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2nd class (after 1956: 1st class) with luggage compartiment car NMBS-SNCB GCI 91.001 was seen stored at the railroadmuseum in Leuven. In the early 20th century the different Belgian railways were looking for ways to transport more passengers without making the cars longer.This led to the design of the GC (Grande Capacité; Large capacity) cars: cars with 6-seat compartiments which were only accessible from the sides of the car.This also meant that the train conductor had to reach the compartiments from the outside, explaining the presence of the large steps. Unfortunately this practice led to too many incidents and it was decided to remove 2 seats per compartiment and to create a side corridor and fit gangways to the cars.In this way the conductor could now walk along the whole train without problems.The type code was also changed to GCI (Grande Capacité ŕ Intercirculation; Large capacity with gangways) after the rebuilt. Built between 1901 and 1921, they first were in service with the Belgian State railway (État Belge), after nationalisation of the railways in 1926 and the creation of NMBS-SNCB they remained in service until 1966 for that last one.This car, along with the 3 others stored at the railroadmuseum was restored in 1985, but wasn't used for special trips ever since and is now only in static display.Other GCI-cars in running condition can be found among different heritage railways in Belgium (Stoomcentrum Maldegem, CFV3V) and Luxembourg (AMTF). Leuven , 06/07/2006. Photo by : Denis Verheyden (msts_2@hotmail.com)

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3rd class (after 1956: 2nd class) NMBS-SNCB GCI compartiment car 96.840 was seen stored at the railroadmuseum in Leuven. In the early 20th century the different Belgian railways were looking for ways to transport more passengers without making the cars longer.This led to the design of the GC (Grande Capacité; Large capacity) cars: cars with 6-seat compartiments which were only accessible from the sides of the car.This also meant that the train conductor had to reach the compartiments from the outside, explaining the presence of the large steps. Unfortunately this practice led to too many incidents and it was decided to remove 2 seats per compartiment and to create a side corridor and fit gangways to the cars.In this way the conductor could now walk along the whole train without problems.The type code was also changed to GCI (Grande Capacité ŕ Intercirculation; Large capacity with gangways) after the rebuilt. Built between 1901 and 1921, they first were in service with the Belgian State railway (État Belge), after nationalisation of the railways in 1926 and the creation of NMBS-SNCB they remained in service until 1966 for that last one.This car, along with the 3 others stored at the railroadmuseum was restored in 1985, but wasn't used for special trips ever since and is now only in static display.Other GCI-cars in running condition can be found among different heritage railways in Belgium (Stoomcentrum Maldegem, CFV3V) and Luxembourg (AMTF). Leuven , 06/07/2006. Photo by : Denis Verheyden (msts_2@hotmail.com)

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View on the interior of a 2nd class (after 1956: 1st class) NMBS-SNCB GCI car. Leuven , 06/07/2006. Photo by : Denis Verheyden (msts_2@hotmail.com)