A pair of striking Germany railway vehicle designs.

DB103184GB_211006

I’VE ALWAYS THOUGHT there was something very Flash Gordon about some of the German locomotive and multiple unit designs, none more so than on the 103 Class machines. With its ‘retro-future’ styling (it was actually built in 1971) and classy Trans-Europe Express (TEE) red and cream paint scheme, No. 103 184-8 rests at Basel (Bad) Bf, Switzerland, on October 21st, 2006. This particular electric is the only member of the type fitted with the requisite equipment to allow it to work trains between Germany and Italy.

DB50808635047GB_260408

Built by Bombardier Transportation Goerlitz, several versions of the striking pbzfa double-deck control cars are now in use with Deutsche Bahn all over Germany. No. 50 80 86-35 047-9 is an example of the original design, later versions having more windows. The vehicle was pictured leading a Fulda-bound service (S-Bahn Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund) into Frankfurt (Main) Süd Bf on April 26th, 2008.