RhB
Main network
Dining cars
One of the highlights of railway travel is a trip with the elegant dining cars operated by the Rhaetian Railway! Swiss delicacies are served
while you enjoy watching the scenic landscape of Graubünden.
The art of cooking on railway wheels can be experienced on board of some express trains on the Albula line between Chur and St. Moritz and the
famous Glacier Express operating between Zermatt and St. Moritz.
Gourmino dining cars WR 3810-3812
In 1929 and 1930, the German operator of dining and sleeping cars Mitropa purchased three dining cars to be operated in luxury trains on the network
of the Rhaetian Railway. The cars originally designated Dr4ü 10-12 were used to serve haute cuisine meals to rich people travelling with
the Glacier Express, the Engadin Express or to Davos. All three units were manufactured by Schweizerische Waggons- und Aufzügefabrik Schlieren (SWS).
RhB bought these elegant dining cars at an auction in 1949.
The vehicle designation Dr4ü 10-12 changed to Dr4ü 3810-3812 in 1956 and later to WR 3810-3812.
WR 3812 was modernised and equipped with microwave ovens in 1974.
WR 3810-3811 were converted into nostalgic dining cars in 1982/83 and fitted with a new kitchen that allows
the preparation of fresh meals. Due to this modernisation the roof section above the kitchen and the window arrangement of these two vehicles
differ much from WR 3812.
WR 3812 was completely overhauled in 1996. RhB rebuilt the interior according to the original state and painted the carbody in royal blue with a huge
"Gourmino" label on both sides.
The red outfit of the remaining WR 3810 and 3811 was also changed into royal blue at a later stage.
The three cars were repainted in the meantime and feature a very noble blue that matches the elegant Pullman cars of the Alpine Classic Pullman Express (ACPE).
Technical facts
| Vehicle designation: | WR |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Nos: | 3810-3811, 3812 |
| Manufacturer - car body: - bogies: | SWS (RhB) SWS |
| Years of commissioning 3810-3811: | 1929 (3810: 1982, 3811: 1983) |
| Years of commissioning 3812: | 1930 (1974/1996) |
| Number of vehicles: | 3 |
| Gauge: | 1,000 mm |
| Length over buffer: | 16,440 mm |
| Mass in running order: | 25,000 kg (3812: 24,000 kg) |
| Seated passengers: | 34 (3812: 36) |
| Standees: | -- |
| Max. speed: | 90 km/h |
| Operational: | StN, MGB |
| Remarkable facts: | - window vents - manually operated doors - water supply plant with UV sterilisation |
Gourmino dining car without kitchen WR-S 3814
SWS delivered two dining cars designed for the operation in luxury trains on the formerly independent Bernina Railway in 1929. Mitropa operated these
cars with the official designation B4ü 161 and 162. One of the outstanding features of these elegant vehicles is the enormous size of the windows. These allow
an unspoiled view of the terrific mountain scenery of
the Alps while enjoying a gourmet meal. The two cars were not equipped with a kitchen to facilitate customs clearance at the border between Switzerland and Italy.
The period of luxury trains in the Swiss Alps had a quick end due to a world wide economic crisis. With a massive decline of passenger numbers this crisis
had a great impact on the Bernina Railway, too. Thus, Mitropa decided to operate these two dining cars on the main network of the Rhaetian Railway.
Consequently, these vehicles were rebuilt and fitted with a kitchen in a Mitropa workshop in Berlin in 1944.
After World War II, the Rhaetian Railway became the new owner of these vehicles when all five Mitropa dining cars were bought at an auction. For almost 40 years,
RhB operated these dining cars mainly in the Glacier Express where they were referred to as WR 3813 and 3814 until decommissioning.
With the purchase of new dining cars in 1987 and after nearly 60 years of service both former Bernina Railway dining cars were parked in Landquart.
Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke (DFB) acquired them in 1990, but usage on the old Furka line (DFB) was not possible. Therefore, these vehicles had to be parked
in Klus (SO) for several years where decay and a possible scrapping threatened their existence.
Because of an increasing demand for nostalgic dining cars RhB purchased WR 3814 a second time in 1999. The main workshop in Landquart restored this vehicle within only
nine months. Besides rebuilding the interior according to the original state the kitchen was also removed again. The new designation of this dining car is WR-S 3814.
The "S" indicates that it is usually operated together with a second dining car equipped with a kitchen or that precooked meals have to be
used for catering.
Being painted in the noble blue of the Alpine Classic Pullman Express this car can be considered as one of the gems of Rhaetian Railway's rolling stock.
