German railway wagon classes
Encyclopedia
The system of German railway wagon classes (Wagengattungen) was introduced in Germany in 1902 and 1905 by the Prussian state railways
based on their system of norms
, and was soon taken up by the other state railways (Länderbahnen
). On the formation of the Deutsche Reichsbahn
, the system became mandatory across the whole of Germany. In the course of the years more and more adjustments to it were made. It was finally replaced between 1964 and 1968 when the two German railway administrations - the Deutsche Bundesbahn
and the Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany) - adopted the internationally standard UIC classifications for passenger coaches and goods wagons. Today, you will still find the system regularly being used for narrow gauge
goods wagons, because these were not generally given UIC designations, as well as on many historic vehicles.
The wagon class comprises one or more main class letters (Hauptgattungszeichen) (in capitals, sometimes with lower case letters in between) and possibly several secondary class letters (Nebengattungszeichen) (always in lower case). Combinations of several main class letters are possible, e.g. on passenger coaches with different accommodation classes.
wagons, the last letter of the main class was doubled to begin with, e.g. BC → BCC, G → GG (exceptions were the Post, Salon, Schlaf und Speise where there was no difference). From 1928 the system was changed on passenger coaches. Instead of doubling the letters, the number of axles was indicated where it was greater than two. So an eight-wheeled BC coach was no longer classified as a BCC but as a BC4. That now made it possible to distinguish passenger coaches with three axles or more. For goods wagons, the doubling of letters was retained. Only on Dgw and ZM wagons was the differentiation dropped, whilst the BT, H, Pwg, V and VO wagons had no bogie variants anyway.
Prussian state railways
The term Prussian state railways encompasses those railway organisations that were owned or managed by the State of Prussia...
based on their system of norms
German state railway norms
In German railway engineering, norms are standards for the design and production of railway vehicles.In the 1880s and 1890s, Prussian norms were developed for the locomotives, tenders and wagons of the Prussian state railways under the direction of the railway director responsible for railway...
, and was soon taken up by the other state railways (Länderbahnen
Länderbahnen
The German term Länderbahnen generally refers to the state railways of the German Empire in the period from about 1840 to 1920 when they were merged into the Deutsche Reichsbahn after the First World War....
). On the formation of the Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn was the name of the following two companies:* Deutsche Reichsbahn, the German Imperial Railways during the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath...
, the system became mandatory across the whole of Germany. In the course of the years more and more adjustments to it were made. It was finally replaced between 1964 and 1968 when the two German railway administrations - the Deutsche Bundesbahn
Deutsche Bundesbahn
The Deutsche Bundesbahn or DB was formed as the state railway of the newly established Federal Republic of Germany on September 7, 1949 as a successor of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft '...
and the Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany) - adopted the internationally standard UIC classifications for passenger coaches and goods wagons. Today, you will still find the system regularly being used for narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
goods wagons, because these were not generally given UIC designations, as well as on many historic vehicles.
The wagon class comprises one or more main class letters (Hauptgattungszeichen) (in capitals, sometimes with lower case letters in between) and possibly several secondary class letters (Nebengattungszeichen) (always in lower case). Combinations of several main class letters are possible, e.g. on passenger coaches with different accommodation classes.
Main class letters
In order to distinguish bogieBogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
wagons, the last letter of the main class was doubled to begin with, e.g. BC → BCC, G → GG (exceptions were the Post, Salon, Schlaf und Speise where there was no difference). From 1928 the system was changed on passenger coaches. Instead of doubling the letters, the number of axles was indicated where it was greater than two. So an eight-wheeled BC coach was no longer classified as a BCC but as a BC4. That now made it possible to distinguish passenger coaches with three axles or more. For goods wagons, the doubling of letters was retained. Only on Dgw and ZM wagons was the differentiation dropped, whilst the BT, H, Pwg, V and VO wagons had no bogie variants anyway.
