Around 1952, the Bundesbahn-Zentral-Amt (BZA) Minden of the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) developed a range of types for 26.4 m long-distance coaches (Group 53). Under the direction of Dr.-Ing. Adolf Mielich, a range of wagons designed as a modular system was created. He took up his designs from the Reichsbahn era, as well as many modern elements such as the closed rubber bead transitions and 1000 or 1200 mm wide translation windows. It differed from the pre-war car types by an even number of compartments and symmetrical car halves, which made it possible to combine the same or different car classes as well as dining and packing rooms. After nine test cars in 1952, series production began in 1955. The B4ümg-54 passenger coaches (1225 units) offered 2nd class passengers only three seats per bench for the first time, instead of the previous four. This improvement in comfort in the "passenger coach for the people" was very well received by the passengers. The first-class A4ümg-54 type of carriage (199 units) exemplified the increased travel comfort of the time. In elegant, dark blue livery, the coaches left the factories and were primarily classified in the DB F train formations. Wagon Group 53 was completed by the mixed-class AB4ümg-55 (357 units) and, from the end of the 1950s, by the BPw4üm-58/59 half-baggage cars (138 units). Due to their groundbreaking innovations, the coaches, and the later conversions derived from them, were indispensable in DB passenger trains for decades to come. So it is not surprising that some of the last cars were only retired at the beginning in the 1990s, or then began a second life in museum traffic.
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