These coaches are the first specialized coaches for local and regional services. They come in several variants over time and stay relevant until the 1960s, when the "silverling" coaches arrive.
"Thunderbox"
The first type was a two-axle coach, the first to be fully built out of steel - older models used wooden side walls. Due to their lack of sound-proofing and the resulting noise levels in the moving train they soon got the moniker of "thunderboxes". More than 9000 units were built in the 1920s in different variants (second, third and fourth class in various combinations, as well as baggage cars). These cars were the last two-axles coaches and the last ones to have open platforms at each end to be operated in regular service in Germany.
Fast train coach
The second coach is based on a design for a light four-axle fast train coach. Several series of these were built in the 1930s, it is not really possible to determine the exact type, but then again it does not matter as one cannot see the differences in the game anyway. The values for capacity and so on were chosen for good gameplay, not to follow strictly to historic reality.
Characteristics
|
|
passenger coach "Donnerbüchse" / Eilzugwagen |
| available by | 1925 / 1930 |
|---|---|
| capacity | 40 |
| loading speed | 8 |
| speed limit | 140 kph |
|
mail coach "Donnerbüchse" / Eilzugwagen |
| available by | 1925 / 1930 |
|---|---|
| capacity | 24 |
| loading speed | 6 |
| speed limit | 140 kph |
Images and screenshots
A steam engine of class 38 with a local train of "thunderbox" coaches. The last one is a mail coach.
A class E 62 with a train of fast train coaches.
Usage
These coaches are designed for local trains. Whether one wants to exchange the "thunder box" type after 1930 or keeps them running until the silverling coaches arrive in 1960 is up to the player. In reality they were taken out of service in the early 1960s, to be replaced by brandnew "silverling" coaches.