Editing Rheingold (train) (section)

== Pre-World War II ==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-10450, Rheingold-Express, Salon-Wagen I. Klasse.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of a first class coach belonging to the Rheingold in September 1930]]
The first ''Rheingold'', which was classified as a [[Schnellzug#Fernschnellzug (FD)|''Fernschnellzug'' (FD)]] ([[train]]s FFD 101 and FFD 102), started service on May 15, 1928. In the [[Netherlands]] it was pulled by the [[NS 3700]]-3800-3900 [[steam locomotive]] series, in [[Germany]] by the ''Baureihen'' [[Baden_IV_h|DRG Class 18.3]] (Badic IV h, between Mannheim and Basel) and [[DRG Class 18.4-5|BR 18<sup>4-5</sup>]] ([[Bavarian S 3/6]], between [[Emmerich am Rhein|Emmerich]] and Mannheim) and in [[Switzerland]] by [[SBB-CFF-FFS Ae 4/7|Ae 4/7]] [[electric locomotive]]s. In 1930, the [[DRG Class 01|BR 01]] (01 077-181) was used between Mannheim and Basel and permanently from 1935 on, and the NS 3900 in the Netherlands.

The luxurious [[Pullman (car or coach)|Pullman]]-type coaches had a distinct cream/blue livery in 1st and 2nd class, each measuring {{convert|23.5|m|abbr=on}}. At both ends (one behind the locomotive) there was a blue luggage wagon. Some cars had a kitchen, with one kitchen serving two cars. [[Mitropa]] waiters served the passengers. The cars were the most technically advanced the DRG had at that time, but were less advanced than the later (from 1939) ''Schürzenwagen'' (skirted coaches), typical [[World War II]] cars. The interiors were designed by artists and architects of the time, and besides being very luxurious were also very spacious. In total, there were 26 coaches and three luggage wagons per train [[consist]]. In these days, the trip took 11 hours. At first, the cars had the ''[[Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft]]'' and MITROPA inscriptions with the DRG logo. Around 1931 the name RHEINGOLD was printed on the coaches and the locomotive tender, and the DRG logo remained. In the fall of 1939, due to the start of World War II, the train service was cancelled.