The National Engines - Weltschaft/Ruhrgold, The InterCity Express

Weltschaft/Ruhrgold, The InterCity Express

Originally named Weltschaft, but re-branded Ruhrgold in the 1990s, the German contestant is the InterCityExpress (or Inter-Continental Express as he was called in the 1992 London revamp.) In the original London production, Weltschaft wore grey and green stripes. He raced with Joule in Heat two, but lost to Electra and Pearl. However in Germany he swapped roles with Bobo the French train, so that he wins the 2nd Heat and takes Joule to the final. In the US/UK tours, Ruhrgold appears in the filmed race footage racing with Caboose. His character is the German stereotype, he is work-focussed, efficient, single-minded in accomplishing his mission. In the Japan tour productions he was named Weltschaft, while his twin was named "Flying Hamburger".

Costume Weltschaft's grey/green costume was emblazoned with the double headed eagle insignia. Ruhrgold wears a costume instantly recognisable as the InterCity Express. However this later costume design, while more accurate to the real ICE, is less detailed than the older National costume designs, making Ruhrgold noticeably plainer, with white and purple. Within the world of the story, Ruhrgold is an accurate miniature model whereas many of the other characters are generic model engines Control has designated a nationality to.