New Trix Gepäckgüterwagen
Just picked up the new Trix 24305 "Gepäckgüterwagen". Nice model... http://www.minitrix.de/produkte/frontend/image.php?bezeichnung=Gep%E4ckg%FCterwagen&nr=24305&picname=24305.jpg But what is a "Gepäckgüterwagen"? Literally a baggage goods van I know, but was it really used in passenger or goods trains equally as the advertising bumf suggests? Or is it fictitious?

Paul, I am not sure but I suspect it is similar to or even the same as a Trix product discussed here on the WorldRailFans forum. http://www.worldrailfans.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=261 The number belongs to the series for Gepäckwagen Serie P (16001-16400) which I believe would make it a luggage van for use on main line passenger trains. Can any of the experts confirm thsi? Tony

Tony, Sounds about right. Johannes appears to refer to an earlier version in that thread thus: "The Trix "Pwg" is a Trix-typical mix of facts and fiction. The model itself is fairly correct, but it is definitely no Pwg, i. e. a guards van for freight trains, but a luggage van for passenger trains. It is a model of the P (Bavarian type designation) acc. to sheet 215, and this is unfortunately the only older Bavarian luggage van which wasn't used as guards van for freight trains. All other older types of lugagge and mail vans were used as guards vans for freight trains, but this type not Even the DRG used it in passenger trains, and the last sole survivor was classified Pw Bay 73 in 1930. Guards vans for freight trains usually ran behind the engine, but the position of a luggage van in a passenger train normally was at the front or at the end of the train. For end use, the lights may be correct." This would figure as the model is clearly designed to run at the end of the train, which is not normally where the guards van would be. It appears to be an early main line van; from the literature it is unclear whether it would later have been used on branchlines (they had purpose-built PwL anyway).

Paul, I have now found the second reference on WorldRailFans. http://www.worldrailfans.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5171 In this, Johannes Wittmann says that it was not used on branchlines. Also, if you are modelling Epoche 2, there was only one example left in 1930. Tony

Tony, VMT and extremely useful. Somehow I had not found that thread despite extensive searching. Fortunately I run epochs I and II. Most of my stock is branch line oriented, but I do like to have a small amount of typical main line stock appearing at my 'junction'. Regards,

As far as I can work out the following 4 versions of this wagon have been produced, all with interior lighting and red tail lights: Trix Set 21253 (1998) - Epoch 1a variant of 1878, wagon no. 16216 as part of main line compartment coach set Trix 23560/33560 (KKK), 23600/33400 (no KKK) (1993-97) - Epoch 1a variant dated around 1886, wagon no. 16202 Trix 24305 - 1909 Epoch 1b variant, wagon no. 16077 Trix 23580 (1990-97) - Epoch 2 (DRG) variant, Pwg bay 73, wagon no. Nürnberg 109081, presumably late 1920s

Paul, According to Wolfgang Diener's book, Die Reisezugwagen und Triebwagen der Deutschen Reichsbahn, Nürnberg 109081 (Trix 23580) is a Pw Bay 73, not Pwg. Pwg numbers start at 118001 and run to 132999. Before 1930, they were in the range 95001 - 99000. Once again, it is a pity that manufacturers choose a vehicle that was the only survivor in 1930 and then label it incorrectly, rather than modelling one of the more suitable candidates such as a Pwg Bay 21. Tony