Historical Train

Historic passenger carriages

For the Winton Train’s journey from Prague to the port city of Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands, we are using exclusive historic first-class carriages and social carriages from Hungary as well as two first-class carriages from Germany. For representative purposes we have also included Masaryk’s salon carriage dating from 1930. All carriages meet the conditions for international operation (RIC) and the high-quality interior furnishings are well-suited to the requirements of a long journey. The train’s overall capacity (nine carriages) is 240 including train personnel.

For the journey across English territory we have selected a set of historic English carriages, BR Mk1 first-class carriages dating from the 1950s.

Of interest: President Masaryk’s salon carriage

Photogallery of Salon Carriage

This dark blue railway carriage with a state seal on its side was put into operation on 7 March 1930, on the day of Masaryk’s 80th birthday. It represented the height of European passenger carriage production. In addition to its unique technical design the carriage is also noteworthy from an artistic point of view. The carriage was produced at the Ringhoffer factory in Smíchov. The engineers aimed to design a carriage with maximal care at the highest level. This was Czechoslovakia’s first rail car with an all-metal cabin mounted on a modern “Pennsylvania” undercarriage, the interior of which was designed by Prague architect Albert Jonáš. Australian cherry wall paneling decorated with carved pear wood gives the central part of the carriage the unmistakable atmosphere of a salon. It is illuminated by a huge chandelier with 86 light bulbs.

Vůz byl vyroben v Ringhofferových závodech na Smíchově. Konstruktéři se snažili vyrobit vůz s maximální péčí na nejvyšší úrovni. Jednalo se o náš první vůz s celokovovou skříní na moderních podvozcích typu „Pensylvania“, jehož interiér navrhoval pražský architekt Albert Jonáš. Obložení stěn z australské třešně spolu s řezbářskou výzdobou z pařeného hruškového dřeva vytváří neopakovatelnou atmosféru ústředního prostoru ve voze - salonu. Ten osvětluje mohutný lustr s 86 žárovkami.

The salon divides the carriage into a men’s section with a presidential bedroom and toilet, three compartments for a doctor, secretary and cook with valet; a women’s section with the bedroom of the president’s spouse, toilet, compartment for female accompaniment; and a section for luggage. It has double windows, and a cabin insulated against dust and noise independent of hot water heating and water lines. The carriage, built for a speed of 140 km/h, measures almost 24 m and weighs 56 tonnes. It was first used by Masaryk for a convalescence on the French Riviera.

Historic steam locomotives for individual segments

Photogallery of steam locomotive

A) Prague – Furth im Wald

Steam locomotive 486.007, the so-called Green Anton dating from 1936. The locomotive is owned by MDC – ŽSR Bratislava, Slovak Republic, and is stored in Vrútky. The second – supporting locoomotive is steam locomotive 498.022. It is owned by Czech Railways and stored at Praha Libeň.

Druhá - podpůrná je parní lokomotiva 498.022. Jejím majitelem jsou České dráhy, a.s., a je deponována v Praze Libni.

B) Furth im Wald – Nuremberg – Cologne – Emmerich

Steam locomotive 41.018, dating from 1939. The locomotive’s owner is DG München, Federal Republic of Germany, and it is stored at the railway museum in Augsburg.

C) Emmerich – Rotterdam – Hoek van Holland

Steam locomotive 01.1075 from 1940 is owned by SSN (Stoom Stichting Nederland) Rotterdam and is stored in Rotterdam.

E) Harwich – London

For the Winton Train’s journey across English territory, the A1 class steam locomotive 60163 “Tornado” will be used. It was completed in 2008 at a cost of £ 3 million financed over 18 years by subscriptions, sponsorship, a bond issue and commercial loans. You can find out more about this unique steam locomotive built for the 21st Century on www.a1steam.com

Length of the Winton Train’s route: