Note: the pictures given here mostly come from the European Railway Server although some come from other sites. The thumbnails given here come from this site. Clicking on a picture will give you a larger and better quality from the other site. Many more rail photo's can be found at those sites.

Diesel Trainsets

SNCF Trainsets

These were based on the already proven RGP 825 trainsets (which is shown by the photo). They consisted of a motorcar (X 2771-2781) and a driving trailer (XRS 7771-7779). The motorcar seated 39 passengers, the trailer had 42 seats, a kitchen and a service compartment. Built 1956/57. Intermediate cars have been built, but I do not have information about them. These sets could be coupled with the original RPG 825 sets, and this was done on some French parts of TEE routes.
Photo: Patrick Meunier, size: 133257 bytes.

SBB-CFF-FFS/NS Trainsets

The principle was based on the trainsets already running in the Netherlands. A set consisted of a motorcar (with compartments for bagage, service and customs), a compartment car for 54 passengers, a restaurant car seating 32 passengers with compartments for 18 passengers and a driving trailer seating 42 passengers. Built 1956/57. Numbers: NS 1001-1003 and SBB-CFF-FFS RAm 501-502.
Photo: Jean-Paul Lescat, size: 66214 bytes.

DB Trainsets (VT 08)

Because the intended trainsets were not ready in time as a temporary measure some sets of this series have done service in TEE trains.
Photo: Tobias Köhler, size: 42356 bytes.
The following cars were available (although not all were used in TEE service):
Motorcars with restaurant part (DR4ü)
numbered VT 08 501-514.
Motorcars (A4ü)
seating 36, numbered VT 08 515-520.
Compartment carriage (A4ü)
seating 60, numbered VM 08 501-522.
Driving trailer (A4ük)
seating 54, numbered VS 08 501-513.
The trains were built 1952/54. A train consisted of one motor/restaurant car, one or two compartment cars and a driving trailer or a second motor car without restaurant part.

DB Trainsets (VT 11)

Built 1957. Since 1968 numbered in the 601 series. The trainsets were expandable and could easily be split and joined.
Photo: Werner Oestreich, size: 56805 bytes.
The following cars were available:
Motorcars (D4ü)
numbered VT 11 5001-5019, later 601 001-019.
Compartment cars (A4ü)
seating 36 passengers, numbered VM 11 5101-5123, later 901 101-123. Of these only 15 were built in 1957, 5 followed in 1959, 2 in 1962 and another one in 1963.
Open cars (A4y)
seating 33 passengers, numbered VM 11 5201-5208, later 901 201-208.
Restaurant car without kitchen (AR4y)
seating 23 in a restaurant compartment, 7 at a bar and open part with 17 places, numbered VM 11 5301-5308, later 901 301-308.
Restaurant car with kitchen (R4y)
also seating 23, numbered VM 11 5401-5409, later 901 401-409.
Normally a trainset consisted of D4ü+A4ü+A4y+AR4y+R4y+A4ü+D4ü, later up to 3 A4ü were added.

FS Trainsets

Built also 1957 (and two in 1958), but due to late delivery the intended trains could not start immediately with the beginning of the summer timetable of 1957. The sets consisted of a motorcar (ALn 442.201-209) seating 42 and a driving trailer (ALn 448.201-209) seating 48 with a kitchen and customs compartment. In 1969 ALn 442.202 was replaced by ALn 442.209 and in 1971 ALn 448.207 by ALn 448.209; both after accidents. Intermediate cars have been built but were never actually used in the TEE sets.
Photo: Paolo Zanin - IRA Italian RAilfans, size: 71069 bytes.

Electric Trainsets

SBB-CFF-FFS Trainsets

Built in 1961 as RAe II 1051-1054, in 1962 1055 was added. The sets were able to drive on four different current systems: 1500 and 3000 V DC, 15000 V 16 2/3 Hz AC and 25000 V 50 Hz AC. The motorcar had four pantographs, one for Switzerland, one for Germany and Austria (originally in this position there was one for the DC part of France), one for Italy and the AC part of France and one for the DC part (France, Belgium and the Netherlands, originally not for France). (Although Switzerland used the same system as Germany and Austria, requirements for pantographs are very different, hence the two pantographs for these parts). The driver had in front of him a push button panel with a button for each region; a single push would activate the appropriate pantograph and set for the correct current. The sets consisted of a driving trailer seating 42, the motor car, a restaurant car with 48 places plus 6 places at the bar, an intermediate open car with 42 places and another driving trailer with 42 seats. Later a sixth open car with 42 places was added at the position where the driving trailer joined the motorcar.
Photo: Jean-Paul Lescat, size: 73172 bytes.

