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1962

The first 3x units from this series are built in 1962 by Wegmann in Köln for the Rheingold service between Amsterdam/Dortmund and Basel. As the train run along the river Rhine on its way to Switzerland, this route was particularly suitable for panorama coaches.

The coaches are built on the basis of the UIC-X standard and, like the other cars of the series, had air conditioning and magnetic rail brakes. The latter, together with an exceptional approval from the Federal Ministry of Transport, allowed a top speed of 160 km/h instead of the 140 km/h that was generally permitted at the time. The coaches were 26,4 meters long, 2,825 meters wide and 4,050 meters high. They weighed 50 tons and ran on MD50 bogies from Minden-Deutz.

The carriages had entry platforms with revolving folding doors and a toilet at both ends. The middle section with the 8,412 meters long panoramic deck was reachable by a small staircase.

The open compartment on the upper level had a total of 22 seats in eight rows configuration: 18 seats in a 2+1 arrangement (which could be rotated in the direction of travel) and 4 non-rotatable individual seats (2 at each extremity). The glass dome was composed of 8 rows of windows. On the lower level there were both a luggage and express post compartments and an engine room for the air conditioning unit.

On one side of the coach, there was a bar with 15 seats: 8 vis-à-vis window seats with tables, 3 bar stools and a four-seater bench. This side of the car was usually coupled to the kitchen side of the dining car for ease of management.

On the other side were two six-seater compartments, a smaller service compartment and a telephone booth.

All coaches are originally painted beige/cobalt blue and have the RHEINGOLD inscription in golden letters on both sides.

Initially planned as SDA4üm 10431 - 10433, the coaches are delivered as AD4üm-62 10551 - 10553.  

Concerns registration number(s): 10551, 10552, 10553

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiture_panoramique_de_type_Rheingold_1962, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/AD4üm-62, http://www.dbtrains.com/en/coaches/epochIII/rheingold-tee/adm

1963

2x additional units are built in 1962 by Wegmann in Köln for the Rheinpfeil service between Dortmund and Munich.

These coaches have larger windows for the panorama deck: the glass dome was composed of 4 rows of windows instead of the 8 rows of windows for the previous 3 coaches.

These coaches are also painted beige/cobalt blue but they had the DEUTSCHE BUNDESBAHN in golden letters on both sides.

They are registered as AD4üm-63 10554 - 10555.  

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiture_panoramique_de_type_Rheingold_1962, http://www.dbtrains.com/en/coaches/epochIII/rheingold-tee/adm

1965

May 30th

As of May 30th, 1965, the Rheingold (now extended to Geneva) and Rheinpfeil services become TEE - Trans-Europ-Express services.

The 5x units loose their beige/cobalt blue paint coat and receive the TEE paint scheme: beige/purple red. The transition lasted until the end of 1966; during this period, the Rheingold and Rheinpfeil trains were made up of randomly mixed blue and red cars.  

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiture_panoramique_de_type_Rheingold_1962

1966

The 5x units receive new registration: ADümh101.  

Sources: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/AD4üm-62

1971

September 26th

As of September 26th, 1971, the Rheinpfeil service is no longer a TEE service but continues to use the same coaches as the Rheingold service (with the TEE livery) for 18 months, until June 2nd, 1973.  

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiture_panoramique_de_type_Rheingold_1962

1973

June 3rd

As of June 3rd, 1973, all 5x units are transferred to be used for the Rheingold and Erasmus (La Haye–Munich) TEE services.  

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiture_panoramique_de_type_Rheingold_1962

1976

The "ü" from the registration, standing for "corridor between coaches", is dropped in 1976. The new registration: ADmh101.  

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiture_panoramique_de_type_Rheingold_1962

1976

May 29th

All 5x units are removed from service on May 29th, 1976, and are discarded before the end of the year as they couldn't be upgraded to a maximum speed of 200 km/h, the new speed required by Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) for their TEE trains.

All units are finally sold the same year to Internationale Apfelpfeil Organisation (IAO) where they are registered as ADm101 09-42.  

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiture_panoramique_de_type_Rheingold_1962

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Latest update on the 23rd of May 2020 at 23:00

Contributor(s): Tudor C.

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