This eagle was reputed to have been removed from a train at the wars end by an allied intelligence officer. Whether the eagle was added post war or not is speculative and without conclusive evidence we may never know. The surrounding plaque is from the “Companie Internationale des Wagon-Lits et des Grands Express Européens” (The international Sleeping-Car and European Great Express Company). This organisation was founded in 1872 in Belgium by Georges Nagelkmackers. The outer ribbon and leaves were combined with a German Third Reich Reichsbahn eagle. The wreath was damaged (cracked) upon removal and several leaves have been dislocated (although kept for later repair). The eagle is a 24″ (600) PS made eagle.
The original item:
Weight approx: 12.5kg, Dimensions 810 x 620 x 10 mm.
The golden logo with 2 lions, together with the full brand name ‘Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et des Grands Express Européens‘ was affixed on the sides of all CIWL luxury trains: the Orient Express, the Blue Train, the Golden Arrow. This golden crest logo, also called Wagons-Lits monogram, still evokes the feelings of luxury and comfort of travelling in the golden years of the 1920’s to 1940’s.
An example recently for sale in the UK:
Period pics:
Although no known period pics exist with the Reichsbahn eagle, there is one of the original plaque
