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     Originally formed from portions of the Wagons-Lits company in Germany during the Great War; by the Thirties, they operate a number of routes across Germany and into Scandinavia and other neighboring countries.

     Mitropa coaches are painted bordeaux red, with yellow lettering -- except the Rheingold coaches, which are blue with cream lettering.

     The newest, and most common, Mitropa coaches in the mid-Thirties are of the 1928 pattern -- length over buffers 21.72 meters, width 2.933 meters; weight 40 to 45 tons. The most common types:

• AB4ü-28:   2 first class compartments, with 2 berths each, and 6 second-class compartments with 2 berths each.

• C4ü-28:  10 third-class compartments, each with 8 seats -- no fold-down sleeping here. 

• WR4ü-28:  the dining cars.

• Pw4ü-28:   luggage van, including 4 dog kennels, and a brakeman's "cupola" to look along the roof of the train.

     On fast or express trains with sleeping cars, telegrams may be sent from the train.

London - Berlin/Vienna Express

Many intermediate stops in Germany not shown; various extra sections, multiple sea routes, etc. are omitted.

Many intermediate stops in Germany not shown; various extra sections, multiple sea routes, etc. are omitted.

Many intermediate stops in Germany not shown; various extra sections, multiple sea routes, etc. are omitted.

     These trains do NOT have rail ferries over the Channel -- passengers get off the train and board a ship for a few hours. Time on the steamer is about 90 minutes for Calais-Dover, but several hours for Hoek van Holland to Harwich. Customs examinations take place on the ferries, to minimize delays.

     Note these are only the fastest, most expensive trains, with only one "change cars" requirement (the Channel ferry); every day, at least half-a-dozen trains depart London with coaches for Berlin or Vienna. Use the Nord Express table for quick information about trips from or to Berlin.

     The trip to Berlin is at least 18 hours; the trip to Vienna takes at least 21 hours -- keep these numbers in mind when looking at the above schedules. I don't have information on the schedules towards London. First class fare, London-Berlin, is £8 6s 4d; second class, £6 4d. Extra baggage costs 3s 3d per 22 pounds over 66 pounds (first class).

Rheingold Express

     These trains operated since 1928 by Mitropa have all-new 50-ton carriages 23.5m long, top speed 72 mph. Two trains run each day, one starting during the day from each end of the route -- FFD101 heading south, FFD102 heading north. The trains on the continent will consist of a baggage wagon (19.68 m long), one or two 1st class carriages (each with a 4 person compartment, one or two 2 person compartments, and open seating for 16 or 20 persons), one or two 2nd class carriages, and another baggage wagon. In the busy season the train will add more coaches of each type -- but due to the extra-heavy coaches, and the grades in the Swiss Alps, the train is never more than nine coaches total. One of the 1st class carriages, and one of the 2nd class carriages, includes a kitchen. 

    Within Switzerland, south of Basel, Ae 4/7 electric locmotives of the Swiss Federal Railways haul the coaches.

     Note that the Wagons-Lit company operates a competing train, the Edelweiss, beginning in the summer of 1929. It runs from Amsterdam to Zurich.

     Several ferries cross from Hoek van Holland to Harwich every day, where they meet trains to and from London. These are (in late 1939) the TSS Amsterdam, TSS Prague, and TSS Vienna  -- none carry railway cars, and all are operated by the Londen & North Eastern Railway. The Rheingold is specifically timed to meet connecting ferries.

Historical note:  the ferries from Hoek van Holland to Harwich, and the LNER trains to London,

were the primary route of Jewish children into Great Britain during the Kindertransport program, starting in December 1938.

     The fares listed are for first class passengers, and include a surcharge of 2 ℛℳ for journeys up to 300 km, or 3 ℛℳ for journeys over 300 km. In August 1939, 1 Reichsmark (ℛℳ) is worth 1 shilling 8 pence in British money; £1 is thus worth 12 Reichsmarks.

     The additional first-class charges for the ferries are:

• per two persons in a two-berth cabin:   free

• per regular cabin for one passenger:  10s, 15s, 20s, or 22/6, on decks C, B, A or promenade (higher is more expensive)

• per cabine-de-lux, with two beds:  50s

      Note there are time zone changes in between Britain and the Netherlands, and again at Cologne.

p.m. times in italic; fares from London and Hoek van Holland

p.m. times in italic; fares from Basel and Harwich

Minor stops for water, fuel, locomotive changes, customs officials, etc. not shown.

     references:   

• Mitropa Railway Guide, Winter 1938/39; reprinted 1994 by Ritzau KG, Purgen, Germany

• Cook's Continental Time Table, August 1939; reprinted 1987 by David & Charles, London

• Bradshaw's General Railway, Steam Navigation & Hotel Guide for Great Britain and Ireland, October 1936

• ABC4ü-Vpwh - Die Personen-Und Güterewagen Der Deutschen Reichsbahn, pub. 1931 by Verlag von E.S. Mittler & Sohn, Berlin

• Die Personen-, Post- und Packwagen der Deutschen Reichsbahn und der Mitropa im Bild, pub. 1930 by Verlag des Verkehrszentralamtes der Deutschen Studentenschaft, Sitz Darmstadt