QUOTE (simonj @ 20 Jan 2008, 01:56)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Has anybody an idea why the restaurant car on ICE1 has a raised roof while the ICE2 version has a normal height outline? It looks like the ICE1 has a higher interior with roof windows, I wonder why this design was ditched? Possibly for aerodynamic reasons?
The raised roof on the ICE 1´s dining car was raised so that the guests could drink their beer while standing up and still have comfortable "clearance" as far as the roof is concerned.
The design was ditched mainly for weight reasons. The ICE2 often only has one traction unit (I see that every day on the Hannover-Bremen leg), yet has to sustain speeds of 250 kph, so the train´s weight had to be reduced drastically. As a passenger, you can also see that the ICE 2 seats appear flimsier, the compartments were ditched, too, as were many interior adornments.
EDIT: Paul, it wasn´t the diner. See
here.