Class 215 | TrainsDepot.org

Source: Thomas Eckhardt

Class 215

Also known as: BR 215 / V 168

UIC / EVN numbering: 92 80 1215

Vehicle type: Diesel locomotive

Registration country: Germany

Railway companies: DB - Deutsche Bahn DB - Deutsche Bundesbahn

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1968

From the mid-1960s, the progressive withdrawal of steam locomotives created an urgent need for powerful diesel locomotives within Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB). These new locomotives had to operate at higher speeds and, in the longer term, be compatible with electric train heating. At the time, MAN had developed a new 2,500 hp engine, but it was not yet sufficiently proven, and DB also lacked experience with electric heating on diesel traction.

To bridge this technological and operational gap, DB opted for an interim solution: a lengthened version of the V 160 family. In 1968, a new "long V 160" type was developed based on the V 162 (later BR 217) / V 164 (later BR 218). This locomotive was around 400 mm longer, allowing the installation of more powerful engines. Initially designated V 168, it was renumbered Class 215 (BR 215) upon delivery under the new EDV¹ system.

The first ten locomotives, registered 215 001 - 010, built by Krupp, served as pre-series test units. Although they retained steam heating using Vapor boilers, space was reserved for later conversion to electric train heating. These locomotives were primarily intended to test higher-power diesel engines.

¹The EDV system refers to Elektronische Datenverarbeitung (German for Electronic Data Processing), a computer-based numbering and classification system introduced by Deutsche Bundesbahn in 1968, on January 1st, to standardize locomotive, coach and wagon numbers so they could be processed reliably by computers.

1969

As demand for diesel locomotives continued to rise, DB chose the Class 215 as a compromise between refurbishing steam engines and committing fully to a new generation of electric-heated diesel locomotives. Between 1969 and 1971, DB ordered a total of 140 series locomotives, built by Henschel, Krupp, Krauss-Maffei and MaK. All were delivered in dark red ("Orientrot") livery.

Two main engine types were used:
the pre-series locomotives 215 001–010, as well as series units 215 071–093, were equipped with MAN 12 V 956 TB 10 engines rated at 1,839 kW;
locomotives 215 011–070 and 215 094–150 received 16-cylinder 16 V 652 TB 10 engines with an output of 1,397 kW.

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