| Period When Valid (if limited) |
Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| A | Passenger coach 1st class | |
| B | Passenger coach 2nd class | |
| BB | 1928 to 1938 | Former BC. 3rd class (C) compartments subsequently upholstered for 2nd class |
| BT | from ? | Groß Behälter-Tragwagen. Large container-carrying flat wagon. |
| C | to 1956 | Passenger coach 3rd class |
| CC | 1928 to 1938 | Former CD. 4th class (D) compartments subsequently fitted with benches for 3rd class. |
| D | to 1928 | Passenger coach 4th class |
| Dienst | from ? | Dienstwagen. Works wagon. |
| D… | from 1952 (DR) | Doppelstockwagen. Double-decker coach (only in combination with B, C, Pw) |
| DGB | from 1957 (DR) | Doppelstock-Gliederzug, 2nd class. Double-decker articulated train Articulated car Articulated cars are rail vehicles which are consist of a number of smaller, lighter cars which are semi-permanently attached to each other and which share common trucks. They are much longer than single passenger cars, and on the TGV Réseau, for example, 8 cars are joined this way... , 2nd class |
| DGR | from 1958 (DR) | Buffet car for the double-decker articulated train |
| Dgw | from ? (DB) | Dienstgüterwagen. Works wagon. |
| G | Gedeckter Güterwagen. Covered van Boxcar A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads... . |
|
| HH | to 1923 | Langholzwagenpaar. Log wagon pair. |
| H | from 1924 | Cradle wagon. Type of Langholzwagen or log wagon. |
| K | Klappdeckelwagen. Lidded wagon. | |
| K… | from ? | Narrow gauge passenger coach (only in combination with A, B, C, D, Pw, Post) |
| …K | from 1954 (DR) | Passenger coach with Küche (kitchen). (not in combination mit WL, WR) |
| …L | 1933 to 1956 | Lokalbahnwagen. Branch line Branch line A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line... coach. (only in combination with B, C, Pw, Post) |
| L… | from 1957 (DB) | Lokalbahnwagen. Branch line coach. (only in combination with B, C, Pw, Post) |
| …L | from 1956 (DB) | Liegewagen. Couchette coach. |
| …L(Z) | from 1954 (DR) | Coach with Lautsprechern für Zugfunk (loudspeakers for train communication). |
| M… | from 1943 (DR only to 1954) |
Provisional wartime coach (only in combination with B, C, Pw) |
| M | from 1954 (DR) | Passenger coach of goods van design |
| M | from about 1957 (DR) | Militärwagen? Military van Troop sleeper In United States railroad terminology, a troop sleeper was a railroad passenger car which had been constructed to serve as something of a mobile barracks for transporting troops over distances sufficient to require overnight accommodations... - a covered van with special equipment for carrying troops |
| N | 1911 to 1921 | Covered van or combination van with air brakes or pipes for use in fast trains |
| O | Offener Güterwagen. Open wagon Open wagon Open wagons form a large group of railway goods wagons designed primarily for the transportation of bulk goods that are not moisture-retentive and can usually be tipped, dumped or shovelled. The International Union of Railways distinguishes between ordinary wagons and special wagons... s. |
|
| P | to 1927 | Packwagen. Luggage van Baggage car A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described... (not used for passenger coaches with a luggage compartment which had secondary letter p instead, see below). |
| P | from 1928 | Privatwagen. Private wagon. |
| Post | Postwagen. Post van Railway post office In the United States a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to... (to 1927 not used for passenger and goods wagons with a post compartment, which had secondary letters post instead, see below). |
|
| Pw | from 1928 | Gepäckwagen (Packwagen). Luggage van Baggage car A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described... . |
| Pwg | from 1933 | Gepäckwagen für Güterzüge. Luggage van for goods trains. Guards van. |
| R | from 1914 | Rungenwagen. Stake wagon. |
| …R | from 1956 (DB) | Wagon with restaurant section (not in combination with WR) |
| S | Schienenwagen. Flat wagon Flatcar A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads... (e.g. for carrying rails). |
|
| S… | from 1928 (DR only to 1945) |
Sonderreisezugwagen (special passenger coach) for FD trains (only in combination with A, B, C, Post, Pw, WR). |
| …S | from 1954 (DR) | Sonderwagen. Special wagon. |
