Brawa Passenger car Bghw DR  
    

Information about the model

Like the DB, the DR also struggled after World War II with the enormous maintenance costs of its aging, wooden-framed compartment coaches. Therefore, the Deutsche Reichsbahn decided to completely overhaul the underframes to a uniform length. In 1963, the first coaches built according to this plan were delivered to the DR by the Halberstadt Railway Works (Raw Halberstadt). However, this method was soon abandoned due to the poor condition of the existing, usable components. The decision was made to build the coaches entirely from new parts, using the recently developed, axle-holderless "Görlitz V" bogie as the running gear. The chosen length of 18.7 meters resulted from the structural limitations of the manufacturing plant. From 1963 to 1977, 3,030 coaches of the "Bghwe" type were built, making them a common sight in almost every DR passenger train during the 1970s and 80s. Initially, these carriages were used primarily in express trains due to their relatively modern comfort, thus reaching destinations throughout West Germany. They were a regular sight in Nuremberg, Hamburg, and the Ruhr region. When they first appeared, they were painted green with a decorative stripe running below the windows and black side sills. While the East German State Railway (DR) planned to refurbish the carriages, including new windows and interior fittings, they were withdrawn from service by 1995 following the reunification of the two German railways due to the changed operating conditions. Even today, carriages of this type can still be seen in operation with Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG), as well as with many railway clubs and museum railways.