Sample Bulletin Article No. 4

German Ferry Wagons to England and Russia

In 1945 the Transportation Directorate of Rear HQ 21 Army Group documented the main freight vehicle types to be found on German Railways. These included some types of ferry wagon.

Germany – England
Certain vehicles were constructed slightly smaller than was usual German practice. These were for traffic to England via the Harwich – Zeebrugge train ferry and were distinguished by an "f" suffix. The two types were a van of type "Gfh" and an open wagon with stanchions of type "Rfh". Both types had an external guard’s compartment. The "h" part of the suffix denotes that the vehicle was fitted with a steam heating pipe.

Train ferry services ceased during the war and a number of German vehicles were trapped in Britain. These were converted to storage vehicles, sleeping accommodation etc for British rail gun crews, until sent back to the Continent to carry British military traffic.

I have not yet found any photographs of either the Gfh or Rfh type of vehicle. The REC files at the PRO contain many references to German ferry vans numbered in the 29xxx series as being detained in England. Perhaps a member may know if the diagram is of one of these vehicles. Strangely, the REC files do not seem to mention any of the German flat wagons as being detained in Britain when the train ferry ceased

Germany - Russia
The Reichsbahn sent traffic to Poland and the Soviet Union (Lithuania and Estonia) in vehicles which could have their standard gauge (1435 mm) wheelsets exchanged for Russian gauge (1524 mm) ones, thus avoiding the delay and expense of transhipping from one vehicle to another at the change of gauge. These are the "Gr", "Glr", "Rr" and "Vr" wagon types, the "r" suffix denoting a vehicle convertible to Russian gauge. Wagons working through Lithuania had their wheels changed at either Dunaburg or Riga. Those working through Poland were converted at Niegoreloje or Zdolbunowo.