If you’ve been curious about this bold limited edition release, this Private Reserve Crazy Train ink review takes a close look at what the ink actually does on paper. From the bottle and box presentation to the writing performance, shimmer, water test, and dry time, Crazy Train turns out to be a memorable ink with a lot of visual personality.
At first glance, Private Reserve Crazy Train looks like it should read as a bright turquoise. In practice, though, it behaves a little differently. In our tests, it wrote much darker than expected with the J. Herbin glass dip pen, often leaning more dark blue than true turquoise. The turquoise character showed itself more clearly in lighter areas, at the end of the cotton swab test, and after the water test. Add in the visible gold shimmer and you end up with an ink that feels dramatic, rich, and a little unpredictable {in a fun way}.
Meet the Ink Maker: Private Reserve
Private Reserve is one of the best-known names in fountain pen ink and has built a reputation around bold, saturated colors. The brand’s inks are made in Europe and packaged in the United States. Private Reserve is one of the oldest American fountain pen ink companies.
Get to Know the Ink Series?
Inking up the Laban 325 Damask Celluloid fountain pen with Private Reserve Ride the Lightning purple ink, one of a series of Limited Edition ink releases inspired by rock songs.
Private Reserve Crazy Train is part of the brand’s limited edition lineup. Packaged in the brand’s 60ml ink bottle that we’ve seen them use for other recent limited edition releases, the Crazy Train limited edition fountain pen ink is limited to 1,000 bottles.
The overall concept feels energetic and theatrical. The name, packaging, and color direction all lean into motion, drama, and intensity. This is not the kind of ink that quietly blends into a page of meeting notes. It is much more at home in a journal, swatch collection, special correspondence, or anytime you want your writing to feel expressive.
This Week’s Featured Ink: Private Reserve Crazy Train
The star of this review is Private Reserve Crazy Train Limited Edition 60ml Fountain Pen Ink – described by the manufacturer as a turquoise ink with gold shimmer. (Our tests confirmed that the shimmer is definitely there. On paper, though, the color presentation was more complex than a simple “turquoise shimmer” label might suggest).
In heavier application, Crazy Train looked like a very deep blue with a moody undertone. In lighter areas and more diluted sections, the turquoise tone became more obvious. That means the color experience changes depending on how much ink is laid down, which is part of what makes this one interesting. If you like inks that shift personality a little depending on the writing conditions, Crazy Train has that appeal.
Crazy Train Ink Review Test Results
For this review, we used a J. Herbin glass dip pen that writes similarly to a medium nib and Rhodia lined paper.
Ink Bottle and Packaging: Private Reserve Limited Edition Crazy Train
Our Private Reserve Crazy Train ink review takes a closer look at this dark, dramatic turquoise shimmer ink.
The bottle and packaging are a strong part of the overall experience. Crazy Train comes in a square outer box with a dramatic themed design that matches the ink name well. The back of the box includes the ink information and the limited edition number, which is a nice detail for collectors.
The glass bottle itself is practical and reassuring to use. It has a wide cap opening, which makes the ink easy to access, and the bottle felt sturdy and stable during testing. There was no wobble, and that kind of stability matters more than people think when you are working with a shimmer ink and do not want a messy surprise on your desk.
Other Products Used During This Review
We used the following items during this review:
J. Herbin glass dip pen*
Rhodia lined paper
*Because the glass dip pen lays down a healthy amount of ink, it gave Crazy Train a good chance to show off both its dark base color and its shimmer.
Crazy Train Ink Review 1-Dip Test
Crazy Train performed very well in the one-dip test. The ink was able to write all three lines with plenty of ink left over on the dip pen, which suggests a generous, well-saturated flow in this test setup.
That strong performance lines up with the overall feel of the ink. This is not a weak or watery color. It has presence, and even a single dip delivered enough material to produce a satisfying writing sample.
Dry Time: How Fast Did Private Reserve Crazy Train Ink Dry?
In our test, Crazy Train dried in about 15 to 20 seconds on Rhodia lined paper.
That places it in a pretty manageable range for a shimmer ink, especially for such a strong color with this much saturation and visual depth. It is not instant-dry by any means, so left-handed writers or fast note-takers may still want a little caution, but it also does not feel frustratingly slow for this type of fountain pen ink.
Water Test: How Does Crazy Train Ink Respond to Water Exposure?
