They met on a European sleeper train. They’ve been married for nearly 30 years

Francesca Street, CNN
11 minute read
Published 5:19 AM EST, Thu December 15, 2022
<strong>Train romance</strong>: Londoner Katy Vernon and American Randy Vanderwood met when they boarded the same overnight train from Amsterdam to Berlin in the summer of 1991. Today, Katy and Randy are married and live together in the US.
Train romance: Londoner Katy Vernon and American Randy Vanderwood met when they boarded the same overnight train from Amsterdam to Berlin in the summer of 1991. Today, Katy and Randy are married and live together in the US.
Graphic by Alberto Mier, CNN. Photos courtesy Katy Vernon
<strong>Chance meeting: </strong>Katy, second from left, was traveling around Europe with friends, while Randy, second from right, was traveling with his brother. After meeting on the train, they all joined forces to explore Berlin, Germany, where they took this photo.
Chance meeting: Katy, second from left, was traveling around Europe with friends, while Randy, second from right, was traveling with his brother. After meeting on the train, they all joined forces to explore Berlin, Germany, where they took this photo.
Courtesy Katy Vernon
<strong>Exploring Berlin</strong>: Here's Katy and one of her friends with Randy and his brother, in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
Exploring Berlin: Here's Katy and one of her friends with Randy and his brother, in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
Courtesy Katy Vernon
<strong>Growing closer:</strong> The group went on to Greece, where they're pictured here. Exploring the Greek islands, Randy and Katy grew closer. "I was very, very immediately just attracted to just what a nice, calm, funny person he was," Katy tells CNN Travel.
Growing closer: The group went on to Greece, where they're pictured here. Exploring the Greek islands, Randy and Katy grew closer. "I was very, very immediately just attracted to just what a nice, calm, funny person he was," Katy tells CNN Travel.
Courtesy Katy Vernon
<strong>Summer visit:</strong> In summer 1992, Katy visited Randy in the US. Here's the two at Badlands National Park in South Dakota. "When she went back to England, that's when it hit me, 'Oh my gosh, I really like this girl. She is great. I really miss her,'" says Randy.
Summer visit: In summer 1992, Katy visited Randy in the US. Here's the two at Badlands National Park in South Dakota. "When she went back to England, that's when it hit me, 'Oh my gosh, I really like this girl. She is great. I really miss her,'" says Randy.
Courtesy Katy Vernon
<strong>New chapter:</strong> Randy proposed to Katy at the end of 1992. They started to plan a new chapter of their lives together, in the US.
New chapter: Randy proposed to Katy at the end of 1992. They started to plan a new chapter of their lives together, in the US.
Courtesy Katy Vernon
<strong>Wedding day: </strong>Randy and Katy were married in Minneapolis in 1993.
Wedding day: Randy and Katy were married in Minneapolis in 1993.
Courtesy Katy Vernon
<strong>Three decades later:</strong> Three decades after they first met, and almost 30 years since their wedding, Randy and Katy still live together in Minneapolis.
Three decades later: Three decades after they first met, and almost 30 years since their wedding, Randy and Katy still live together in Minneapolis.
Courtesy Katy Vernon