Innovative Stainless Steel Applications in transport ... - Euro Inox

Figure 1. Rear view of El Capitan. Figure 2. Observation end of the Pioneeer
Colorado, 1938 (Denver Public Library
2007).
Zephyr (Wikipeda 2007a).
Much of the enthusiasm for stainless steel has been maintained over the decades, both
for technical reasons and as a matter of aesthetic preference. Stainless steel is equally
present in metro, commuter and long distance-trains to the present day.
In Europe, the history of stainless steel in rail transport did not start until after World
War II. Inspired by the North American experience, several national railway companies
welcomed stainless steel solutions suggested by rolling-stock manufacturers. Stainless
steel succeeded at both ends of the scale, both in commuter trains and luxury longdistance
trains.
As a predecessor of today’s high-speed European trans-national rail connections, the
“Trans Europ Express” (TEE) was the epitome of speed and comfort in the 50s and 60s.
On the Paris–Brussels–Amsterdam (TEE PBA) line, stainless steel rail coaches
were introduced in 1962. This service was only suspended in 1996, with the arrival
of today’s high-speed trains.
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Figure 3. The Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam
Trans Europ Express service (TEE PBA)
started in 1962 (Trains en voyage 2007).