FS Trainsets

These were not especially built for the TEE but actually very old. This series (ETR 301-303, the first two built 1953 and the third in 1959) was already used in the luxuary Settebello and came into TEE service without change when the service was classified TEE. When the sets would be retracted from TEE service in 1984 the train was renamed to Colosseum because the old name was connected with the trainsets rather than the service. Actually these sets consist of three parts; both ends are formed from two cars with a jointly used middle bogey; the middle part is three cars with two jointly used middle bogeys.
Photo: Paolo Zanin - IRA Italian RAilfans, size: 86207 bytes.

DB trainsets

Only one kind was used by DB and that only for the Lufthansa Airport Express. This was the series 403/404 luxuary trainsets.
Photo: MicroVision Photo-CD Picture-Show 21, copyright TRONIC-Verlag, size: 77959 bytes.
The sets consisted of the following cars and were built in 1973:
Motorcar (A4ysm/Ame)
with compartments seating 46; numbered 403.001-006.
Open carriage (A4ym/Ame)
seating 51; numbered 404.001-003.
Restaurant car (R4ym/Rme)
with compartments seating 16; numbered 404.101-103.
Motorcar (A4ysm/Ame)
a copy of the first motorcar.

Locomotive hauled sets

RENFE TALGO

These trains were based on the Spanish TALGO principle were each car had only two (separately hinged) wheels on one end and where the other end was supported by the next car. Each set had two end cars of which one had two sets of two wheels so that the complete set was self supporting. In order to allow steering through curves the end wheels were in part connected with the buffers and this required special measures on the locomotive end to support this. Originally there were 5 RENFE diesel locomotives (3001 T-3005 T, later 353 001-005) that hauled the sets the complete route (two where based in Spain with wide gauge and three in France and Switzerland with normal gauge, but bogeys could be exchanged). Later these trains were hauled in France and Switzerland by French locomotives (diesel at first, electric later) that were modified to allow the special requirements, in Spain they were also replaced by standard locomotives modified for the requirements. The sets have in this period only been used in the Catalan Talgo, and from 1974 also in the (non TEE train) Barcelona Talgo (Barcelona-Paris).
Photo: Manuel Peña, size: 94545 bytes.

The 5 locomotives had names:
3001T: Virgen de Lourdes
3002T: Virgen de Fatima
3003T: Virgen del Yugo
3004T: Virgen de la Paloma
3005T: Virgen de la Bien Aparecida
Photo: Ernst Kers, size: 49734 bytes.

The following types of cars did exist:
Open carriges (A3tu)
seating 17 passengers, numbered RT 201-01 to 35. Later these were modified in 13 1st class carriages (TA2 201.001-013, UIC 64 71 02-01 001 to 013) and 22 2nd class carriages (TB2 202.001-022, UIC 64 71 02-02 001 to 022).
Bar/kitchen car (Artu)
numered RT 206-01 to 04. Later a fifth carriage was added and they were renumbered into TC2 206.001-005, UIC 64 71 02-06 001 to 005.
Restaurant car (Rux)
coupled to the bar/kitchen car, seating 24, numbered RT 210-01 to 07, later renumbered into TR2 210.001-007, UIC 64 71 02-10 001 to 007.
Bagage/generator car (Dx)
these were the end-cars coming in two versions; numbered RT 211-01 to 04 and RT 212-01 to 04. Later one of both was added and they were renumbered into TG2z 211.001-005, UIC 64 71 02-11.001 to 005 (two wheelsets) and TG2 212.001-005, UIC 64 71 02-12.001 to 005.
First class sleeping car
These were a later addition for the Barcelona Talgo, they had 10 places in compartments with 1 or 2 beds, numbering was TWL3g 307.001-008, UIC 64 71 03-07 001 to 008.
Second class sleeping car
Also a later addition, 16 places in compartments with 4 beds, numbered TWL3u 308.001-026, UIC 64 71 03-08 001 to 026.
Normally a train had two end cars, a bar/kitchen car, a restaurant car at both sides of it and 9 open carriages. Four sets could be formed of which one was short of an open carriage and a restaurant car. The later Barcelona Talgo consisted mainly of sleeping carriages.

