In the search for a rail vehicle for very high speeds, a solution was also considered that would not be propelled by transmitting the power to the rails. Franz Friedrich Kruckenberg therefore constructed the Schienenzeppelin (rail zeppelin). This could reach record speeds of up to 230 km/h or 143 mph, but was not suitable for practical use.
The idea was to create a streamlined lightweight railcar and propel it with a propeller at the rear. Despite being over 25 meters long, the vehicle weighed just 18.6 tonnes when empty. As in aircraft construction, the car body was made of an aluminum frame with a canvas covering. The undercarriage of the rail zeppelin consisted of only two axles, which were 19.6 meters apart. Due to the long wheelbase, the front axle could be steered in order to be able to negotiate curves better.
The power train consisted of a BMW VI aircraft engine and a two-bladed propeller. The engine had twelve cylinders and achieved an output of 600 hp. Since this did not allow reversing and represented a hazard at stations, there was also an electric motor on the rear axle for maneuvering. In May 1931, speeds exceeded 200 km/h for the first time and on June 21, the record of 230.2 km/h was set.
The vehicle was first modified in 1932. The front was exchanged for another, which resembled the later SVT 137. Below this was a two-axle bogie instead of the single axle, in order to improve the running characteristics. The propeller was removed and the engine now gave its power to the two front axles via hydraulic power transmission. Now one could only reach 180 km/h, but this solution was more suitable for everyday use than before.
The second rebuild took place in 1934, whereby the vehicle received the Maybach GO 5 diesel engine, which was to be used more widely later on. The railcar was then sold to the Reichsbahn, but the planned further trials ultimately did not happen. After a few years, the parked vehicle was decommissioned in 1939, although the very poor condition made it impossible to keep it in a museum and so it was scrapped.