The water test gave Crazy Train a respectable, though not perfect, showing. After water exposure, we saw:
- visible line distortion
- some feathering
- slight fading
- better survival than expected through much of the sample
The main disruption appeared from the top to middle area of the water test. Even so, the ink held onto the page fairly well overall. It did not completely disappear, and enough remained visible to keep the writing recognizable. Interestingly, the water test also helped reveal more of the turquoise side of the ink, which became clearer once some of the darker saturation shifted.
So, this is not a waterproof ink, but it also is not a total disaster under water. It lands somewhere in the middle.
Does Crazy Train Ink Have Any Special Properties?
This is where Crazy Train gets especially interesting.
Shading: Yes, there is visible tonal variation. Heavier applications look much darker, while lighter areas reveal more of the turquoise personality underneath.
Shimmer: The gold shimmer is definitely present. It was most visible in the cotton swab tests and was slightly visible in writing with the glass dip pen. That means shimmer lovers should still get the payoff they want, though the exact effect will depend on pen, paper, and how heavily the ink is applied.
Crazy Train Ink’s Unique Color Personality:
Crazy Train is a limited edition 60ml bottled fountain pen ink in a series of releases from Private Reserve that are inspired by classic rock. The background makes Crazy Train feel pretty on-brand. It is not a shy ink. It is a limited edition shimmer release designed to grab attention, and it definitely succeeds at that.
Despite being described as turquoise in manufacturer materials, Crazy Train often wrote as a dark blue-leaning turquoise in our test setup. That is not a bad thing at all, but it is worth knowing going in. If you are expecting a bright, cheerful turquoise line in every application, you may be surprised. If you like deep jewel tones with shimmer and a little moodiness, this one will probably be more exciting.
Did Crazy Train Ink Show Any Feathering or Bleeding?
On Rhodia lined paper, we saw no feathering during normal writing and no bleed through.
That is a solid result, especially for a shimmer ink. The only feathering noted showed up during the water test after the page had been exposed to water, which is a separate situation from everyday writing performance.
Final Thoughts on This Private Reserve Crazy Train Ink Review:
Private Reserve Crazy Train is a distinctive limited edition ink with a lot going for it. It has strong presentation, a stable and easy-to-use bottle, visible gold shimmer, good paper behavior on Rhodia, and a color profile that feels richer and darker than its turquoise label might first suggest.
The biggest thing to know is that Crazy Train does not read as a bright turquoise most of the time in this test. It writes quite dark with a glass dip pen, often looking more like a deep blue with turquoise influence. The turquoise becomes easier to spot in lighter passes, after water exposure, and in the softer trailing areas of the swab. That unusual personality may actually be part of the appeal.
If you enjoy shimmer inks, like limited editions, and want something that feels a little different from the average bright turquoise, Crazy Train ink is worth a look. If what you want is a straightforward, vivid turquoise line, this one may feel moodier and darker than expected.
Have an ink you’d like to see us review next? Let us know, and shop your favorite pens, inks, and writing accessories at PenChalet.com.
FAQ Section: Frequently Asked Questions About Private Reserve Crazy Train Ink
Q: What color is Private Reserve Crazy Train ink?
A: Private Reserve Crazy Train is officially described as a turquoise ink with gold shimmer, but in our testing it often wrote as a very dark blue-leaning turquoise, especially in heavier applications (with gold shimmer).
Q: Does Private Reserve Crazy Train have shimmer?
A: Yes. Crazy Train includes gold shimmer that was clearly visible in the cotton swab tests and slightly visible in writing with the glass dip pen.
Q: Is Private Reserve Crazy Train a limited edition ink?
A: Yes. Private Reserve Crazy Train is a limited edition 60ml fountain pen ink with only 1,000 bottles made.
Q: How fast does Private Reserve Crazy Train dry?
A: In our Rhodia paper test using a J. Herbin glass dip pen, the ink dried in about 15 to 20 seconds.
Q: Is Private Reserve Crazy Train waterproof?
A: No. The water test showed visible distortion, some feathering, and slight fading, although the ink still remained fairly readable overall.
Q: Did Private Reserve Crazy Train feather or bleed on Rhodia paper?
A: No feathering or bleed through appeared during normal writing on Rhodia lined paper during our tests.
Q: What size bottle does Private Reserve Crazy Train come in?
A: Private Reserve Crazy Train ink is packaged in a 60ml glass ink bottle with a custom label that matches the custom box.
