Ice train seating maps

Here is a start, but I do not know they are referenced by train numbers.
http://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-seat-plans.htm#Germany
http://www.ice-fansite.com/index.php/services/ice-sitzplaene

Also, it is not always possible to determine the train direction. ICE trains are designed to go either direction. Some times a train will reverse directions during the trip. If it passes through a terminal type station, like Stuttgart or Leipzig, it will definitely switch. I've seen a few trains passing through Berlin Hbf or Cologne Hbf also do this.

My solution has been, (wifey hates riding "backwards"), is to book seats across a table or in a compartment. One of us will always be riding in the right direction (her), and we can switch if the train does reverse along the way. Also, ICE trains have electronic signs over the seats indicating if the seat has been reserved and between what stations. So if you don't like your seats, you can switch to any other unreserved seats you like better.

I did refer to seat61 for some help but the link didn't appear to pertain to our train. We are in wagon 8. I did just what you say you do by positioning ourselves across from each other but I didn't have that option to request for that second leg. It was assigned to us. I will do as you suggest though. I didn't think about just moving our seats to an unreserved seat while on the train. Thank you!

There are different models of ICE train, ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 and ICE 4. They each have different layouts and seating plans.

Unless you know which model your train is, you can't tell what your seat will be like. And, as the Sam said, on many routes trains change direction en-route (Köln HB, Frankfurt HB, Basel amongst others). The best solution is to buy two facing seats.

ICE 1 &2 has a shovel node like this: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/ICE_1_Hannover-Berlin_Gardelegen.jpg
ICE 3 has a pointed nose: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/ICE_3_Oberhaider-Wald-Tunnel.jpg
And ICE 4 is the newest one: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/ICE4_Front.jpg

If hubby absolutely is dead-set against a backward facing seat, reservations are not obligatory. The reason most of us buy tickets in advanced is to take advantage of the discounts, not to guarantee a spot. It's convenient to buy the seat reservation with the ticket, but not necessary. With some exceptions, finding a seat is usually not terribly difficult, although finding two together may require a bit more wandering around the train.

I think this concern about seating grows out of the American experience with airline seating. It is extremely difficult to control your seating on a train - front, back, etc. IMO, seating on trains is fairly generic as you have no control over the directions cars run, trains changing directions, etc. I have sat in seats that I thought were headed forward and they were as the train pulled our of the station. Five minutes later the train changed direction and we rode backwards for the next two hours. As someone suggested up post, if forward seating is critical they try to reserve seats facing each other.

I think I've got it now.....we'll just go with the flow and if need be, move our seats to one's that aren't reserved. I reserved our seats because I thought I was being a good planner. This will be good practice for me, rolling with the punches!

Last trip to Germany, I did get seat reservations too, just to be sure we had guaranteed seats we wanted. The cost is minimal. On a couple of legs, the Sparpreis tickets were just a fraction more in 1st class, and they come with seat reservations automatically.