British Military Train

[Dagenham Rover]

I bet one or two on here rode this train

https://www.facebook.com/BBCArchive/videos/271822003190837/

Hoola I seem to remember a conversation with you about a relative that was a steward on this btw got your pm but not had chance to reply yet

[glosterred]

Yep rode that twice in the eighties going to Berlin on sporting tours there. The change from west to east was very stark. Berlin is a fantastic place to visit. Some very interesting clubs to visit, if you want a bath that is!

[Highland Rover]

Went on it twice in the early 70's , seem to remember going past the oldest shunting hump in the world at some stage of the journey !. Also the charades carried out by the East Germans /Russians at the crossing points ........Memorable !! Also did the road route .

[Metalmicky]

Never went on the train, but drove the 'corridor' to Berlin in 1985.  Stayed in a caravan at RAF Gatow with 3 mates and crossed over to East Berlin 4 times in our 8 day visit - always dressed in our No1's so that we stood out from the crawd... Was a surreal experience, but one I shall never forget.

[Dagenham Rover]

Went on it twice in the early 70's , seem to remember going past the oldest shunting hump in the world at some stage of the journey !. Also the charades carried out by the East Germans /Russians at the crossing points ........Memorable !! Also did the road route .

I went on it numerous times late 70's early 80's and as you say the charades that were carried out were incredible, making sure the silver service waiter bit  happening while the engines were being changed, the East Germans "buying" 200 Marlboro at the platform kiosk (and making sure we could see the sleeve) and then walking to the side door of the kiosk and handing them back   my carriage was right at the kiosk once it was hilarious, thats  to name a few, it was on both sides! 
Then as for driving the corridor god help you if you broke the speed limits they knew exactly how long it should take you between points and if you arrived early....................................

The funniest is probably the Yanks going through Checkpoint Charlie in the coaches SAT  rigidly to attention heads facing forward and not flinching, us well we were told to face forward when on the coachs but normally a look and a thumbs up to the East Berliners or Ruskis they didnt mind the Brits but Yanks ......
We were once in the massive department store in East Berlin and a Ruski started following us so up 5 floors on the escalator got to the top, we past him on the way down as he was still going up, q thumbs up and smiles from us as we past the t**t who then went piling up to the top and I'm sure he was out to arrest us but got called off   funny as hell when we look back at it and at the time tbh

[hoolahoop]

Yes daggers ,  told that I went on that train too but simply can't recall it in any detail. My dad was a bandsman and we went for some military show of some kind. Why I would have been with him escapes me and unfortunately both parents are now dead. There is so much about my interesting childhood in Germany, Malaysia and Singapore that I would love to ask them about too.

I have photos ( '00s of them ) but nothing relating to this . Perhaps that wasn't permitted ?

This was in the days when we still had the vestiges of an Empire that some would aspire too now in their folly !

[Highland Rover]

Did the East Berlin tour once , as said before you had to wear your No 1 uniform and it was a bit surreal when in Treptow Park ( 3 huge mass graves for the Russian Army ) as on one side of the park was a party of high ranking Russian Army officers and us erks on the other ! We also got lost on our tour and ended up in the back streets of East Berlin and that's where you saw the true extent of the Communist regime as the shops were virtually empty and it really was depressing .
On the plus side , good exchange rate and toy trains were a good price !!

[Sprotyrover]

My folks lived near the line about 8 miles from the border I used to love watching the train go past plastered in union Jacks!