Class 099
Class 099 covers all the narrow gauge steam locos operated by DR and DB. DR still had many steam locos at re-unification, when the lines they worked became tourist attractions. Most of the locos used today are 2-10-2 tanks but more exotic types also survive including 0-4-4-0T Mallets and Saxon-Meyers.
Class 218
DB's Class 218 is a single-engined B-B diesel-hydraulic introduced in 1968 and eventually totalling 399 locos, rated at 2500 to 3000hp. They worked in most parts of Germany and some can still be found on the few remaining InterCity and regional passenger services that require diesel haulage.
Class 211, 212, 213
These locos are variants of the DB V100 design dating from the late 1950s. The original locos became Class 211. Class 212 was more powerful, Class 213s were equipped for very steeply graded lines. Over 740 V100s were built and a few are still in service with independents or active with preservation groups.
Class 232, 233, 234
DB inherited around 700 of these Soviet built diesel electric Co-Cos from DR after reunification and put them to work all over Germany, particularly on heavy freight trains. Their use has reduced considerably but they still have some regular duties and are favourites for diversions and other short term needs.
Class 263, 264
The Voith Maxima C-C diesel-hydraulic, is a powerful diesel-hydraulic freight loco intended to compete with offerings from Siemens, Bombardier, Vossloh/Stadler, GE and EMD. Only 19 Maximas were built, 13 of the more powerful Class 264 design and 6 Class 263. They are in service with independent operators.
Class 290, 291, 294 - 296
Classes 290 and 291 are heavy shunting locos built for DB in the 1960s and 1970s. Many have been rebuilt with remote control, becoming classes 296 and 295 respectively. Rebuilds with new engines and remote control gear became Class 294. Many are still in DB service but withdrawals have begun.
Class 245, 246, 285
Classes 245, 246 and 285 are diesel-electric versions of Bombardier's TRAXX design. All are Bo-Bos rated at 3000 to 3200hp. Classes 245 and 246 are geared for 160km/h while the 285 is geared for 140km/h. The 245 is unusual in having 4 small engines instead of one large prime mover.
Class 227
Class 227 are 1950s vintage Nohab/GM Co-Co diesel-electrics, better known as DSB MY Class. After withdrawal by DSB in the late 1980s or early 1990s, several went to independent operators, mainly elsewhere in Scandinavia, but a few have found new homes with private operators in Germany.
Class 271, 274 - 278
Classes 271 and 274 to 278 cover a range of Vossloh built low and medium-power single-cab diesel-hydraulic B-Bs built from the 1990s onwards. Operators include SNCF, ÖBB and SBB but not DB, however they have proven popular with independent freight operators in Germany and other countries.
Class 266, 247
You can't get away from them, class 66s are everywhere, including in Germany. Many work for independent operators but DB also has a sizeable fleet. Conveniently they've been classed as 266s by the authorities although DB, for reasons best known to itself, calls them 247s.
Class 201 - 204, 293, 298
Class 201 was the original DR V100 dating from 1966 while classes 202 to 204, 293 and 298 are all variations and rebuilds. In total over 1000 were built for DR, industrial users and export. DB retain a number for departmental duties while independents and infrastructure companies use many more.
Class 223, 253
The Siemens ER20 EuroRunner 2700hp Bo-Bo diesel is best known as the ÖBB class 2016 but many work in Germany, where they were originally Class 253, and now Class 223. They are popular with independent operators and can be found on some contracted passenger services as well as freight work.
Class 217
Class 217 was introduced in 1965 and was a development of the class 216 with a separate diesel generator to provide electric train heating. A total of 15 were built and despite having ETH, they spent most of their lives working freight trains, latterly around Mühldorf. The last 217 was withdrawn in December 2011.
Class 272, 273
Vossloh's G2000 is a compact high power B-B diesel-hydraulic introduced in 2000 and classed as 272 or 273 in Germany. The 273s have an unusual asymmetric cab. The G2000 hasn't proven very popular with operators, with less than 70 locomotives sold to freight operators and infrastructure companies.
ÖBB Class 2143
The ÖBB Class 2143 and similar Class 2043 were the standard Austrian main line diesels of the 1960s and 1970s. A number were sold to independent operators including 3 to Augsburg based SVG. The SVG engines were hired by ALEX for the Oberstdorf - Immenstadt shuttles on a number of occasions.
Class 215, 225
DB's Class 215 was an intermediate design, essentially a class 216 in the body of a class 218. Introduced in 1968, 150 of these medium-power diesel-hydraulic B-Bs were built and saw use on passenger and freight duties for many years. Class 225 comprised Class 215 (and a few 218s) for freight use.
Class 251
Twelve powerful Co-Co diesel electrics were built by MaK for Norway in the mid 1990s but were plagued with faults and rejected by NSB. Back in Germany they were extensively rebuilt and several worked for years on NOB (Nord-Ostsee Bahn) Marschbahn passenger services between Hamburg and Westerland.
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
- Germany
- galleries updated : 2022-12-03
page : 1009
WK000 : 2024-10-10
CS000 : 2022-08-25
CK000 : 2022-12-03
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