Identification markings on DB wagons
Issue: 1952

The wagons of the DB were classified by letter markings. These markings were composed of group letters (upper case) and optional additional letters (lower case). The group letters describe the basic characteristics of a wagon while the additional letters describe further features or characterics that deviate from the basic characteristics. Furthermore, there was a two-digit type number attached to the letter markings. This was used to distinguish technical details of the wagons.

Meaning of the group letters

Group	Group letters	payload t	Number of axles	Special remarks
covered wagons
G group	G	15 (1)	2 or 3	flat or arched roof
	GG	at least 30 (1)	4	arched roof
T group	T	15 (1)	2 or 3	refrigerated vans
	TT	at least 30	4	refrigerated vans
K group	K	15 (1)	2	sliding roof, can be tipped or hinged covers
	KK	at least 30	4	hinged covers
V group	V	15 (1)	2	slatted sides
open wagons
O group	O	15 (1)	2	tippable(1) sides at least 80 cm high
	OO	at least 30 (1)	4	not be tippable
R group	R	15 (1)	2	with stanchions (1), ends and sides removable or foldable, load length at least 9.9 m
S group	S	15 (1)	2	iron stanchions, removable ends, up to 40 cm high, load length 13 m (1)
	SS	35 (1)	4 or more	iron stanchions, load length 15 m (1)
H group	H	15 (1)	2	iron side stanchions, swivel bolsters
X group	X	15 (1)	2	sides/ends less than 80 cm high
	XX	at least 25	4	sides/ends less than 80 cm high
container carriers
BT group	BT	18	2	carrier wagons with 3 removable covered or open tippable containers

Meaning of the additional letters

Additional letter	in connection with group letters	Meaning
a	SS	brake platform, railing foldable
b	G, R and T	ferry wagon
c	O	wooden sides and ends, of 130 to 190 cm height, wagons with a payload of up to 15 t
e	general	wired for electrical heating
f	T	for sea fish only
	X and XX	flat wagons (wagons without sides and ends)
g	G	bottom flaps to unload loose goods
	T	only for frozen products
	V	4 floors (geese van)
gg	T	only for dry ice and frozen products
h	general	steam pipe
hh	G, GG and T	steam pipe and steam heating
k	T and TT	low insulation, unsuitable for frozen products
	K	loadable/unloadable by crane (sliding roof)
	O and OO	tub wagon (with 2 or 3, OO with 4 or 5 detachable tubs)
	S	usable length less than 13 m
	SS	usable length less than 15 m
l	G	loading area at least 26 m2 and arched roof
	O	usable length at least 10 m
	SS	usable length at least 18 m (not for SSyl)
	X	usable length at least 8 m
ll	G	2 wagon unit for express parcel traffic
m	G, K, O, R, S and X	payload 20 t
	SS	payload more than 35 t
mm	G, K, O, R and X	payload more than 20 t
n	T	unsuitable for frozen goods
o	T and TT	without meat hooks
	R	without stanchions (temporarily)
	X and XX	fixed sides and ends, higher than 40 cm
p	O	not tippable
r	G, T, K, V, O, R and S	wagons with alterable wheel sets for wider gauge
s	G, GG, T, TT, K, R and BT	suitable for national traffic for trains with a top speed of 100 km/h, if the last technical check took place less than 18 months ago (temporarily)
t	G and GG	end doors
	KK	hopper wagons
	O	gravity unloading wagons, sloping floors ("donkey back"), floor flaps, some are hoppers, not tippable
	OO	gravity unloading wagons, floor flaps or sloping floors ("donkey back") and side flaps
	X	floor flaps, some are hoppers, folding sides removable ends
	S and SS	low loading wagons; usable length is not expressed by additional letters, payload only expressed for St-wagons
trieb	GG	freight railcar
v	G and GG	horse box with groom department
	T	with electric ventilation
	O	wooden sides and ends, higher than 190 cm
w	G, T, V, O, S, H and X	payload less than 15 t
	GG and OO	payload less than als 30 t
	SS	payload less than 35 t
y	SS	payload 50 t with a load width of at least 2.83 m, usable length 8.8 m (9.5 m with folded brake platform railing), brake platform, platform railing foldable, wagon with alterable wheel sets for wider gauge
yl	SS	same as above, but usable length more than 8.8 m (9.5 m)
ym	SS	wagons for heavy loads, payload 80 t, usable length 11.2 m (11.9 m), brake platform, foldable railing, wagon with alterable wheel sets for wider gauge
z	OO	wagons for ore traffic

Meaning of the type numbers

• Wagons according to the designs of the old German state railways (Länderbauarten) have been built to the drawings and regulations of these railways, their main dimensions vary.
  Type numbers 01 to 09.
• Wagons according to the designs of the former German state railway wagon association (Verbandsbauart) have been built to the drawings and regulations of this organisation. The main dimensions within a particular class are uniform.
  Type numbers 10 to 19.
• Wagons of the interchangeable designs (Austauschbauart) have standardized and interchangeable components.
  Type numbers 20 to 29.
• Wagons of welded type have most components connected to each other by welding.
  Type numbers 30 to 99; new designs (after 1951) carry the Type numbers 50 to 99.
• Wagons of a special type (2) have been built for special purposes
  Type numbers je nach Bauart aus 01 bis 99.
• Wagons of foreign design, the main dimensions vary
  Type numbers 09, 17, 18, 19, 39, 49.

Remarks

Tank wagons for public traffic are tempoarily included in the rolling stock. They carry the marking "EKW" (Einheitskesselwagen).

(1) Deviation from the basic characteristic are indicated by additional letters.

(2) Wagen of special type are:

• All horse boxes with guard's compartment (Gvwhs, GGvwehs)
• All ferry wagons (Gbh, Gbmhs, Tbnhs, Tbnohs, Rbh, Rbmhs)
• All gravity-discharge wagons (KKt, Ot, OOt, Xt)
• All Kübelwagen (Ok, OOk)
• All well wagons (St, SSt)

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