TYPES AND CLASSIFICATION OF REICHSBAHN CARS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700230021-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 12, 2011
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: March 9, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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STAT
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TYPES AND CLASSIFICATION OF REICRSBARA CARS
Der Modelleisenbahner, Vol I
Leipzig, Dec 1852
All rolling stock of the Reichsbahn has number designations. This
applies to passenger cars and freight cars, as well as to rail motorcars
and locomotives. Numbers indicating the type have always been used for
passenger cars, but types of freight cars were originally designated by
the names of cities, so-called type-districts. Recently, however, series
numbers have also been given to freight cars.
Types
Passenger cars include the following types:
1. Express-train cars
2. Cars for local passenger trains, including cars for fast passenger
trains (Eilzuege)
a. Four axles
b. Three axles
C. Two axles
3. Dining cars
i+? Sleeping cars
5. Special cars fag., prime, cars] and specially equipped cars [for dig-
nitaries and cars for deluxe trains]
6. Baggage cars used in passenger trains
Express-train cars and cars for fast passenger trains are cars for
speeds over 90 kilometers per hour. The two types differ mainly in the
arrangement of compartments, the platform passageways (gangway from car
to car), and the number of doors.
In most cases, cars for express trains have a side corridor and
closed compartments, platform passageways with diaphragms, and one door
on each side at the ends of the cars.
Cars for fast passenger trains, by contrast, have a continuous center
corridor, a single compartment in the center of the car, open platform
passageways (only isolated cars of this type have diaphragms), and two
doors on each side of each end of the car. Second-class cars for fast
passenger trains are an exception; they have only one door at each end of
each side. The platform is separated from the interior of the car by
sliding door.
The older cars for local passenger trains are usually compartment
cars with three or four axles. Each compartment has its own door to the
outside at each side of the compartment.
STAT
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't'he newer cars for local passenger trains have two axles, except for cars
Vc.r fast passenger trains, which are generally classed among the never cars
for local passenger trains. Most of the older types (including express-train
cars) are of clerestory-type construction, but the newer types have arched
roofs. Entrances are at either end of the car via open platforms. The in-
terior of the car, with a center aisle, is divided into two sections by a
partition with a door. The toilets are located next to this middle parti-
tion. In second-class cars, the platforms are enclosed (as in cars for fast
passenger trains) All these cars have open platform passage
cars, -ways between
Dining cars are four-axle express-train cars, each equipped with a
kitchen and a dining room. They are owned by the "MITROPA" (Central Euro-
pean Dining and Sleeping Car Company). They are painted wine red with the
MIIROPA' on the sides.
Sleeping cars may have four or six axles. Each of the compartments,
with two berths each, has a windowless door to the continuous corridor along
the side of the car. The color scheme and lettering are similar to those
of the dining cars.
For government officials and delegations, or for special trains (e.g.,
the [West German] Rheingold-Express), the Reichsbahn provides express-train
cars with special interior equipment. These cars come under the categories
of special cars or specially equipped cars.
Almost every passenger train includes a baggage car. Those for ex-
pre- trains have four axles. The cupola for the chief train conductor has
been streamlined in the newer baggage cars. The train conductor and the
baggagemaster have their stations at one end or in the center of this car.
Baggage cars for local passenger trains have either two or three axles.
Some of the baggage cars are constructed as combined baggage and mail cars.
Mail car;, arc the property of the Postal Service. These two- ,three-,
and four-axle cars are equipped as post offices. Within these cars postal
employees sort and stamp mail during the run, unload it at destinations, and
receive new loads, Like the older express-train cars, the older mail cars
also have clerestory roofs. The newest mail cars, on the other hand, have
roof windows which curve with the roof. Prison cars, used to transport per-
sons in police custody, have only small windows with opaque glass and iron
gratings and only one entrance. They are two-axled and four-axled.
