Passenger car set express train car Rheingold DRG Ep.II 6-part

Rheingold - travel like kings. After the catastrophe of the First World War and the political upheavals in Europe, travel regained popularity. The railways were almost exclusively used over long distances, as they promised quick and easy transport. Long-distance transport was dominated by privately-owned sleeping and dining car companies, which offered a wide range to the greatest luxury. The Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG) did not want to stand idly by the competition and the young, self-confident company decided to emphasize its presence on the rails of Europe with a luxury train of international character. In 1927, the German Reichsbahn officially announced the order of express train passenger cars for the formation of FD trains that should be innovation and comfort on rails. The construction involved the "who's who" of the German wagon construction industry; The Waggon and Maschinenfabrik AG, Görlitz and the Wegmann & Co. waggon factory, among others, built a total of 26 Rheingold saloon cars: 4 1st class cars, SA4ü, with 28 seats. 4 cars 1st class, SA4üK, with kitchen and 20 seats. 8 cars 2nd class, SB4ü with 43 seats and 10 cars 2nd class, SB4üK, with kitchen and 29 seats. At the time, they were the longest German wagon with a length of 23.50 m. The superstructures were all-steel constructions and the total weight was between 50 and 52 t: in other words, up to 12 t more than a normal express train wagon. Especially for the "Rheingold" series bogies (Görlitz II heavy) were developed, which had to withstand high pulling speeds and had an axle of 3.60 m. In addition, there were 3 SPw4ü 19,68 m long over buffers and facilities for customs and dog transport. By their extremely elegant paint the representative cars aroused attention and interest. Initially, your skin was in a plum-like color with a window band in cream, later violet / cream with the well-known golden "Rheingold" lettering. The interiors offered the highest luxury, in the first class even single upholstered chairs with high backrests. It was received on different wishes of the travelers, so there were both compartments, as well as larger auditorium. From the beginning, the Rheingold did not have to shy away from the comparison with the Orient Express, and the travelers enjoyed the luxury of saloon cars, as formerly known only to crowned heads. The interior was adapted to the taste of the time, well-known German artists and architects were involved and unmistakably reflected the influences of the artistic-avant-garde college for construction and design in Dessau; with names like Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe or Paul Klee. The passengers of the train operating between Basel and Hoek van Holland were offered the best meals on the course and for the time an exception customs and passport controls in the train, which significantly shortened the travel time. Of the importance and importance of the train were all participating railway administrations convinced and it was a matter of course that each of the most powerful and beautiful locomotives straddled the Rhinegold. Due to the outbreak of World War II the Rheingold came to a sudden end and its vehicles were parked at the outbreak of war or used for special operations of the Wehrmacht and the Red Cross and after 1945 for the occupying powers.