An extremely creative idea
Volkswagen and the Deutsche Bundesbahn developed an extremely creative idea when, in 1959, they concluded a Vertrag zur Bahnbeförderung von Motoren und Getrieben (Agreement for the Transportation of Engines and to Drives by Rail) between Volkswagen’s individual production plants. The solution consisted of standardized bodies, which could be transported on short-coupled double units of converted type Rm(r)so 31 stake cars. They had only a flat superstructure with a wooden bottom, on which the supporting frames for the bins were mounted. Thereby, each double unit offered space for six bodies, which were loaded either with 36 engines or with 96 gearboxes. In 1966 the boxcars operated for the transport of engines and gearboxes between Hannover and Wolfsburg, Emden and Ingolstadt, as well as between Kassel-Baunatal and Emden, Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt and later also Brussels. From 1970 the destinations Salzgitter, Neckarsulm, Stuttgart and Osnabrück (Karman) were added.
Example: Laabs double open freight car unit for container transport (coupled Klms 440 formerly Rmrso 31) of the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB), leased to Volkswagen AG (VW). Version without handbrake, with container carrying frame and Volkswagen transport containers as load. As used around 1971.