Locomotive hauled stock

Note: locomotives are mentioned later. Also much more stock has been used, not especially built for TEE service and some of the later stock was also used in other services.

SNCF carriages (Mistral)

This stock came in TEE service when the status of le Mistral changed. Built in 1956. The following cars did exist:
Compartment carriage (A8myfi/A8u)
Seating 48, numbered 5021-5042, from 1972 61 87 18-89 826-847.
Bar car (A5smyfi/A5ru)
The first were built 1954 under the numbers 5019-5020, 1956 renumbered 5081-5082 when also 5083 was built; from 1972 61 87 84-89 004, 005 and 007.
Bagage/generator cars (Dsmyi/Dx)
Rebuilt 1956 from older cars, numbered 5901-5905, later 61 87 81-89 451 to 455.

SNCF/NMBS-SNCB carriages (PBA)

This stock was called PBA after the section for which it was intended: Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam. Built 1964 partly for NMBS-SNCB partly for SNCF. Here we see the open carriage in its later days.
Photo: Stefan Nicolai, size: 138992 bytes.
This photograph shows the trailing bagage/generator car.
Photo: Stefan Nicolai, size: 76281 bytes.
It consisted of the following stock:
Compartment carriage (A8myfi/A8u)
Seating 48 passengers, at first 31-37 later 61 87 18-89 881 to 887; SNCF.
Open carriage (A8s/A8tu)
Seating 46, numbered 41-51 at first, from 1972 61 88 18-89 980 to 990; NMBS-SNCB.
Open carriage + kitchen (A5smyfi/A5rtu)
SNCF.
Seating 29 passengers; meals were served from the kitchen on all seats in the train. Numbered at first 21-27, from 1972 61 87 84-89 018 to 024;
Bar car (A3Rmyfi/A3rtu)
At first 15-18, later 61 87 84-89 025 to 028; SNCF.
Bagage/generator car (A2Dsmyi/A2Dx)
Numbered 1-7, later 1 and 2 were renumbered in 8 and 9; at the end of 1972 they got UIC numbers: 61 87 81-89 701 to 707; SNCF.

SNCF/NMBS-SNCB/SBB-CFF-FFS carriages (Mistral 69)

Built first in 1968/70, later some were added in 1973/74. The following cars were present ultimately:
Compartment carriage (A8u)
Seating 48, numbered 61 87 18-89 888 to 914, later 943 to 957 were added; SNCF.
Open carriages (A8tu)
46 places, numbered 61 87 18-89 915 to 942 (SNCF), later the following were added: 61 88 18-89 991 to 996 (NMBS-SNCB) and 61 85 18-89 000 to 004 (SBB-CFF-FFS).
Restaurant car (Vru)
Numbered 61 87 88-89 051 to 061, later 062 and 063 were added; SNCF.
Bar car plus open part (A3rtu)
Seating 17 plus bar, numbered 61 87 84-89 036 to 037 with 038 to 040 added later; SNCF.
Special bar car (Arux)
Numbered 61 87 84-89 101 to 104, no later addition; SNCF.
Bagage/generator car (A4Dtux)
Numbered 61 87 81-89 711 to 724 with 725 to 729 added later; SNCF.

SNCF carriages (Grand Confort)

Built 1969/70, the following were present:
Compartment carriage (A8u)
48 places, numbered 61 87 18-99 001 to 012 and 026 to 053.
Open carriage (A8tu)
Seating 46, numbered 61 87 18-99 013 to 025 and 054 to 061, in 1973/74 062 to 074 were added.
Restaurant car (Vru)
61 87 88-99 001 to 010.
Bar car plus open part (A3rtu)
Seating 17, 61 87 84-99 001 to 006.
Bagage/generator car (A4Dtux)
61 87 81-99 001 to 013.

DB carriages

Originally built for the Rheingold before it got TEE status in 1962/63 and a later delivery in 1964/65.