| Sdr | from 1945 (DR) | Sonderreisezugwagen. Special passenger coach. |
| Salon | Salonwagen. Saloon car Lounge car A lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options... . |
|
| Schlaf | to 1927 | Schlafwagen. Sleeper Sleeping car The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured... . |
| Speise | to 1927 | Speisewagen. Dining Dining car A dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant.... or restaurant car. (not used for passenger coaches with dining section, which used secondary letters speise instead, see below). |
| T | from 1943 | Thermoswagen. Refrigerator van. |
| V | Verschlagwagen. Livestock van Stock car (rail) In railroad terminology, a stock car or cattle wagon is a type of rolling stock used for carrying livestock to market... for small livestock e.g. sheep and poultry. |
|
| VO | to 1921 | Offener Viehwagen. Open livestock wagon Stock car (rail) In railroad terminology, a stock car or cattle wagon is a type of rolling stock used for carrying livestock to market... for large livestock, e.g. cattle and horses. |
| WG | from ? (DB) | Gesellschaftwagen. Company coach. |
| WL… | from 1928 | Schlafwagen − "wagon-lit". Sleeper Sleeping car The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured... . (only in combination with A, B, C) |
| WR | from 1928 | Speisewagen − "wagon-restaurant". Dining Dining car A dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant.... or restaurant car. |
| X | Open works wagon. | |
| Z | from 1928 | Zellenwagen. Prison van? |
| Z | from 1951 (DR) | Zisternenwagen. Tank wagon Tank car A tank car is a type of railroad rolling stock designed to transport liquid and gaseous commodities.-Timeline:... . |
| ZM | 1945 to 1950 | Tank wagon for the transportation of crude oil. |
Secondary letters for passenger coaches
| Period valid (if limited) |
Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| b | from 1957 (DB) | With additional brake pipes (Bremsleitung) and electrical control wiring (omitted on railbus classes and with f) |
| c | from 1954 (DR) | Passenger coach of goods van Boxcar A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads... design (only as Mci, previously MCi) |
| d | 1928 to 1937 | Former 4th class D, now used unchanged as a higher travel class Travel class A travel class is a quality of accommodation on public transport. The accommodation could be a seat or a cabin for example. Higher travel classes are more comfortable and more expensive.-Airline booking codes:... |
| e | to 1927 | Passenger coach with 2 decks (Etagen) |
| e | from 1954 (DR) from 1957 (DB) |
Electric train heating (elektrischer Zugheizung) (DB: omitted with m) |
| (e) | from 1957 (DB) | Electric heating (elektrischer Heizleitung) |
| f | from 1957 (DB) | Driver's cab (Führerstand) on shuttle trains |
| g | to 1927 | Luggage van Baggage car A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described... only suitable for use in goods trains (Güterzüge) (only in combination with P) |
| g | 1928 to 1956 | Former covered van Boxcar A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads... (gedeckter Güterwagen) form passenger transport (only as Dgi or Cgi) |
| g | from 1957 (DB) | Rubber communication walls (Gummiwülste) instead of bellows (only in combination with ü or y) |
| from 1962 (DR) | Rubber communication gangways (Gummiwulstübergängen) | |
| k | 1928 to 1953 (DR) 1928 to 1956 (DB) |
Kitchen (Küche) (omitted on WL, WR) |
| kr | from 1928 | Sick bay (Krankenabteil) or with compartment which can be converted into a sick bay |
| i | Through coach with open gangways | |
| l | from 1957 (DB) | Light (leichte), eight-wheeled fast-stopping or passenger train coach of standard design with less than 30 t dead weight |
| m | from 1957 (DB) | Length over 24 m, upholstered 2nd class and electric heating or heating pipes |
| o | from 1954 (DR) | Stove heating (Ofenheizung) |
| p | to 1927 | Passenger coach with luggage compartment (Gepäckraum) |
| post | to 1927 | Passenger coach or luggage van Baggage car A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described... with post (Post) compartment |
| r | from 1967 (DR) | Passenger coach with buffet facility |