Classification
Each type of car has its own special designation expressed in letters
and/or numbers and painted on each car. The following designations can be
seen to the upper left on each side of a railroad car:
1. Number of the car and abbreviation of the Reichsbahn Directorate
to which the car is assigned, e.g., 33 501 Bln (Berlin)
2.. Type symbol, e.g., BC 4 1
3. Weight of the car
4. Number of seats, subdivided by classes
5. Length of car including buffers
6. Type.of brakes and braking force for various brake settings.
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Additional symbols are to be found on the side sill. These are described
below.
The type symbol is one of the most important designations on the car. It
is composed of the main type symbol and the subsidiary type symbol. The mean-
ing of the individual letters is indicated by the following table. The number
in the type symbol indicates the number of axles of the car, and is used only
when the car has more than twa axles (3, 4, or 6).
Main Type Symbols
A Car has first-class compartments
B Car has second-class compartments
C Car has third-class compartments
AB Car has first- and second-class compartments
ABC Car has first-, second-, and third-class compartments
Pw Baggage car for passenger train
BCPW Combined passenger and baggage car (second- and third-class
compartments)
CPw Combined passenger and baggage car (third-class compartments)
Post Mail car
BCPost Combined passenger and mail car (second- and third-class
compartments)
CPost Combined passenger and mail car (third-cl.ass.compartments)
PwPost Combined baggage and mail car
Sdr Specially equipped car [for important passengers]
Dienst Service car
WIAB
WIABC
Sleeping car with first- and second-class compartments
Sleeping car with first-, second-, and third-class compart-
ments
WIC Sleeping car with third-class compartments
WR Dining car
Z Prison car
u Car has platform passages with diapbragms (C 4 (I)
p? Car which originally had open platform passages, but has now
been equipped with passages with diaphragms for use in ex-
press trains (C 4 tip)
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d Cars of the former fourth class (wooden benches)
v Car'equipped provisionally with benches
Kr Car with compartment for the sick (C 3 Kr)
S Special car (SB 6 8)
K Car with kitchen (Pw 4 i K)
e Car equipped with electric heating (C 4 lie)
L Car equipped with loud speakers for train radio (C 4 1 2)
[sic)
Mci Former freight cars remodeled as passenger cars during World
War II
The type symbol and the number of a car has a definite relation ta each
other. The following series of numbers designate types as indicated:
8001 --
9999
10001
--
10199
10201
--
10999
214001
--
215001
20001
--
29999
30001
--
39999
40001
--
98999
99001
--
.99999
100001
--
104999
105001
--
132999
133001
--
137999
140001
--
149999
165001
--
169999
183.01
--
198.99
Cars for Bavarian and Wuerttemberg local railroad line
Prison cars
Express-train cars
Express-train, cars
Second-class cars for local passenger trains
Second- and third-class cars for local passenger trains
Third-class cars for local passenger trains
Combined passenger and baggage cars
Combined baggage and mail cars
Baggage cars
Rail motorcars with internal combustion engines
Rail motorcar trailers, including those equipped with
controls
All cars of the Berlin S-Bahn (intraurban Railroad)
All direct-current rail motorcars (except S-Bahn)
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Of great importance for the train personnel is the indication of the
type of brake and the appropriate braking force. Brake types are indicated
by the following abbreviations:
Kkgbr Kunze-Knorr freight-train brake (not on cars for passenger
trains)
Kkpbr Kur.ze-Knorr brake for local passenger-trains
Kksbr Kunze-Knorr express-train brake
Hikgbr Hildebrand-Knorr brake for freight trains
Hikgl Hildebrand-Knorr brake for freight trains with automatic
brakes (mechanische Lastabbremsung)
Hikpbr Hildebrand-Knorr brake for local passenger trains
Hikpt Hildebrand-Knorr brake for passenger rail motorcars
Hiksbr Hildebrand-Knorr brakes for express trains
Hikssbr
On the side sill of the car is a lever to set the brakes for the appro-
priate tonnage indicated under the designation for the type of brake.
Some of the older cars still have brakes which, once they are activated,
release all pressure at once. The symbols on such cars appear then as fol-
lows:
rWpbr
E
-p 19.7 tons
B 14.4 tons
E Single release brake
P In local-passenger-train position
B In operating position
The brake is set in operating position when the car is running in a
freight train.(in this case the brake functions slowly).