The following cars existed:
Compartment carriages (Av4üm-62/Avümh 111)
54 places, numbered 10401-10436 at first, renumbered in 1967 in 61 80 19-80 001 to 022 (first delivery) and 101 to 114 (second delivery). In 1976 the letter ü was removed from the designation. Paint schemes and their time periods
Open carriages (Ap4üm-62/Apümh 121)
Seating 48, the first part of the first delivery was numbered 10421-10425 at first, in 1963 renumbered in 10501-10505, the remainder got numbers 10506-10525; in 1967 renumbered in 61 80 18-80 001 to 011 and 101 to 113 for first and second delivery (10513 was lost in 1965). In 1976 the letter ü was removed from the designation. Paint schemes and their time periods
Panorama car with bar and bagage compartment (AD4üm-62/ADümh 101)
In addition two compartments for (total) 12 passengers; numbered 10551-10555 at first, renumbered in 61 80 81-80 001 to 005. In 1976 the letter ü was removed from the designation. Paint schemes and their time periods
Restaurant car (WR4üm-62/WRümh 131)
At first delivered to DSG (Deutsche Schlafwagen Gesellschaft) and DB under numbers 101-102 (DSG) and 11103-11105, in 1966 the DSG cars came to DB under numberes 11101-11102. From 1967 61 80 88-80 001 to 005. In 1976 the letter ü was removed from the designation. Paint schemes and their time periods
Until 1969 the following were added:
Avmh 111
61 80 19-80 023 to 028 and 115 to 138. Paint schemes and their time periods
Apmh 121
61 80 18-80 114-122 Paint schemes and their time periods
ARDmh 105
Bar/restaurant car with 4 compartments seating 24: 61 80 84-80 101 to 108 and 61 80 84-70 101 to 103. Paint schemes and their time periods
WRmh 132
As WRmh 131 but with wider seating: 61 80 88-80 021, 022 and 106-124. Paint schemes and their time periods
From 1972 many more carriages were added but there was no longer a strict separation between cars used for TEE trains and cars used for other fast trains.

FS carriages

FS used a strict separation between the carriages used for international trains and those for national trains. The following types were available (built about 1969):
Compartment carriage (A)
48 places, numbered 61 83 18-90 900 to 912 (international) and 50 83 18-98 000 to 119. Paint schemes and their time periods
Open carriage (As/Ap)
Seating 48, numbered 61 83 18-90 950 to 954 (international) and 50 83 18-98 500 to 529. Paint schemes and their time periods
Restaurant car (WR)
Numbered 61 83 88-90 900 to 904 and 50 83 88-98 000 to 010. Paint schemes and their time periods
Bagage car (Ds)
numbered 61 83 95-900 to 904 (international only) the last two were originally numbered 951 and 952. In 1972 followed bagage cars for national trains: 50 83 95-98 000 to 019. Paint schemes and their time periods

SBB-CFF-FFS carriage

Only one carriage in this group.
Restaurant car (UIC WRm RIC)
Restaurant car rebuilt in 1972 and introduced as WRm 61 85 88-70 000. Paint schemes and their time periods

Locomotives

In many cases the locomotive hauled trains were hauled by standard locomotives from various series; however some series were initially specially intended for TEE trains and from other series some locomotives got a special TEE colour; those are mentioned below.

SNCF locomotives

There was only one series that was intended especially for TEE trains (although it did not get the TEE colour): CC 40101-40110. These were locomotives that were intended to haul the trains from Paris through to the Netherlands and Germany and back, however they never actually saw service in the Netherlands and Germany and they were used mostly for TEE trains and other fast trains to Belgium. The first 4 locomotives were built in 1964, the last 6 in 1970. After an accident CC 40106 was completely rebuilt in 1973.
Photo: Jean-Paul Lescat, size: 76898 bytes.

NMBS-SNCB locomotives

Three series were built for (and mostly used for) TEE service, the first one was: 1501-1505 (formerly 150.001-150.003, 150.011 and 150.012) in 1962. These could be used in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Photo: Ben Doedens, size: 36182 bytes.
The second series was the 1601-1608 (formerly 160.001-160.004 and 160.021-160.024) in 1966, usable in the same countries plus Germany.
Photo: Tobias Koehler, size: 74460 bytes.
The third series was 1801-1806 in 1973. This series could also be used in the same four countries as series 1600. The 1800 series is identical to the French CC 40100 series.
Photo: Tobias Koehler, size: 22840 bytes.

