SDA4üm/AD4üm-62/ADümh 101 & AD4üm-63/ADümh 101

Especially for the Rheingold trains were panorama coaches built. Because the Rheingold rode along the river Rhine on it's way to Switserland, and this route was excellent for panorama coaches. Initially in 1962 three panorama coaches were built of type AD4üm-62 by Wegmann in Cologne. The coaches were originally planned as SDA4üm but were already at delivery indicated as AD4üm-62.

In 1963 again 2 more panorama coaches were built by Wegmann for the Rheinpfeil trains. The arrangement of the coaches was different than the salon and compartments coaches. In the middle of the coaches was a heightened platform of 8,412 meter with a dome of glass. Here was room for 22 passengers to enjoy the panorama. 18 seats could be turned like the seats in the salon coaches. The panorama deck was reachable by a small staircase. On one side of the coaches, on the normal level were two compartments with each 6 seats, one office compartment and one telephone booth. On the other side of the coach was a bar with 12 seats. On both sides of the coach were entrances with a toilet. Under the panorama deck was a luggage compartment and a compartment for express post. Also the equipment for the climat control was accommodated here.

Due to the special construction of the coaches a more stronger construction of the chassis was necessary. Special attention was paid to sound insulation which was caused due to the two floors. The panorama dome was constructed with special metal profiles with glass in between. The coaches AD4üm-62 had in length 8 glass windows in the dome, the coaches AD4üm-63 had in length 4 glass windows in the dome. Also these panorama coaches had rounded roofs instead of straight roofs.

The coaches had a weight of 50 ton and were suitable for 160 km/h. The coaches were equiped with bogies Minden Deutz type 50 with stronger springs. The bogies were equiped with brakes of type Knorr with extra elektro magnetic brakes.

The climat control system was of type Jettair which was also used in the compartment and salon coaches, only the capacity of the installation was larger because the high temperatures inside the dome.

The panorama coaches were painted blue/ivory white. The first three panorama coaches which were delivered in 1962 had on both sides the inscription "RHEINGOLD" in golden letters. The two coaches which followed in 1963 for the Rheinpfeil trains had the inscription "DEUTSCHE BUNDESBAHN" in golden letters on both sides.

The five coaches were painted in the TEE colors in 1967 and were provided with the new UIC numbers 61 80 81-80 001 up to 005. The indication was also changed to ADümh 101.

The meaning of the letters was as following: "A" stood for 1st class, the "D" stood for the fact that there was a small luggage compartment, the "ü" stood for coach corridors between coaches, the "m" stood for coaches which were longer than 24 meter and equiped with the so-called "Gummiwulstübergängen", the modern coach corridors, and electrical heating or heating with the central train wire, and the "h" stood for the fact that the energy supply in the coach was done with an axle generator.

Here you can find an overview of all coaches AD4üm-62/ADümh 101 en AD4üm-63/ADümh 101 which were built during epoch III (). The overview contains year of construction, numbers and manufacturers of the coaches.