The nostalgic Orient Express was operated by the Schweizer Mittel Thurgau rail company (MThB). When the nostalgic Orient Express was driven under the contact wire, it was often connected to a locomotive which was painted in the special night blue colour of the Orient Express. This was a locomotive of the series Ae 477, a former E 42 of the DR. In 1994, 12 of the E 42 were sold to Switzerland.