Johannes Brahms and the Train: Musings on Musicians and Steam 389 As a musician, Brahms used the train when he was on tour, both when he was performing and also when he was conducting. Train travel was a lifesaver for musicians. Travelling like Franz Liszt by post-chaise in gruelling stints, over rough terrain, and often at night, was no more.35 The arduousness of travelling abroad, as Robert and Clara Schumann experienced in their trip to Russia in 1.—5.1844, was no more. On that particular trip it took the Schumanns roughly five days to cover from Sankt-Peterburg to Moskova by post-chaise and sleigh, a distance of just over 595 kms. By comparison, in 1889 it took only 14 hrs. by train; it now takes less time again, 4 ½ hrs. by direct train.36 On another tour, a trip from Sankt-Peterburg to Berlin in 1864 took Clara 44 hrs. by train; now it takes between 25—27 hrs. direct, depending on which route, and how many train changes you choose to make.37 Overall, Clara’s extensive concert touring from 1850 on was greatly alleviated by the use of trains. She wrote to her family from a ten-city tour of England in 1867: » We had a saloon [carriage], comfortably furnished with armchairs and sofas « .38 Brahms toured throughout his life. The earliest tour I am aware of was with Eduard Remenyi in 1853 in Northern Germany; a similar ›soloists‹ tour took place with Joseph Joachim in 1879 to the Siebenbürgen region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (region in modern day România). Brahms conducted lengthy concert tours in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Denmark and the Netherlands during the years 1865—69; and from 1874 on he toured very regularly, appearing in all the major cities in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and in Budapest, Praha and Kraków. Most notable in the later period was Brahms’s association with the Meininger Hofkapelle. From 1881—85 he toured with this orchestra of 49 musicians and conductor Hans v. Bülow. Brahms's performing schedule during these tours was at times extremely intense; in the 1881—82 season, for example, he played his cription of the Italian trips, see J.V. Widmann: Sizilien und andere Gegenden Italiens. Reisen mit Jo -hannes Brahms, Frauenfeld 31912. Report on going to Semmering comes from Brahms-Stephenson:p. 171 (see Note 22).35 Franz Liszt’s ›Glanzzeit‹ period was a time of prodigious touring and performing for him. Between 1839—47 Liszt gave over 1000 concerts in 10 countries covering from Ireland to Turkey in an east-west direction, and Britain to Spain in a north-south direction. See Alan Walker: Liszt, Franz. 8. The ›Glanzzeit‹, 1839–47, in: Grove Music Online, in: Oxford Music Online <www.oxfordmusiconline.com>, 27.6.2011.36 For details on the 1844 Russia trip, see John Worthen: Robert Schumann. Life and Death of a Musi -cian, New Haven and London 2007, p. 233—48; the 1889 Russian railway schedule is in E. Foxwell and T.C. Farrer: Express Trains English and Foreign, being A Statistical Account of all the Express Trains of the World with Railway Maps of Great Britain and Europe, [London] 1889, p. 159. The pre -sent day schedule was done on the » Fahrplanauskunft « on the Österreichische Bundesbahn website, <http://www.oebb.at>, 27.6.2011.37 The duration is given in Nancy B. Reich: Clara Schumann. The Artist and the Woman, Ithaca and London 1985, p. 180. The present day schedule was done on the » Fahrplanauskunft « on the Österrei-chische Bundesbahn website, <http://www.oebb.at>, 27.6.2011.38 For an overview of Clara Schumann’s extensive touring schedule, see the » Zeittafel « in Kurt Stephen -son: Clara Schumann. 1819 / 1969, Bonn/Bad Godesberg 1969, P. 78—79. Clara’s comment from Eng -land is quoted in English translation in Joan Chissel: Clara Schumann. A Dedicated Spirit, London 1983, p. 165.