| s | from 1957 (DB) | Closed side entrance (Seitengang) in 1st class or luggage van Baggage car A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described... on WL: Sleeper Sleeping car The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured... with individual compartments, in combination with i or y: |
| speise | to 1927 | Passenger coach with dining area (Speiseraum) |
| tr | from 1928 | suitable for heavy hand luggage (Traglasten) or equipped with a heavy hand luggage section |
| u | 1933 to 1937 | Converted (umgerüstete) former 3rd class (C), now upholstered and operated as 2nd class (B) and former 4th class (D), now fitted with benches and operated as 3rd class (C) |
| ü | Bogie Bogie A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar... coach with corridor and bellows gangways (Faltenbalgübergängen) (for express train Express train Express trains are a form of rail service. Express trains make only a small number of stops, instead of stopping at every single station... coaches) |
|
| üp | from 1939 (DB only to 1956) |
Bogie Bogie A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar... coach with corridor and bellows gangways (Faltenbalgübergängen) (for passenger and fast-stopping train coaches |
| y | from 1957 (DB) | Bogie Bogie A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar... coach with corridor and bellows gangways (Faltenbalgübergängen) (for passenger and fast-stopping train coaches |
| v | 1939 to ? from 1962 (DB) |
Passenger coach with temporary wooden benches Priority compartments (Vorzugsabteile) (more legroom) |
| z | from 1962 (DB) | air conditioning |
Four- and six-wheeled wagons
| for Classes | Period valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| m | all | to 1910 | At least (mindestens) 15 ton maximum load |
| 1911 to 1923 | At least 15 ton but less than 20 ton maximum load | ||
| mm | all | At least 20 ton maximum load | |
| m | G, H, K, O, R, S, V, X | ab 1924 | At least (from 1937 exactly) 20 ton maximum load |
| mm | G, K, O, R, X | from 1937 | more than 20 ton maximum load |
| w | all | to 1923 | Less than (weniger) 10 ton maximum load |
| G, H, O, S, T, V, X | fro 1924 | Less than 15 ton maximum load and not tippable | |
Wagons with eight wheels or more (including HH wagons)
| for Classes | Period valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| m | GG, HH, OO, SS | to 1910 | At least (mindestens) 20 ton maximum load |
| 1911 to 1923 | At least 30 ton maximum load | ||
| SS | 1933 to 1950 | At least 50 ton maximum load (omitted on SSt and SSy, see below) | |
| from 1950 (DB) | At least 35 ton maximum load (omitted on SSt and SSy, see below) | ||
| w | GG, HH, OO, SS | to 1923 | Less than (weniger) 20 ton maximum load |
| GG, KK, OO | from 1924 | Less than 30 ton maximum load | |
| SS | Less than 35 ton maximum load | ||
Description of loading length and loading area
| for Classes | Period valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| k | S | from 1924 | Loading length shorter (kürzer) than 13 m |
| SS | Loading length shorter than 15 m | ||
| l | all except SS | to 1910 | At least 7 m loading length (Ladelänge) and 17 m² loading area |
| all except R and SS | 1911 to 1923 | At least 8 m loading length | |
| SS | to 1923 | More than 12 m loading length (Ladelänge) | |
| 1924 to 1932 | More than 15 m loading length (omitted on SSt und SSy, see below) | ||
| from 1933 | More than 18 m loading length (omitted on SSt und SSy, see below) | ||
| G | 1924 to 1932 | At least 24 m² loading area (Ladefläche) | |
| from 1933 | At least 26 m² loading area | ||
| K | from 1960 (DB) | At least 33 m² loading area | |
| O | from 1951 | At least 10 m loading length (Ladelänge) | |
| X | from 1951 (DB) | At least 8 m loading length | |
Description of features of importance for train formation
| for Classes | Period valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| b | G, R, T | from 1933 | Ferry wagons (Fährbootwagen) for German-English ferry services (with smaller loading gauge Loading gauge A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures... ) |
| e | all | from 1924 | Electric heating pipes (elektrischer Heizleitung) |
| ee | all | from 1933 (DR only to 1950) |
Electric heating pipes (elektrischer Heizleitung) and electric heating (elektrischer Heizung) |
| f | all | 1924 to 1932 | Ferry wagons (Fährbootwagen) for German-English ferry services (with smaller loading gauge Loading gauge A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures... ) |
