Product Features and Details
Prototype: German Federal Railroad (DB) skirted passenger car. AB4üwe-39/52 model, 1st and 2nd class Use: Long distance express trains on the Rhine Valley line.
Model: Era III, Görlitz trucks. Train destination signs for "Rheingold". NEM coupler pockets and close coupler mechanism. Length over buffers 251 mm / 9-7/8".
In the 1930s, both the German State Railways and industry were working on improving aerodynamics; these efforts were not devoted solely to locomotives. Express train passenger cars were also given streamlined forms. The driving motivation was primarily an increase in travel speeds. Decreased coal and water consumption was also on the railway's wish-list. Innovations on the ends of the cars were particularly noticeable. Here the side walls extended 150 mm / 2-29/32" onto the buffers. In addition, the doors were no longer recessed, but rather were in the same plane as the sidewall. Side wall skirting that covered the upper area of the bogies lent the car family the name: "Skirted passenger car". Due to the fittings the weight of the first design, increased by approximately a ton, over the weight of the standard car, which was technically identical. As with other designs, various versions were produced. Initially the German State Railways received 3rd class skirted passenger cars. They had nine compartments, offering seats for 72 passengers. After doing away with the 3rd class, they were in service for the DB as 2nd class cars, before they had to make way for the modern 26.4 m / 86' 7" cars.
