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hide options panelClass 185
73 photos
updated : 2022-08-31
The Bombardier TRAXX has proved popular with national and independent operators and the Class 185, a 7500hp 15kV/25kV Bo-Bo with a top speed of 140km/h, is its most numerous variant. DB Cargo has around 400 and the class is also popular with independent freight operators in Germany and elsewhere.
Class 155
9 photos
updated : 2022-08-31
DB inherited over 200 Class 155 electrics Co-Co freight electrics from DR after re-unification. They date back to the mid 1970s and were equipped with thyristor control, which was state of the art at the time. The class can be seen all over Germany, working for DB and independent operators.
Class 111
45 photos
updated : 2022-08-31
DB's Class 111 was a thyristor controlled 15kV AC Bo-Bo electric introduced in 1974, incorporating many improvements over the earlier Class 110. The class was intended for express passenger work but has been relegated to regional services in recent years and withdrawals are well underway.
Class 120
28 photos
updated : 2022-08-31
DB's class 120, introduced in 1987, was one of the world's first large scale applications of modern 3-phase inverter drives to rail traction. The locos were 7500hp 15kV AC Bo-Bos designed for express passenger work with a top speed of 200km/h but all have now been withdrawn.
Class 101
30 photos
updated : 2022-08-28
Class 101 is DB's standard express passenger electric loco, introduced in the mid 1990s and in widespread use all over Germany, often on push-pull sets. These 220km/h 6400kW Bo-Bos are 15kV only, so generally don't stray far from home rails, apart from trips to Graz and Klagenfurt in Austria.
Class 110, 113, 115
24 photos
updated : 2017-05-29
These locos are all variants of Class 110, introduced in 1956 and DB's standard express passenger loco for decades. The class was gradually transferred to regional services, and almost all were withdrawn by the middle of the 2010s. They still see occasional use with private passenger operators.
Class 145
9 photos
updated : 2017-05-29
Class 145 was the first version of the Bombardier Traxx to be bought by DB and is a 15kV AC only 5600hp Bo-Bo electric freight loco. Only 80 went to DB before they switched to the dual voltage version that became Class 185. The independent sector has also acquired another 23 Class 145s.
Class 187
4 photos
updated : 2017-05-29
The Class 187 is the AC3 version of Bombardier's TRAXX, introduced in 2012 as the successor to Classes 145, 146, 185, 186. The 187 has a modified cab design but the most significant change is the option for a small "last mile" diesel engine to be fitted, allowing it to operate away from the wires.
Class 182, 183
45 photos
updated : 2017-05-29
Class 182 is the 15kV/25kV variant of the Siemens Taurus, while the 183 is the 4-voltage model. The 182 has proven popular with independents and DB even has 25 on its books. Class 183 is much less common. Visiting foreign locos, such as Austrian classes 1016, 1116 and 1216, are also included here.
Class 186
7 photos
updated : 2017-05-29
Class 186 is the multi-system variant of the Bombardier TRAXX family, differing from the class 185 by being equipped to operate from 3000V DC and in most cases also 1500V DC overhead. These locos are popular with the independent sector, particularly operators running trains between Germany and Italy.
Class 189
14 photos
updated : 2017-05-29
Class 189 is a development of the Siemens Class 152 equipped to operate under all four major electrification systems, 1500V DC, 3000V DC, 15kV AC and 25kV AC, allowing operation in countries the Class 185 can't reach. DB has a fleet of 90 locos and others are in service with the independent sector.
Class 146
25 photos
updated : 2017-05-28
Class 146 is the 15kV AC passenger version of the Bombardier Traxx 7500hp Bo-Bo electric locomotive fitted with bogies suitable for a maximum speed of 160km/h. DB have around 170 in use on InterCity and longer distance regional services across Germany, usually found coupled to double-deck push-pull sets.
Class 152
16 photos
updated : 2017-05-28
Class 152 was Siemens' answer to DB's requirement for a modern powerful 15kV AC freight loco and 170 were built between 1997 and 2001, based on the company's EuroSprinter prototypes. The locos are 8600hp Bo-Bos of Siemens type ES64F can be seen on electrified main lines all over Germany.
Class 112, 114
3 photos
updated : 2017-03-15
The Class 112 Bo-Bo electrics were introduced in 1990 as a faster version of the Class 143, geared for 160km/h. In total 39 Class 112.0 and 90 improved Class 112.1 were built. The Class 112.0 were later renumbered to Class 114. The survivors of both classes are used on regional passenger services.
Class 143
29 photos
updated : 2017-03-10
DB inherited over 600 of these 1980s built medium power Bo-Bo electrics from DR at reunification and soon put them to work on regional passenger services all over Germany. After several decades of service, the class is now being withdrawn and replaced by new EMUs but a number remain in service in 2022.
Class 139, 140
6 photos
updated : 2017-03-10
Class 140 and the similar class 139 were West Germany's standard 15kV AC Bo-Bo freight electrics from the late 1950s to the late 1990s. They can be considered the freight equivalent of the Class 110s. DB withdrew its last locos in 2016 but a number are still at work for the independent sector.
Class 151
14 photos
updated : 2016-01-21
Class 151 was DBs standard heavy freight locomotive until the end of the 1990s. Introduced in 1973, the 151 was the first German class with thyristor control and with a 6400kW/8500HP rating it was a formidable machine. DB sold its remaining 151s to Railpool in 2017 and around 50 are still in use.
Class 103
5 photos
updated : 2015-08-31
DB's Class 103s were fast and powerful. They powered the InterCity revolution of the '70s and '80s but were becoming expensive to operate by the late '90s. All were withdrawn by late 2002. Remarkably, four returned to front line use in 2013 when problems with ICE sets caused a locomotive shortage.
Class 181
20 photos
updated : 2015-08-06
DB's dual voltage 15kV/25kV class 181s were built in the 1970s to operate cross- border services to Luxembourg and France. They still had a few international duties in the early 2010s but also visited other parts of Germany, including the Stuttgart - Singen line. All have now been withdrawn.
Class 180
11 photos
updated : 2015-08-04
DB's Class 180 and CD's Class 371 and 372 electrics are dual voltage 15kV AC/3kV DC versions of standard 1980s Skoda designs. Classes 372 and 180 are almost identical with class 371 being geared for higher speeds. DB have since withdrawn the class 180s but the CD locos remain in service.
Germany has one of the largest and busiest railway systems in Europe with most important routes electrified. There's plenty of freight traffic on the main routes and frequent passenger trains on most lines. Add some attractive scenery and a wide variety of liveries and you have an excellent place to photograph trains
