Electric Railcar BR ET89 DB ("Rübezahl")

Info about the original

Even before World War I, plans were being made in Prussia to electrify several mountain railways in Silesia, including the so-called “Zackenbahn” (named after the Zacken River) between Hirschberg and Polaun. Given the difficult topographical conditions, this new form of traction promised considerable savings and more cost-effective operation. However, the outbreak of World War I prevented the work from being completed quickly, and it was not until 1923 that continuous operation began. Since operating trains pulled by locomotives was very cumbersome due to fluctuating traffic volumes, considerations were made early on to switch to railcars. The suitability of the ET 88, originally procured for suburban transport in Berlin, prompted the DRG to procure additional four-axle electric railcars. In 1926-1927, LHW Breslau and WUMAG in Görlitz, in collaboration with SSW-Werke, delivered a total of 11 railcars that were to become the symbol of electric train transport in Silesia. The distinctive vehicles with their open entrance platforms were christened “Rübezahl” by the local population, a name that actually refers to a moody mountain spirit from the Giant Mountains. The railcars, which were initially painted green and designated “Breslau 511-521,” were always used in pairs with up to eight light standard branch line cars as trailers. Due to low demand, a single railcar operated between Josephinenhütte and Grünthal. The greatest rush of passengers was on weekends when the weather was nice and during the winter sports season. Up to three railcars with twelve trailers then operated as a train. At the beginning of the 1930s, the railcars were given the new designation elt 1011-1019 and a two-tone paint scheme. In 1941, the four-axle railcars were given their final numbers and became ET 89 01-11. With the exception of ET 89 11, which had to be taken out of service in 1943 due to an accident, all of them survived the war and the end of electric train transport in Silesia. Four railcars were transferred to PKP, but were not used there. The exact whereabouts of three others are unknown. ET 89 01, 04, and 07 ended up in the western occupation zones and thus became part of the DB fleet, which was founded in 1949. Only ET 89 04 was refurbished and served at the Munich Central Station depot. Initially still listed as 2nd and 3rd class cars, later photos show it as a pure 3rd class vehicle, which then exclusively carried 2nd class passengers after the class reform in 1956. On September 2, 1959, its final hour arrived – ET 89 04 was the last of its kind to be taken out of service and dismantled shortly thereafter, leaving only a few photos to remind us of these unique railcars.