VT 08.5 "Paris-Ruhr" TEE Diesel Powered Rail Car Train

Prototype information

Early German Federal Railroad Flagship Train and the Wonder of Bern. The first five sets of the VT 08 express powered rail car trains were available to the German Federal Railroad as early as the summer schedule of 1952. The thoughts given to the new development of diesel powered rail car trains with hydraulic transmissions went all the way back to the foundation of the German Federal Railroad. Thus, thirteen three-unit trains from the first production series were built by 1953 for important long distance express passenger service as part of the new construction program. Another six engine cars with dining car arrangements and seven intermediate cars were added by 1954 in the second production run. These units were used primarily to lengthen the existing trains to four and five-unit consists with powered end cars at both ends. The modern, comfortable VT 08 represented the epitome of the new German Federal Railroad and enjoyed great popularity among the passengers. The smooth rounded form of the ends of the train quickly led to the nickname "Egg Heads." These deluxe trains provided service on long distance routings with sonorous names such as "Rheinblitz," "Münchner Kindl," "Roland," "Schauinsland," or "Saphir." These fast trains were also used on foreign routes such as the "Paris-Ruhr" (Dortmund-Paris) as well as the "Helvetia" (Hamburg-Zürich). The heyday for the VT 08 extended well into the Sixties. After electrification of many major routes, the VT 08 trains were still used partially in TEE service. Later, these trains were rebuilt to simpler standards for plain fast train service.