MOLOTOW TRAIN
The toy for the Big Boys.
With its impressive dimensions of 21 x 4.05 x 3 meters and a weight of 39 tons, the MOLOTOW Train is more than just a retired train car. This original sleeper car was placed in the Hall of Fame of the MOLOTOW Headquarters in Lahr in 2010 during a spectacular operation, using a crane and specially laid tracks. Since then, it has become a true emblem of the MOLOTOW brand and has established itself as a pilgrimage site for graffiti artists from around the world.
Every year, the MOLOTOW Train proves itself as a vibrant meeting point for the graffiti art scene. Many prominent artists have already left their mark, including well-known names such as MadC, Geser, Slider, Caparso, and Kool Savas. As a true canvas, the train offers a place where street art and graffiti are celebrated in their purest form. It is also a symbol of the moving history of graffiti culture: From underground to mainstream, and from the train to the canvas.
"PAINT a train only if you own it!"
– Jürgen Feuerstein –
The idea behind the MOLOTOW Train goes back to a legendary statement by Jürgen Feuerstein, the founder of MOLOTOW: “Paint a train only if it belongs to you,” said Feuerstein. This thought reflected in his decision to buy a retired sleeper car and establish it as an integral part of the MOLOTOW Headquarters. The MOLOTOW Train was conceived from the very beginning as a legal hotspot for graffiti artists, but also as a symbol of the transformation of graffiti culture. When graffiti arrived in Germany in the early 80s, no one could have predicted that this art form would one day become a serious art movement.
With the first pure graffiti exhibition at Gallery K31 in Lahr, Feuerstein set an important milestone and laid the foundation for the development of the graffiti art scene in Germany. Therefore, the MOLOTOW Train is not just an art object, but also a testimony to this history and a symbol of the continuous evolution of graffiti culture.
Paint your own MOLOTOW Train!
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More InformationTHE ARRIVAL
The delivery of the MOLOTOW Train was a spectacular event: In a night-time operation, the 39-ton personnel wagon from Deutsche Bahn AG was transported to Lahr in its original condition, accompanied by a police convoy. The car, which exudes the charm of past times down to the smallest detail (even in the interior), was welcomed as the new hotspot for the graffiti art scene.
The first painting of the MOLOTOW Train was done in 2010 by artist SWET, triggering a real hype within the scene. This marked the beginning of a series of projects where internationally known graffiti artists traveled to Lahr to paint this extraordinary train.
Pick-Up
Transport of the retired crew wagon from Nuremberg to Lahr
Delay
Waiting for the correct papers for further transportation
transit
another step: Mannheim
rare view
Heavy haulage convoy on the highway
Arrival in Lahr
The train rolls in into Lahr
Careful shunting
Passage through the narrow streets of Lahr at Doler Platz
Unpaved roads
Arrival at MOLOTOW HQ at night
Train shunting
Work starts early in the morning: the wagon is moved into position
Upwards
Thrilling: the train is brought into position using a heavy-duty crane
last centering
39 tons are being lowered onto the tracks
inch by inch
Fine adjustment requires a steady hand
first walk-in
After work is done: Jürgen boards the train for the first time
CREATIVITY ON TRACK
The MOLOTOW Train is much more than just a place for graffiti – it represents a philosophy of collaboration and continuous exchange between artists and the MOLOTOW brand. Over the years, the brand has formed a close, creative family with many of the world’s leading graffiti artists. This strong bond has led to numerous joint projects and concepts, with the MOLOTOW Train playing a central role in many of them, including the official MOLOTOW AND FRIENDS projects, which feature weekend workshops with various artists from the scene to bring them together.
