Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express

[Morpethcurve]

Not much UK about it I concede, but in a BBC4 documentary, 22:00 30th Jan about Kraftwerk, there were a number of fascinating film segments of said iconic train, the 1950s German DMU design with the elevated cockpit. Surely by now this is accessible via Catch-Up or i-Player or something.

I'm afraid I didn't have the presence of mind to note what minute these started, but I hope the readership finds them as interesting as I did.

Regards - cardboardcutout

 

[Taunton]

Always grated on me. Apart from the numbing repetition of "Trans Europe Express" in the album's title track, in the about three lines where they say something else it's they went from Paris to Vienna - which was as far as I was aware was never a through TEE route.

The German diesel VT 11.5 trains built for the initial TEE services had all been withdrawn from TEE services for some years by the time the record came out.

TEE's were a first-class-only service, which seemed quite opposed to the band's somewhat egalitarian/alternative lifestyle image. I think at the time (mid-1970s) the sole first-class-only train in Britain was the Manchester Pullman - which I can't quite see contemporary Mike Oldfield coming out with an album track about.

 

[theageofthetra]

Had a ride on the German TEE at a Plandampf at Trier a few years ago. Stunning interior with a baby grand on the lounge car. It didn't feel at all dated and the ride would rival most modern units.

 

[Altfish]

The programme is on iPlayer here...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b050rbzb/kraftwerk-pop-art

26:06 - 28:03 for TEE

 

[dgl]

The lyrics I can remember are,
'Rendez-vouz on the champs-ellese straight collection TEE', 'In Vienna we sit in a late night café straight connection TEE' and 'station to station at the Düsseldorf city meet iggy pop and david bowie'

In all fairness it's a brilliant album (certainly one of the best ever made). I love Europe Endless and Hall Of Mirrors.

Here's the program: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b050rbzb/kraftwerk-pop-art
and here is a live version of trans Europe express (with plenty of TEE footage): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj_scseCmkk

 

[Taunton]

The power was essentially a Warship engine and transmission, one at each end, so doubtless sounded like a train top-and-tailed by a couple of Class 22.

 

[Altfish]

The lyrics I can remember are,
'Rendez-vouz on the champs-ellese straight collection TEE', 'In Vienna we sit in a late night café straight connection TEE' and 'station to station at the Düsseldorf city meet iggy pop and david bowie'

In all fairness it's a brilliant album (certainly one of the best ever made). I love Europe Endless and Hall Of Mirrors.

Agree, I love putting it on my iPod whilst travelling on Virgin trains from Manchester
Of course the lyrics led to the album title of Bowie's album Station to Station

 

[gordonthemoron]

Agree, I love putting it on my iPod whilst travelling on Virgin trains from Manchester
Of course the lyrics led to the album title of Bowie's album Station to Station

it was the other way round Radioactivity (1975), StationtoStation (1976), Trans Europe Express (1977)