Symbols on the Side Sill
Cars which may be used on foreign railroads carry the symbol RIC. If
they may. be used only for certain foreign railroads, the abbreviation of
such railroads must be indicated after the RIC symbol. Also on the side
sill is the-neme.of the home station, information on wheel base, distance
between center pins, type of heating, inspection dates, and similar infor-
mation.
STAT
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The
Hhz
Nhz
Whz
Whzv
Combined high- and low-pressure steam heat
Circulation steam beat (low-pressure and sub-pressure
steam heat)
Hot-water heat
Wheatiarm-wang ter (cooling water) heating and auxiliary
from the exhaust of internal-combustion
motorcars
High-pressure steam heat
Low-pressure steam heat
Phz Pressed-coal heat
Ohz Stove heat
el Bel Electric lighting (followed usually by the voltage)
Einh Dyn Bel Uniform dynamo lighting
*~) Flexible axl
es (Vereinslenkachsen
more than a 4.5-meter wheel base) (for cars with
Wheel base of car, Wheel base between axles of trucks,
distance between center pins of trucks
Lighting in operating order
Length oi' the transmission belt between the axle of
the car and the belt pulley of the generator (for
producing electric current)
Best place to Jack up the car for major repairs
II. FREIGHT CARS
Freight cars are divided into three main groups:
1. Cover-I freight cars [boxcars, etc.]
2. Open freight cars
3? Thnk cars
The covered cars transport freight requiring protection against midity and theft, and explosive or highly inflammable fret
animals, corpses, and, hu-
in special cases, also fit, as well as
persons.
Open cars transport other freight. If such freight also requires
tection from humidity or from sparks from the locomotive it is covered with
tarpaulin. Particularly ly heavy loads are carried on heavy-duty cars (de
duty
dut tra -
pressedcenter flatcars). Heavy-duty cars are not to be confused used With heavy-
d as which Heavy -duty trains [above-norm freight trains
eavy_
train load port weights at least 10 Percent ] han the hei orr mal
Heavy-duty cars, on the other hand, arere4quir e d ry Aped tt to carry
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symbols on the side sill have the following meanings;
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e.,pecially heavy shipments. For shipments of long timber, two flatcars are
connected, either by the timbers which are being carried or by means of
normal screw coupling.
Tank cars are used to transport liquid or gaseous products.
Formerly each type of freight car was designated by the name of a city,
the so-called type-district. On the Reichsbahn, and recently also on the
Bundesbahn, all freight cars are now being re-marked and the type-districts
replaced by type numbers.
As in the case of locomotives and passenger cars, the type numbers
aLd type symbols have a close relationship. The type symbol is made up of
a group symbol and a subsidiary symbol. Subsidiary symbols, in the form
of small letters, are added to the group symbols whenever the type of con-
struction of' the car in question varies from the characteristics specified
by the group symbol (15 tons carrying capacity, etc.). The subsidiary sym-
bols, as used in connection with the group symbols, are as follows:
Subsidiary In Conjunction
Symbol With Group Symbol
Open braking stand, platform railings
b
G, R, and T
Ferry boat car
c
0
Wooden walls 130-190 centimeters
height
d
Z and ZZ
Heating coil or heating tank
e
All group symbols
Wired for electric heating
ee
G
Wired and equipped for :lectric
heating
f
T
For ocean fish only
f
0 and 00
Ends which swing open or fold down
for transportation of vehicles
g
T
For frozen products only
gg
T
For dry ice and frozen products only
h
All group symbols
Equipped with steam heat pipes
hh
G and GG
Has pipe and equipment for steam
heat
i
Z and ZZ
Container car with inner lining
k
0
Refrigerator car, older type
Is
0
