Closed freight wagons have walls on all sides and a roof, enclosing the storage area. They are used to transport any freight that needs sheltering from the weather and were historically used for all kinds of packaged goods. This type of wagon is basically as old as the railway itself and was the dominating type of freight wagon until the middle of the 20th century. After that time, the importance declined as transportation of packaged goods moved over to containers.
DRG closed wagon (1920)
capacity 15t, 60 kph
This wagon is the first closed goods wagon in the set. It offers little capacity, and a speed limit that becomes an issue by the late 1920s already. However, that limit is realistic, as most freight wagons at the time did not have brakes, centralized air pressure braking systems were only standardized well after World War I and subsequently introduced in Germany by the late 1920s.
The wagon is described as a two-axle closed goods wagon. The German state railway wagon association (Deutscher Staatsbahnwagen-Verband, DWV) had defined several types of closed wagons even before World War I. These definitions were taken over by the Deutsche Reichsbahn, who then created new categories to classify freight wagons in general. These types then saw further development, so for the time range of 1920-1930 there are several models that may be the source for this specific wagon in the set (the time frame for production is given differently in different publications, but that is not of much relevance in this context):
- A2 closed goods wagon (built 1910-1927): Google image search
two-axle closed wagon with 15t capacity.
DWV-class Gm, DRG class "Gn Kassel" or "Gm Munich"
- A8 livestock van (built 1913-1927): Google image search
two-axle livestock for small livestock, capacity 15t
DWV-class Vemgz oder Venmz, DRG class "V Altona"
- A9 large volume covered wagon (built 1914-1928): Google image search
two-axle closed wagon
DWV-class Gml, DRG class "Gl Dresden"
The closed wagons of class Kassel and Dresden were further developed by the DRG, so they are most likely the models that the wagon in the set is based on.
Screenshots
By definition one cannot see from the outside what a closed wagon is transporting. The loading and unloading is shown in multiple steps.
Running trains always use the graphics to the right, with the closed door. All other graphics are shown in stations as appropriate.
Usage
This wagon is only useful for the early years. It should be replaced as soon as the next types are available by 1930, as these will allow a higher speed and offer increased capacity.
DRG closed wagon (1930)
capacity 30t, 80 kph
This type is the first four-axle closed wagon available in the game. That provides a higher capacity and, maybe even more importantly, a higher speed limitation as its predecessor. This type also comes with a special refit option to transport goods as "beer", which is unique to this type (the refit only changes the looks, not the transported freight type).
The wagon is a four-axle closed goods wagon, a type that was also in use with the real railways in the 1930s, so that there is an actual model that this type is based on, at least for the standard goods transportation one. The variants for transporting livestock and "beer" goods do not seem to have a real-world four-axle counterpart.
- closed large volume covered wagon of welded type (built from 1934 onward): Google image search
DRG class "GGhs Dresden"
- livestock van V Altona: Google image search
two-axle livestock van for small livestock, two decks
DRG class "V Altona"
- closed wagon for transporting horses: Google image search
four-axle closed wagon for transporting horses
DRG class "GGvwehs"
- refrigerated wagon of welded type (introduced 1936): Google image search
DRG class until 1943 "Gkhs Berlin"
Four-axle livestock vans seem to be nonexisting. Large livestock such as cows can also be transported in standard closed wagons, which often came with heating support and ventilation for this specific purpose.
Beer was transported in refrigerated wagons, which were developed from regular closed wagons. Until 1943 they were classified as Gk...(closed wagon with refrigeration), then the got their own class T (Thermoswagen), as there were multiple different types of refrigerated wagons (for sea fish, meat, beer, ...) being developed. Refrigerated vans for transporting beer were classified as e.g. Tnohs. A four-axle refrigerated wagon as the one in the set would then probably have been classified as TTnoh.
Screenshots
By definition one cannot see from the outside what a closed wagon is transporting. The loading and unloading is shown in multiple steps.
Running trains always use the graphics to the right, with the closed door. All other graphics are shown in stations as appropriate. The variant with the brakeman's house (rightmost graphics) is only used at the end of the train.
When refitting the wagon to transport goods as "beer", it is depicted as refrigerated wagon. The graphics to the right (with the closed door) are used for moving trains. The variant with the brakeman's house (rightmost graphics) is only used at the end of the train.
The wagon for transporting livestock is easily distinguishable from the others. The graphics with the opened door are used when loading and unloading, the one with the closed door is shown when the train is moving.
Usage
This wagon is a solid choice for transporting goods and livestock until 1950, when the successor becomes available, which offers a higher speed limit.
DB closed wagon (1950)
capacity 30t, 100 kph
In 1950 the last generation of the general closed goods wagon becomes available. It does not offer more capacity, but a higher speed limit.
The UIC standardized a four-axle closed wagon in the 1960s, while the Bundesbahn concentrated on two-axle variants. This type became less important over time, as more specialized wagons were developed. Nowadays, this type has been mostly replaced by other types, as classic packaged goods transportation has become all but extinct, as closed wagons are difficult to load and unload, compared to flat cars or containers. Livestock transportation has mostly been moved over to trucks by the late 20th century, the last livestock vans were put into service with the Bundesbahn in about 1960.
- ordinary closed wagon UIC 571-2: Google image search
UIC class Gas
- closed livestock wagon: Google image search
UIC class Hbes
Screenshots
Running trains show the same graphics on the right hand side, with the closed door. The other graphics are used depending on loading state in stations. The graphics are the same as for the older version, which makes sense considering that this one is just an upgrade with better speed limits.
The wagon for transporting livestock is easy to distinguish from the other variants. There is only two different states, empty and loaded.
Usage
The only remaining use case is the transportation of livestock, which in reality has been taken over by trucks. Goods transportation has been taken over by other wagons with higher capacity or higher speed (or both).