Identification markings on DB wagons
Issue: 1962

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 Load limit for track class B
t Number of
axles
Special remarks

covered wagons

G group
G

15.5 to 24.5

2
flat or arched roof

GG

49.0

4
arched roof

T group
T

15.0 to 21

2
refrigerated vans

TT (1)

4
refrigerated vans

K group
K

15.5 to 25

2
sliding or swivelling roof; some wagons with gravity or air discharge, some K wagons with sliding walls

KK

31.0 to 53.5

4 or 5

V group
V

21.0 to 21.5

2
slatted sides, two floors, arched roof

open wagons

O group
O (2)

15.5 to 27.5

2
end tippable (3) or with gravity discharge
sides at least 80 cm high

OO

38.5 to 52.0

4 oder 5
not tippable; some wagons with gravity discharge

R group
R

15.5 to 25.5

2
stanchions (3), end and side walls removable or foldable, load length at least 10.1 m

S group
S

15.5 to 21.0

2
iron stanchions, removable end walls, up to 40 cm high, load length 13 m (3)

SS

36.5 (3)

4
or more
iron stanchions, load length 15 m (3)

H group
H

15.5 to 17.5

2
iron side stanchions, swivel bolsters

X group
X

15.5 to 27.5

2
sides and ends lower than 80 cm

XX

25.0 to 50.5

4
sides and ends lower than 80 cm

container carriers

BT group
BT

20.0 to 40.0

2 or 4
carrier wagons with removable tippable containers (pa-containers)

Group	Group letters	Load limit for track class B t	Number of axles	Special remarks
covered wagons
G group	G	15.5 to 24.5	2	flat or arched roof
GG	49.0	4	arched roof
T group	T	15.0 to 21	2	refrigerated vans
TT (1)		4	refrigerated vans
K group	K	15.5 to 25	2	sliding or swivelling roof; some wagons with gravity or air discharge, some K wagons with sliding walls
KK	31.0 to 53.5	4 or 5
V group	V	21.0 to 21.5	2	slatted sides, two floors, arched roof
open wagons
O group	O (2)	15.5 to 27.5	2	end tippable (3) or with gravity discharge sides at least 80 cm high
OO	38.5 to 52.0	4 oder 5	not tippable; some wagons with gravity discharge
R group	R	15.5 to 25.5	2	stanchions (3), end and side walls removable or foldable, load length at least 10.1 m
S group	S	15.5 to 21.0	2	iron stanchions, removable end walls, up to 40 cm high, load length 13 m (3)
SS	36.5 (3)	4 or more	iron stanchions, load length 15 m (3)
H group	H	15.5 to 17.5	2	iron side stanchions, swivel bolsters
X group	X	15.5 to 27.5	2	sides and ends lower than 80 cm
XX	25.0 to 50.5	4	sides and ends lower than 80 cm
container carriers
BT group	BT	20.0 to 40.0	2 or 4	carrier wagons with removable tippable containers (pa-containers)

Meaning of the additional letters

Additional
letter
in connection
with group
letters

Meaning
(statements on load limits refer to track class B)

a SS brake platform, railing foldable

b G, T, R and BT ferry wagon

d K and KK pressurized air discharged

e general wired for electrical heating

f K end doors

T for sea fish only

X and XX flat wagons (wagons without sides and ends)

ff O equipped for dual level motor car loading

g K sliding walls

T only for frozen or deep-frozen products

gg T only for dry ice and frozen or deep-frozen products

h general steam pipe

hh G and T steam pipe and steam heating

i O wagons with tippable non-removable tubs

SS low-loading wagons for piggy-back traffic, usable lenghth and payload not indicated by additional letters

k G, K and KK sliding roof

O detachable tubs

S usable length less than 13 m

SS usable length less than 15 m

kk T insulated tank for liquids, low insulation

l G loading area at least 26 m² and arched roof

K loading area 33 m²

V loading area 30.5 m² for each floor

R usable length at least 12 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 T payload 20 to 21 t

G, K, O, R, S and X payload 21 t

BT payload 26,5 t

SS payload more than 35 t (not for SSym)

mm G, K, V, O, R and X payload more than 21 t

BT payload more than 26,5 t

n T unsuitable for frozen goods

o T without meat hooks

R and SSkm without stanchions (temporarily)

X and XX fixed sides and ends, higher than 40 cm

p O not tippable

r G, T, O and R wagons with alterable wheel sets for Russian wide gauge

s general suitable for trains with a top speed of 100 km/h, if the load limit inscriptions contain the letter "S" or "SS"

t G and GG end doors

K, KK, O and OO gravity unloading wagons, floor or side flaps, not tippable

S and SS low loading wagons; usable length and payload is not expressed by additional letters

