Silberling
Silberling is the colloquial name for the n-coaches of the Deutsche Bundesbahn, a type of regional passenger coach of which more than 5,000 units were built from 1958 to 1981. Nearly all of the coaches have undergone extensive modernisation – these modernised units are widely known as Mintling, Grünling ("greenling") or Rotling ("redling") after their exterior colours. The term Buntling ("colourfulling") is used to denote refurbished Silberling coaches in general.
| n-Wagen (Silberling) | |
|---|---|
 Push-pull train of n-coaches at the anniversary parade in 1985 in Nuremberg | |
| Constructed | Prototypes from 1958, 1959–1980 |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 26,400 mm (86 ft 7+1⁄4 in) over buffers |
| Width | 2,825 mm (9 ft 3+1⁄4 in) |
| Height | 4,050 mm (13 ft 3+1⁄2 in) |
| Wheel diameter | 950 mm (3 ft 1+3⁄8 in) |
| Maximum speed | 120 or 140 km/h (75 or 87 mph) (depending on design) |
| Weight | 31–40 t (31–39 long tons; 34–44 short tons) |
| Bogies |
|
| Braking system(s) | shoe brakes; later also disc brakes |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Seating |
|
Origin of the name
The term Silberling derives from the coaches' stainless steel body which gave them a unique look during their term of service. Translated it means "silverling" in the English language. Historically, Silberling is a silver coin and widely known from the bible: the thirty pieces of silver (in the German Bible: "30 Silberlinge", Matthew 26,14) Judas obtained for his treason.
Technical data
| Total length: | 26,400 mm |
| Distance between bogie pivots: | 21,500 mm |
| Empty weight: | 42-47 t |
| Maximum speed: | 120 or 140 km/h (varies by type) |
| Number of seats: | 96 seats in second class in Bn coaches 2×24 seats in second and 30 in first class in ABn coaches. |
Type overview
| Type | Year built | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABn 703 | 1959 – 66 | 798 | 5 cars with central control (ABnz 703), 20 cars with multi-voltage heating |
| ABnr 704 | 1965 – 67 | 34 | |
| ABnrz 704 | 1968 – 77 | 380 | |
| ABnrz 708 | 1977 | 1 | Karlsruher Versuchszug (Karlsruhe experimental train) |
| Bn 719 | 1969 – 76 | 1070 | |
| Bn 720 | 1959 – 63 | 1019 | |
| Bnz 723 | 1965/66 | 30 | Multi-voltage heating |
| Bnrz 723 | 1966 | 40 | |
| Bnrz 724 | 1969/70 | 180 | Field hospital car, steep roof |
| Bnrz 724.1 | 1989/90 | 18 | remodeled from Bnrz 725 |
| Bnr 725 | 1966 – 68 | 190 | |
| Bnrz 725 | 1967 – 77 | 449 | |
| Bnrz 728 | 1977 – 80 | 100 | Steep roof |
| Bnrz 729 | 1977 | 2 | Karlsruher Versuchszug (Karlsruhe experimental train) |
| Bnrz 734 | 1977 | 1 | Karlsruher Versuchszug (Karlsruhe experimental train) |
| BDnf 735 | 1978 – 81 | 71 | Rebuilt from BDnf 738, cab car w/o door |
| BDnf 738 | 1959 – 64 | 229 | Cab car with front passenger door, 20 cars with multi-voltage heating |
| BDnrzf 739 | 1969 | 40 | Cab car with front passenger door, cab removed later on |
| BDnrzf 740 | 1971 – 77 | 310 | Cab car, model Karlsruhe |
| BDn 742 | 1961 – 64 | 29 | no cab, rebuilt from BDnf 738, 20 cars with multi-voltage heating |
- Indicator z: Central control (Zugsammelschiene)
- Indicator r: disc brakes