Berlin heritage train yesterday

A little more -

In 1926, the first 18-metre-long cars of class C1 were placed in service and were the subject of prolonged testing in passenger operation. There were 12 each of motors and trailers, while some had three and others had four doors per side. These cars introduced to Berliners the "flashing red light" which denoted the closing of the doors.

Series production of classes C2 and C3 followed in 1929/30 – these had two 100kW motors on the leading bogie and in service operated in motor-motor formation, there being no corresponding trailers. Externally, there was no difference between the two classes, but C2 had air brakes while C3 had electrical braking. The former, of which there were 114, were originally intended for service on line D and the latter, 30 in total, for line E. Finally in 1930, two motor cars and one trailer with aluminium bodywork were delivered, being classified C4. These showed a saving of four tonnes over the steel cars.

No fewer than 120 cars of class C were sent to Moscow as reparations in 1945. These were made up of 12 each of motors from the prototypes, 69 of class C2 and 27 of class C3. In Russia they became classes B1, B2 and B3 respectively – though the equivalent in the Roman alphabet would be ‘W’ – and the cars in class B1 were rebuilt as trailers. Probably about the end of the 1950s, all cars in class B1 became motors, receiving new Russian equipment and being reclassified B4, while around the same time, 13 cars of class C3 became trailers. In Moscow, the ex-Berlin cars were referred to as a “Special delivery”. They were withdrawn in 1965.

Of those that remained, all in West Berlin, the last ran in service on 30 April 1975 on line U8


The C class was seen as far superior to the previous B classes. Although there is a preserved BII train that runs on special occasions in Berlin, the preserved BI (the "tunnel owl" - oval cab windows aka F Stock!) has yet to be returned to working order.

No. This is a hope that the LTM could take a lead on this. I don't expect anyone to order a bespoke 1960s, 50s, 20s Met/LT uniform off their own bat and at their own cost. Of course, it's easier for BVG to co-ordinate things as they're still one integrated company. Nor am I suggesting people leave off PPE when trackside or in depots for "authenticy" which would be quite ridiculous. But "period" uniforms were provided for a recent station event at Hendon Central, and I know the LTM was researching the production of a late-60s LT rail uniform for one of their actor guides "in character" as I supplied data (and 3 buttons!). It just looked so good and seemed such a pity LU can't do something similar.

The car at Berlin Tegel Airport is an S-Bahn class 475, late-1920s vintage. I will check next week if it is still there!

Also, there was an S-Bahn class 476 (or 477 - can't remember which without some digging) at Schönefeld Airport about a year ago. Don't know if it is still there - won't be going that way this time though.

I think this would be it - a class 477 according to the number - S-Bahn cafe Schoenefeld

Looks like they've now ceased on the Berlin metro I managed to capture a few opportunistic photos of them back in 2001 on my first visit to the German capital
cjw.fpic.co.uk/p54837179.html
cjw.fpic.co.uk/p54837178.html