| h | all except ZM | from 1924 | Steam heating pipes (heizleitung) |
| hh | G, GG, T | from 1933 | Steam heating pipes (heizleitung) and steam heating (Dampfheizung) |
| n | G, V, VO | to 1923 | Air brakes or air pipes. Steam pipes or other equipment that make it suitable for use as a luggage van Baggage car A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described... or in passenger trains (from 1911 some formed the main letter class N, see above) |
| q | all | from 1951 (DR) | no through couplings (0-0 wagon or 'Null-Null-Wagen'), maximum load reduced |
| r | all | from 1924 | Wagon with exchangeable wheelsets for transiting to Russian (russische) broad gauge Broad gauge Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :... (omitted on SSy, see below) |
| s | G, R, SSy, T | 1933 to 1950 | Suitable for fast (schnell) trains running at up to 90 km/h |
| GG, RR, TT | Suitable for trains running at up to 120 km/h | ||
| G, R, SSy, T | from 1951 (DR) | Suitable for trains running at up to 100 km/h | |
| GG, TT | Suitable for trains running at up to 120km/h | ||
| alle | ab 1951 (DB) | Suitable for trains running at up to 100 km/h | |
| u | X | to 1914 | Unsuitable (untauglich) for trains used as public transport |
| [u] | O, HH, S/SS, X | to 1921 | Unusable (unbrauchbar) for the loading of military vehicles |
| u | alle | 1939 bis 1948 | Unusuitable (ungeeignet) for military transportation |
| G | ab 1948 (DB) | Unusuitable (ungeeignet) for passenger transportation | |
| O | sides not removable? ('nicht abbordbar') | ||
Classes G/GG and N
| Period valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| f | to 1923 | Stalls for race horses (Luxuspferde) |
| g | from 1951 (DB) | Floor hatches for unloading bulk material |
| i | 1911 to 1927 (?) | End platforms, suitable for passengers |
| k | 1924 to 1944 | Refrigerated (Kühleinrichtung') (from 1945 several formed the main letter class T, see above) |
| from 1951 (DR) | Refrigerated van Reefer - Transportation :* Reefer ship, a refrigerated ship* Refrigerator car, a refrigerated railroad boxcar * Refrigerated van, a refrigerated railway wagon * Refrigerated container, used for intermodal cargo... (Kühlwagen), old type |
|
| ll | from 1933 | Pair of close-coupled vans for part-load goods, known as a Leig-Einheit |
| p | from 1924 (DB only to 1950) |
Six-wheeled, dead weight 16 tons |
| t | from 1924 | End doors (Stirnwandtüren) |
| trieb | from 1933 to 1960 | Goods railbuses (Gütertriebwagen) (all were left with the DB after the war) |
| v | 1924 to 1932 | End loading doors and special ventilation for livestock transportation (Viehbeförderung) |
| from 1933 | Stable wagon with groom compartment | |
| x | from 1951 (DR) | Fixed (internal?) walls for grain transportation |
Class H/HH
| for Class | Period Valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| o | H | from 1924 (DR only to 1950) |
Without (ohne) stakes, only usable in pairs |
| s | H/HH | to 1950 | Coupling rods (Kuppelstangen) |
| z | HH | to 1923 | Prongs (Zinken) on the rotating cradles |
Classes K/KK, O/OO, VO and X/XX
| for Classes | Period Valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| c | O | to 1910 | Coke Coke (fuel) Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :... wagon (Cocswagen) with high sides in order to load the right amount of coke corresponding to the maximum load |
| from 1911 | Maximum 15 ton load, wooden sides at least 1,30 m high but lower than 1,90 m | ||
| f | O/OO | from 1951 | Rotating and folding drop ends for transporting vehicles (Fahrzeugbeförderung) |
| g | O | 1924 to 1950 | High, fixed rail sides (Gatterwänden) |
| g | K | from 1957 (DB) | Sliding sides |
| i | O/OO | from 1951 (DB) | Tippler (Muldenkippwagen) |
| k | O/OO | to 1923 | Front walls (Kopfwänden) that pivot about an upper hinge and allow the load to be dumped onto tipping equipment |
| k | O | from 1933 | Bucket car (Kübelwagen) with two or three removable buckets, 25 ton load |
| OO | from 1951 (DB) | Bucket car with four or five removable buckets | |
| from 1951 (DR) | Transporter for large containers | ||
| k | K | from 1951 (DB) | Crane (kranbar), sliding roof with crane loading and unloading |
| n | O/OO | from 1951 (DR) | Low (niedrige) sides, 40−80 cm high |