X and XX floor flaps (some are hoppers) or folding sides (full length or middle part only)

u O with electro-hydraulic lifting and tipping apparatus

v K with internal coating for foods

O gravity self-discharge in the middle of the wagon

T with electric ventilation

y SS payload 52 t with a load width of 3.14 m (2.735 m between stanchions), usable length 8.80 m (9.50 m with folded brake platform railing), brake platform, platform railing foldable, wagon with alterable wheel sets for Russian wide gauge

yl SS payload 50 t with a load width of 2.83 m , usable length 12.30 m (13.00 m with folded brake platform railing)

ym SS payload 82 t with a load width of 3.15 m (2.735 m between stanchions), usable length 11.20 m (11.90 m with folded brake platform railing), brake platform, platform railing foldable, wagon with alterable wheel sets for Russian wide gauge

z O and OO wagons for ore traffic

Additional letter	in connection with group letters	Meaning (statements on load limits refer to track class B)
a	SS	brake platform, railing foldable
b	G, T, R and BT	ferry wagon
d	K and KK	pressurized air discharged
e	general	wired for electrical heating
f	K	end doors
T	for sea fish only
X and XX	flat wagons (wagons without sides and ends)
ff	O	equipped for dual level motor car loading
g	K	sliding walls
T	only for frozen or deep-frozen products
gg	T	only for dry ice and frozen or deep-frozen products
h	general	steam pipe
hh	G and T	steam pipe and steam heating
i	O	wagons with tippable non-removable tubs
SS	low-loading wagons for piggy-back traffic, usable lenghth and payload not indicated by additional letters
k	G, K and KK	sliding roof
O	detachable tubs
S	usable length less than 13 m
SS	usable length less than 15 m
kk	T	insulated tank for liquids, low insulation
l	G	loading area at least 26 m² and arched roof
K	loading area 33 m²
V	loading area 30.5 m² for each floor
R	usable length at least 12 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	T	payload 20 to 21 t
G, K, O, R, S and X	payload 21 t
BT	payload 26,5 t
SS	payload more than 35 t (not for SSym)
mm	G, K, V, O, R and X	payload more than 21 t
BT	payload more than 26,5 t
n	T	unsuitable for frozen goods
o	T	without meat hooks
R and SSkm	without stanchions (temporarily)
X and XX	fixed sides and ends, higher than 40 cm
p	O	not tippable
r	G, T, O and R	wagons with alterable wheel sets for Russian wide gauge
s	general	suitable for trains with a top speed of 100 km/h, if the load limit inscriptions contain the letter "S" or "SS"
t	G and GG	end doors
K, KK, O and OO	gravity unloading wagons, floor or side flaps, not tippable
S and SS	low loading wagons; usable length and payload is not expressed by additional letters
X and XX	floor flaps (some are hoppers) or folding sides (full length or middle part only)
u	O	with electro-hydraulic lifting and tipping apparatus
v	K	with internal coating for foods
O	gravity self-discharge in the middle of the wagon
T	with electric ventilation
y	SS	payload 52 t with a load width of 3.14 m (2.735 m between stanchions), usable length 8.80 m (9.50 m with folded brake platform railing), brake platform, platform railing foldable, wagon with alterable wheel sets for Russian wide gauge
yl	SS	payload 50 t with a load width of 2.83 m , usable length 12.30 m (13.00 m with folded brake platform railing)
ym	SS	payload 82 t with a load width of 3.15 m (2.735 m between stanchions), usable length 11.20 m (11.90 m with folded brake platform railing), brake platform, platform railing foldable, wagon with alterable wheel sets for Russian wide gauge
z	O and OO	wagons for ore traffic

Meaning of the type numbers

Trial types.
Type numbers 01.
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 08.
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 17.
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 89, (except 39 and 49); new designs (after 1951) carry the Type numbers 50 to 89.
Wagons of foreign design, the main dimensions vary
Type numbers 09, 18, 19, 39, 49, 90 to 94.

Anmerkungen

(1) There were no TT wagons fit for traffic in 1962.

(2) The specifications of payload, number of achsles and special features do not apply to Off wagons.

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

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7. 3. 1997 Viktor Schiffer, e-mail: vschiffer @ wtal.de

Identification markings on DB wagons Issue: 1962

Meaning of the group letters

Meaning of the additional letters

Meaning of the type numbers

Anmerkungen

Identification markings on DB wagons
Issue: 1962