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An icon of the Cold War the British military train which ran between West Germany and Berlin was commemorated in Berlin over the weekend of 12-13 May 2012.

Between 1945 and 1990 the British military train travelled daily through Soviet occupied East Germany to the British sector of West Berlin. All the train doors were locked, an armed guard was on board and the British military and civil servants would take about 4 hours to cover the distance of 145 miles.

A special train The Berliner ran between Berlin and Hanover, on both Saturday 12 May and Sunday 13 May 2012, on the 21st anniversary of the last British military train. The train used a steam locomotive from the 1940s and an East German diesel. There was a dining car with a typical Royal Corps of Transport menu and wine list.

Proceeds from events on board The Berliner train raised funds for the Royal British Legion branch in Berlin.

Videos

British Forces News reports on the commemorative journey of The Berliner train.

Andy Mcloone tells the story of The Berliner train and retraces its Cold War route through present day Germany.

Special Commemorative Cover

The British Forces Philatelic Service produced a special commemorative cover which was carried on The Berliner train on 12 May 2012. This cover was sold in aid of the Berlin branch of the Royal British Legion. It was a limited edition of 1200.

Related Material

•    80 photos of The Berliner British Military train event on 12 May 2012 (Paul Bigland Photography).
•    The Train that connected East to West Berlin. BBC (12 May 2012)
• British Military Train travel card. The card shows the timetable, route and places of interest between the departure station of Braunschweig station (West Germany) and Charlottenburg station (Berlin).
• Marienborn Railway Station - The "Meet and Greet" between British and Soviet forces 1989, photo on Flickr
• British Military Train Postcard - The Dining Car, photo on Flickr
• British Military Train, Marienborn Station 1989, photo on Flickr
• Information Sheet given to passengers on the British Military Train by The Royal Corps of Transport, photo on Flickr
• Notable dates in the history of the British Military Train, photo on Flickr

Added on 11 February 2012. Updated on 06 May 2023.