Freight trains were long accompanied by staff in dedicated baggage cars. In addition to the train conductor, there was space for the baggage master and shunter for maneuvering in the stations. Before the continuous air brake was introduced, the car also served as a resting area for the brakemen. They could warm up and have refreshments there during their stays at the stations. The common designation for these accompanying cars was Pwg (baggage car for freight trains). In the course of the general acceleration of freight transport, the Deutsche Reichsbahn procured more than 700 accompanying cars from various wagon manufacturers starting in 1941. These were produced in several series and according to different designs using steel construction. They were heated and featured not only a baggage compartment but also a conductor's compartment, an entrance area, and a toilet. The baggage compartment was accessible via sliding doors located inside. Some cars were still delivered with conductor's cabins on the roof, allowing the conductor to observe signals. Until the 1960s, the conductor was required to observe signals; later, these roof cabins were removed by most railway companies. Due to the construction of the cars at several factories and their distribution across various countries in Europe after World War II, they differ in some notable details, particularly on the roof, the end fronts, the side walls, the arrangement of windows, and the number of windows. The vehicles were long found in many freight trains as freight train baggage cars or, due to their possible maximum speed of 100 km/h, even in passenger trains with some railway companies.