Ralf,

Quite a lot still around in 1954, I think. My impression is based on the various freight car books and general picture books like "Bundesbahn-Album", rather than actual observation; I left Germany in 1949, when they were universal, and didn't go back until 1966.

When I get to that period in my 18-24 month cycles of Ep,IIIa to Ep.5, I use as many DR Brit-US Zone and DR Zone Fr. as I have gathered over the years, about 30% of roughly 40 wagons on the layout.

They've come, often among sets, from Roco, Liliput and Klein-Modellbahn, with the odd one from the other manufacturers. Gassner does decals for the period if you want to back-date your own.

David