Three sections of the SVT 137 902 were originally from the Dutch NS streamline '36 and used in this train.

Since the success of the SVT 877 "Flying Hamburger" DRG projected a set of Diesel multiple units for a high speed network from Berlin to several German cities.

The main line Berlin-Hannover-Cologne started July 1, 1935; the route Berlin-Leipzig-Erfurt-Frankfurt followed August 15, 1935.

On February 17, 1936, the "Bauart Leipzig" achieved a world speed record of 205 km/h (127 mph).

The SVT 137 274 was used in the American occupation zone; it was later transported to Fort Eustis, Virginia, USA, as a "technical interesting object".