| o | X/XX | from 1914 (DR only to 1950) |
Sides over 40 cm high |
| p | O/OO | from 1924 | Not tippable, at least 15 t load, sides up to 1,90 m high |
| q | O/OO | to 1923 | Removable end walls |
| t | K/KK, O/OO, X/XX |
not limited |
Funnels (Trichtern), floor hatches, inclined floors or side hatches for self-discharging, not tippable. X wagons additionally with removable end walls |
| v | O | from 1924 | Wooden sides over 190 cm high, no tipping facility (ex main class VO, see above) |
| y | X | 1914 to 1923 | Special equipment for rapid loading and unloading etc. |
| z | O, VO | to 1923 | Specially sealed, and so suitable for peat Peat Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world... litter transportation or the like |
| O/OO | from 1933 | Ore transportation (Erzbeförderung) with special sealing | |
Classes R/RR and S/SS
| for Classes | Period Valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | SS | from 1933 | Open brakeman's platform, folding platform rails |
| o | R | from 1933 | No stakes |
| Ru | Ol, Sl | 1911 to 1913 | At least 10 m long and with stakes (formed separate main letter class R from 1914, see above) |
| t | S/SS | from 1924 | Low-loader (Tiefladewagen) |
| y | SS | from 1942 | Heavy goods flat wagon Flatcar A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads... (Schwerlastwagen) with 50 t maximum load, loading length 8,8 m (with folded platform rails 9,5 m), open brakemans' platform, exchangeable wheelsets for broad gauge Broad gauge Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :... |
| yl | RR SS |
from 1951 (DR) from 1951 (DB) |
As for y, but longer loading length |
| ym | SS | from 1942 | As for y, but higher maximum load (DR: > 50 t, DB from 1951: 80 t) |
| RR | from 1951 (DR) | Heavy goods flat wagon Flatcar A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads... with 80 t maximum load, loading length 14,36 m, open brakemans' platform, folding plaform rails |
|
Class T/TT
| Period Valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| f | ab 1943 | Fish (Seefische) van only |
| g | Refrigerated goods (Gefriergut) only | |
| gg | Refrigerated goods (Gefriergut) and dry ice Dry ice Dry ice, sometimes referred to as "Cardice" or as "card ice" , is the solid form of carbon dioxide. It is used primarily as a cooling agent. Its advantages include lower temperature than that of water ice and not leaving any residue... only |
|
| k | from 1943 (DR) | Refrigerator van Reefer - Transportation :* Reefer ship, a refrigerated ship* Refrigerator car, a refrigerated railroad boxcar * Refrigerated van, a refrigerated railway wagon * Refrigerated container, used for intermodal cargo... (Kühlmaschinenwagen) |
| from 1951 (DB) | k, an insulation value | |
| kk | from 1951 (DB) | Insulated milk can van |
| n | ab 1943 | Not (nicht) suitable for refrigerated goods |
| o | No (ohne) meat hooks | |
| v | Electric ventilators (Ventilatoren) | |
Class V
| Period Valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| e | to 1910 | with decks (Etagen) |
| 1911 to 1921 | Lattice walls and two floors | |
| g | 1911 to 1932 | Intermediate floors for geese (Gänsebeförderung) (to 1921 always used in combination with e) |
| from 1933 | Four floors | |
| p | from 1922 | No equipment to alter the loading area |
| z | to 1921 | With equipment to alter the loading area |
Class ZM
| Period Valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| h | 1945 to 1950 | Heating pipes (Heizschlangen) |
| i | Insulation (Isolierung) | |
| s | For black (schwarzer) crude oil | |
| w | For white (weisser) crude oil | |
Class Z/ZZ
| Period Valid | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| d | ab 1951 (DR) | Heating pipes or tank |
| i | Interior (innerer) lining | |
| w | Only for fuel | |
Sources
- Helmut Behrends, Wolfgang Hensel, Gerhard Wiedau: Güterwagen-Archiv 1. transpress, Berlin 1989, ISBN 3-344-00184-1.
- Helmut Behrends, Wolfgang Hensel, Gerhard Wiedau: Güterwagen-Archiv 2. transpress, Berlin 1989, ISBN 3-344-00330-5 .
- Peter Wagner, Sigrid Wagner, Joachim Deppmeyer: Reisezugwagen 1. Sitz- und Gepäckwagen. transpress 1993, ISBN 3-344-70783-3.
External links
- Leitzahlen und Nummernsystem für DR-Güterwagen nach 1951 bei Fremo
- Deutsche Güterwagen von 1910 bis 1945
- There is an English-language discussion forum at Railways of Germany