DB locomotives

The history of the electric locomotives for TEE trains is tightly coupled with the later TEE Rheingold/Rheinpfeil. Originally also a 1st class only fast train, however, not TEE and painted in blue and beige rather then the TEE red and beige. The first locomotives painted in their colours came from the E10 series. First in 1962 E10 239-244 that got renumbered in E10 1239-1244 when they were modified to allow higher speed, when (also in 1962) the high speed standard series came they were remodified and numbered back. The high speed series started with E10 1265-1270 (later 112 265-270); they had a modified cab design. In 1963 a second batch was modified and repainted (E10 250-254) for Rheinpfeil, but not renumbered. In 1964 they were modified back in standard form when the second batch of the high speed version came, E10 1308-1312 (later 112 308-312). Finally in 1968 came a third batch, 112 485-504. They were all ultimately painted in TEE colours.
Photo: MicroVision Photo-CD Picture-Show 21, copyright TRONIC-Verlag, size: 50705 bytes.

The second series that had TEE colours (already from the start) was the E03/103 series. First came in 1965 the prototype series E03 001-004 (later 103 001-004) and from 1970 the standard series 103 101-245. Initially used for TEE service, later (when in Germany the distinction between TEE and other national services became blurred) also for other services.
Photo: Tobias Koehler, size: 73272 bytes.

A few diesellocomotives have also been painted in TEE colors, for service on the Merkur from Hamburg to the ferry, and on the Bavaria: 218 217 (which we see here) and 218 from the series 218 001-499) and 221 115 (from the series 221 101-150, formerly V200 101-150).
Photo: Christian Splittgerber, size: 112762 bytes.

SBB-CFF-FFS locomotives

In Switzerland a few locomotives have been painted in TEE colours for TEE service. First 10033, 10034, 10046 and 10050 of series Re 4/4 I 10027-10050. The photo shows an Re 4/4 I in original colours but with TEE shield.
Photo: copyright by photo archives service of the Swiss Federal Railways, 3030 Bern, Switzerland, size: 30244 bytes.

From the Re 4/4 II series 11156-11304 also a number got TEE livery: 11158-11161 and 11249-11253. The second batch was delivered as TEE.
Photo: W. Hanisch, size: 68680 bytes.

FS locomotives

The Italian TEE services were mostly hauled by locomotives from the series E 444.001-117, but none has been painted specially.
Photo: S. Paolini, size: 72482 bytes.

DSB locomotives

For the short time the Merkur did exist they were hauled in Danmark by the standard MX-1 locomotives. We see here such a locomotive actually hauling the TEE train (consisting of only two carriages).
Photo: Jan Agersten, size: 247547 bytes.

Additional sources:

See also my complete transport catalog.

[Baz84] Bäzold & Fiebig
Elektrische Lokomotiven deutscher Eisenbahnen
ISBN 3 87094 093 X
Alba Buchverlag, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1984

 [Cal78] Luc Calay, Gerrit Nieuwenhuis & Yves Steenebruggen
Benelux Lokomotieven en Treinstellen 1977-01-01
ISBN 91 7266 029 5
Frank Stenvalls Förlag, Malmö, Sweden, 1978

 [Che79] Fabio Cherubini
Materiale Motore F.S. Italia, 1979-01-01
ISBN 91 7266 043 0
Frank Stenvalls Förlag, Malmö, Sweden, 1979

 [Gla81] Glatte
Diesellokomotiven deutscher Eisenbahnen
ISBN 3 87094 077 8
Alba Buchverlag, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1981

 [Obe70] Horst J. Obermayer
Taschenbuch Deutsche Elektrolokomotiven
ISBN 3 440 03754 1
Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart, Germany, 1970

 [Obe72] Horst J. Obermayer
Taschenbuch Deutsche Diesellokomotiven
ISBN 3 440 03932 3
Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart, Germany, 1972

 [Obe73] Horst J. Obermayer
Taschenbuch Deutsche Triebwagen
ISBN 3 440 04054 2
Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart, Germany, 1973

 [Obe78] Horst J. Obermayer
Taschenbuch Deutsche Reisezugwagen
ISBN 3 440 04589 7
Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart, Germany, 1978

 [Wil76] Peter Wilen
Lokomotiven und Triebwagen der Schweizer Bahnen
Band 1: Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB)
ISBN 3 280 00813 1
Orell Füssli Verlag, Zürich, Switzerland, 1976

 [Zsc77] Zschech
Triebwagen deutscher Eisenbahnen
Band 1: ET und ETA
ISBN 3 87094 052 2
Alba Buchverlag, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1977

 [Zsc77a] Zschech
Triebwagen deutscher Eisenbahnen
Band 2: VT und DT
ISBN 3 87094 062 X
Alba Buchverlag, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1977