capital of Tartarstan, where in brilliant sunshine we toured its Kremlin and went inside the impressive Kul Sharif mosque and took a boat cruise on the Volga allowing everyone to cool off.

And finally, Moscow
All too soon, it was a farewell dinner onboard. The next morning, we arrived at Moscow just after 6am – an impressive 10 minutes early for the 6,618-mile journey. Sad though we were to leave the train, this wasn’t the end of the tour. There was still a day and a half to take in Moscow’s delights, including the Kremlin and Red Square. We visited a cemetery where many of Russia’s most famous people are buried, and arrived in time to see former President Boris Yeltsin’s wife leaving after paying her respects.

There was one last train journey before heading for the airport – on the Moscow underground, complete with chandeliers, sculptures and frescos. What a difference to the loop line.

Travel Facts
Trevor Mason was a guest of GW Travel, which specialises in luxury train tours to Russia, China, Tibet, India and Canada. Its 15-day Trans-Siberian Golden Eagle journey, from Moscow to Vladivostok, has Silver Class (Twin Share) fares of £6,995 per person, with Gold Class (Twin Share) £8,695pp. New Heritage cabins available on selected dates (£4,995pp, twin share) don’t include en-suite toilet/shower facilities, available elsewhere in the carriage.

Prices include return flights for Silver/Gold Class passengers, transfers, B&B accom, drinks with lunch and dinner daily, 24-hour cabin service, all gratuities and onboard doctor.

Reservations: 0161 928 9410 and www.gwtravel.co.uk