Henschel Wegmann Zug coaches

Introduction
SWRPwPost4ü-35 / ABPwR4üe-35/52 / APwR4üe-35/52
SBC4ü-35 / AB4üe-35/52 / A4üe-35/52
SBC4ü-35 / AB4üe-40/52 / A4üe-40/52

Introduction

During the war the Henschel Wegmann Zug was transformed to as a so-called "Lazarett-train". In the years after the war the train was located somewhere in Western Germany. The train was not anymore used. In the beginning of the fifties the DB took the plan to rebuilt the train and put it back into service. Because the train was a complete trainset it was very suitable to be used in the new F-train network. Coach manufacturer Wegmann & Co in Kassel, the originally constructor of the coaches was asked by the DB to rebuilt the coaches.

The original second/third class Henschel Wegmann Zug was rebuilt to a first/second class train. The rebuild was done in 1952 and 1953. The train got more room and more comfort. The train was provided with a new climat control system of BBC which also functioned without a locomotive. The train got also new lighting, speakers and calling buttons in each compartment were one could call an attendant. To supply enough energy for the train the combined machine/luggage/kitchen/dining coach got two six-cylinder engines with each 75 hp which were coupled with three-phase current generators.

From outside the train was changed slightly. For example the bogies of type Görlitz III leicht were equiped with an extra fourth spring to improve the running characteristics. Also the sliding door at the coach ends were replaced by swing doors. The entrance door in one end coach at the side of the panorama view was removed.

The coaches got a dark blue color with on both sides the letter "DB". The roofs got a silver color and the skirts became black.

In fact the rebuild of this train was an experiment, because after five years the train was taken out of service. But the DB could conclude that this experiment was succeeded because they had tested new concepts like the reliability of lightweight coaches and concept like climat control systems. The train was during 1954 up to 1959 in service in the F-train network as F 55/56 "Blauer Enzian" between München and Hamburg Altona. The train was repainted in 1959 in the workshop München-Neuaubing. In 1959 the train was taken out of service. In 1962 the coaches were demolished.

SWRPwPost4ü-35 / ABPwR4üe-35/52 / APwR4üe-35/52

This coach was the post, luggage, kitchen and dining coach of the Henschel Wegmann Zug. In 1952 the post compartment was rebuilt to a machineroom for the diesel generator to supply the energy for the train. This coach remained a small dining compartment with 24 seats and a luggage compartment. The dining was exploited by the DSG. After the rebuild the coach got the indication ABPwR4üe-35/52. After 1956 when the first and second class were joined to the new first class the indication was changed to APwR4üe-35/52.

SBC4ü-35 / AB4üe-35/52 / A4üe-35/52

These coaches were the two middle coaches (10 402 and 10 403) and the end coach with the observation deck with panoramic view (10 404) of the pre war Henschel Wegmann train. With the rebuild the coaches were transformed from second/third class coaches to first/second class coaches. The compartment length remained the same, but the separation walls between each two compartments were removed, this way they transformed two old compartments to one compartment. The middle coaches had this way three large compartments. The coaches got in 1952 after the rebuild the indication AB4üe-35/52 and after 1956 the indication A4üe-35/52.

The end coach was renumbered to 10 405 because the fifth coach became an extra middle coach. The observation deck was enlarged from 4 seats to 14 adjustable seats.

The famous panorama coach of the Henschel Wegmann train. | Photo: Archiv Michael Meinhold

SBC4ü-35 / AB4üe-40/52 / A4üe-40/52

This coach was the coach which was built in 1940 for use in the Henschel Wegmann train, but it was never used because the break out of the war. This extra middle coach was also rebuild after the war with the rest of the train. It got the indication AB4üe-40/52, and after 1956 A4üe-40/52. The number became 10 404.