'Container (vat) car.(2 or 3 removable
containers)
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Subsidiary In Conjunction
Symbol With Group Symbol
Meaning
Car for large containers
Loading space less than 13 meters
long
k SS
k T and TT
kk 0
Car for small containers
Loading area at least 26 square
meters
Two cars coupled short to form a
Leig unit [For concept of Leig,
see below]
m
G, K, 0, R, and S
Carrying capacity 20 tons
mm
K, 0, and R
More than 20 tons carrying capacity
n
T
Not suitable for frozen products
'a
0and00
Low side walls (40-80 centimeters)
0
R
Without side or end slats
No meat hooks
P
G
Tare weight 16 tons, three axles
P
0
Non-dumping
q
All group symbols
Without through-coupling equipment
.q
All group symbols
Type number 00 (zero zero), car for
limited use only, loading weight
reduced
t G and GG
t KK
Adjustable to broad gauge
Suitable for trains up to 100 kilo-
meters per hour
Doors in end walls
Hatch-covered hopper car
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Depressed-center flatcar, length not
indicated by subsidiary symbol
Rail motorcar for freight
Not suitable for transport of per-
sons or vehicles
Cattle car, compartment for attendant
With electric ventilators
Carrying capacity less than 15 tons
Carrying capacity less than 30 tons
Carrying capacity less than 35 tons
Heavy-duty car; carrying capacity
50 tons; length o loading space
8.8 meters, or 9.5 meters with
platform railings collapsed; open
brakeman's platform; adaptable for
broad gauge
Heavy-duty car; carrying capacity
more than 50 tons; length of loading
space 11.2 meters, or 11.9 meters
with platform railings collapsed;
open brakeman's platform; adjustable
to broad gauge
z 0 and 00 Car :or transportation of ore
A Leig unit is two G1 cars coupled short. Leig trains (Leichtgueter-
zuege, light freight trains) run on particular sections o the lines (for
instance, Leipzig-Gera-Leipzig or Erfurt-Eisenach-Erfurt) ani load and un-
load LCL freight at all freight stations along the may. The G1 cars, which
are painted reddish-brown, usually carry a large white sign reading "rapid
LCL freight service" (Stueckgut-Schnellverkehr).
The type numbers correspond to the type symbols. They are:
0 02 -- 01 -- 01 to 17 -- 99 -- 99
Gil 20 -- 01 -- of " 20 -- 99 -_ 99
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Subsidiary In Conjunction
Symbol With Group Symbol
t 0
t 00
t xx
Self-unloading car, inclined floor,
drop doors, some with hoppers
Self-unloading car, inclined drop
doors, side doors
Drop doors, some with hoppers, col-
lapsible side walls, removable end
walls
v G and GG
v T
w G, GG, V, 0, and X
W 00
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In addition to the
indicated below:
18
-- O1 -- O1 to 19 -- 99
-- 99
21
-- O1 -- O1 22 -- 99
-- 99
23
-- 01 -- of 23 -- 99
-- 99
26
-- of -- 01 47 -- 99
-- 99 and
49
-- O1 -- 01 49 -- 99
-- 99
50
-- O1 -- Ol 50 -- 99
-- 95
61
-- of -- 01 62 -- 99
-- 99 and
63
-- 01 of 63 -- 99
-- 99
64
-- of -- O1 66 -- 99
-- 99
68 -- 01 -- 01 68 -- 99
-- 99
89 -- 01 -- 01 89 -- 99
-- 99
groups listed above, the following cars are numbered
Railroad service cars
71
10
01
79
--
99
--
99
.Service Freight cars
81
10
01
85
--
99
--
99
Freight-train baggage cars
88
of
01
88
--
99
--
99
Station or yard cars
90
--
10
--
01
90
--
99
--
99
Other freight cars
91
--
01
--
01
95
--
99
--
99
oars suitable for limited use only
00
01
01
00
99
99
Freight-train baggage cars and railroad service cars are painted green or
gray; refrigerator cars, white or gray; tank cars, steel-gray; nd all other
freight cars, reddish brown. The underframe of all cars is painted black.
The following symbols are also to be noted:
? Private car
Rented car of the people-owned sector of the economy
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STAT
12.5 tons
18 tons
24.5 tons
27.5 tons
30 tons
35 tons
Symbol for cars which must not be humped
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