To be able to rebuild the interior, bits and pieces of WR 3813 that was also purchased again were used. There are remarkable plans to convert
WR 3813 into a rolling piano bar! This unique project can only be realised if a sufficient number of donators is found to support the
project. More information about the mesmerizing piano bar project can be found on RhB's web pages!
Technical facts
| Vehicle designation: | WR-S |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Nos: | 3814 |
| Manufacturer - car body: - bogies: | SWS (RhB) Fiat SIG |
| Years of commissioning: | 1929 (2000) |
| Number of vehicles: | 1 (2) |
| Gauge: | 1,000 mm |
| Length over buffer: | 15,320 mm |
| Mass in running order: | 20,700 kg |
| Seated passengers: | 36 |
| Standees: | -- |
| Max. speed: | 90 km/h |
| Operational: | StN, BB, MGB |
| Remarkable facts: | - sliding windows - automatic carriage end doors - manually operated doors - 125 litre refrigerator - prototype bogies SIG 90 - double seats and single armchairs |
New Gourmino dining car WR 3813 (II)
As the demand for nostalgic dining cars was still increasing, RhB decided to convert a former first class passenger coach built in 1931 into
a dining car. This car is a replacement for the former Bernina line dining car WR 3813 (I) that is still parked and is consequently designated WR 3813 (II).
The original designation of the passenger coach was A 1211. It was refurnished for usage in peak traffic periods in 1988 but only rarely used in recent years.
The conversion into a dining car was finished in summer 2002. Today this vehicle can only hardly be distinguished from the original main network Mitropa cars, as the carbodies are quite similar in construction. The new dining car was fitted with a modern kitchen and an interior that is a fine mixture from nostalgic elements with state-of-the-art seats. For a better riding comfort this vehicle was equipped with the bogies of the Pullman coach As 1154 that is temporarily donated to the German Museum in Munich.
Technical facts
| Vehicle designation: | WR |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Nos: | 3813 (II) |
| Manufacturer - car body: - bogies: | SWS (RhB) SIG |
| Years of commissioning: | 2002 (1931) |
| Number of vehicles: | 1 |
| Gauge: | 1,000 mm |
| Length over buffer: | 16,440 mm |
| Mass in running order: | 27,000 kg |
| Seated passengers: | 30 |
| Standees: | -- |
| Max. speed: | 90 km/h |
| Operational: | StN, MGB |
Restaurant car WR 3815
After the opening of the Furka-Basistunnel the Glacier Express started to operate all year round. To cope with the new requirements RhB purchased this modern
dining car in 1984 to be used in the Glacier Express. The modern interior somewhat resembles the EW III coaches that were built more or less at the same time.
In late 2004 this car was also painted in ACPE-blue but different from the "Gourmino" cars it still features huge "Restaurant" decals.
Technical facts
| Vehicle designation: | WR |
|---|---|
| Vehicle No: | 3815 |
| Manufacturer - car body: - bogies: | FFA, RhB FFA |
| Years of commissioning: | 1984 |
| Number of vehicles: | 1 |
| Gauge: | 1,000 mm |
| Length over buffer: | 18,500 mm |
| Mass in running order: | 20,900 kg |
| Seated passengers: | 36 |
| Standees: | -- |
| Max. speed: | 90 km/h |
| Operational: | StN, MGB |
| Remarkable facts: | - cog wheel brake - WC |
Rolling "Jumbo" restaurant WR 3816+3817
RhB replaced both of the ageing former Bernina Railway dining cars WR 3813 and 3814 by this unusual vehicle. With a total length of 34 m it is
considered to be the longest dining car in Europe. Delicious meals can be served to 60 guests at the same time! The unit known as WR 3816+3817 was built by FFA with the support of RhB's workshop
in Landquart to safe costs.
Components of the prototype bogies that were supplied by FFA to be tested in the dining cars WR 3813 and 3814 were used to build the new vehicle. The construction of the carbody is based on a cost saving modular principle that in also applied by bus manufacturers and to build several passenger coaches for peak traffic use. The rolling "Jumbo" restaurant was also painted blue recently.
Technical facts
| Vehicle designation: | WR |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Nos: | 3816+3817 |
| Manufacturer - car body: - bogies: | FFA, RhB FFA |
| Years of commissioning: | 1987 |
| Number of vehicles: | 1 |
| Gauge: | 1,000 mm |
| Length over buffer: | 2x 17,000 mm |
| Mass in running order: | 20,600 kg + 18,400 kg |
| Seated passengers: | 24+36 |
| Standees: | -- |
| Max. speed: | 90 km/h |
| Operational: | StN, MGB |
| Remarkable facts: | - cog wheel brake - permanently coupled - pantograph - WC |
Copyright © 2006
Author: Klaus P. Canavan, last change on 2006-03-30