HN4491 CIWL, 3-unit pack "Edelweiss Pullman Express", set 2/2 (DD3, VPC Fleche d'Or + VP Étoile du Nord), ep. II

The Edelweiss Pullman Express

The "Edelweiss" travelled between Switzerland and the Netherlands via Alsace and Luxembourg from 1928 to 1979, with an interruption due to the war. Until 1939, the train ran as a luxury train operated by the International Sleeping Car Company CIWL from Amsterdam to Basel and over a certain period also Lucerne. After the Second World War, initially operated as a normal express train, the Edelweiss became one of the first train pairs of the new Trans-Europ-Express system (TEE) from 1957. It was discontinued in 1979.

It is a little known fact that the CIWL's Edelweiss Pullman Express was a direct competitor to the Rheingold at the time. Until the Second World War, however, the train also travelled south of Basel together with the Rheingold's scheduled coaches.

Until 1939, the CIWL only used its Pullman coaches, which had been built from 1925 onwards, on the "Edelweiss". As these were equipped with a kitchen and an at-seat service, there was generally no separate dining car and only luggage carriages. Being a day train, the Edelweiss did not have sleeping cars. As a rule, the "Edelweiss" consisted of at least four Pullman coaches and two luggage coaches.

The new Arnold models HN4490 and HN4491 include a baggage car each, which in the real “Edelweiss” ran behind the locomotive and at the end of the train, as well as a Pullman car with and without kitchens. Two of these coaches are newly tooled models: VP and VPC of the "Étoile du Nord" type. All of the cars have authentic "Edelweiss" train running signs.