BR 215

On the basis of the V 162/164 (BR 217/218) locomotives they developed in 1968 a new locomotive class, the so-called V 160 in a long version. This new locomotive was 400 mm longer than the V 160. There were 10 locomotives BR 215 built by Krupp. These 10 locomotives (215 001-010), were first indicated as class V 168, but were immediately provided with the new EDV numbers when they were delivered. These locomotives were actually test locomotives to test bigger engines. The locomotives were despite their length equiped with a steam heating installation, but there was place reserved in the locomotives to install later an electrical heating installation.

The demand of diesel locomotives of this sort was risen at the end of the sixties, so that the DB was examining in 1968 if they had to repair existing steam engines or if they had to order more diesel locomotives. The DB decided for a compromise in the form of the BR 215. The years following the DB ordered 140 locomotives of class 215. The 140 locomotives were built by Henschel, Krupp, KM and MaK and were deliverd between 1969 and 1971. The locomotives got a darkred color, also called "Orientrot". On the exhibition "Schiene und Straße" in Essen in September 1970 the BR 215 033 was presented to the public and press.

The 10 pre serie locomotives 215 001 - 010 were equiped with engines 12 V 956 TB 10 which had a power of 1839 kW, these engines were used in the mass produced locomotives 215 061 - 093. The locomotives 215 011 - 060 were equiped with 16 cylinder engines of type 16 V652 TB 10 with a power of 1397 kW, these engines were also used in the locomotives 215 094 - 150.

The transmission was the transmission L 820 brs from Voith, and the K 252 SUBB from MTU. The transmission was equiped with two gears, one for speeds up to 90 km/h, and one for speed up to 140 km/h. From locomotive 215 005 there were besides direct and indirect air pressure brakes also hydrodynamic brakes. These hydrodynamic brakes worked without wearing the driving wheels with friction heat.

All locomotives of class 215 are equiped with push pull installations and are suitable for riding in double traction with the locomotives of the classes 211 - 213 and all other locomotives which belong to the V 160 family. Three locomotives (215 030, 031 and 032) were by means of a test equiped with an electric train heating installation with extra diesel engines. However this installation was not compatible with the heating installations of the BR 217 locomotives. Until now, one locomotive, the 215 112 is rebuilt to a locomotive of class 218 (218 399). This was done after an accident. The DB didn't rebuilt more locomotives to class 218 locomotives.

The locomotives were mainly stationed in the Northern and Western part of Germany. For example at the beginning of the seventies, the locomotives were together with class 216 locomotives used for the long-distance services to Paris.

The locomotives BR 215 disappeared quickly from the long-distance services and had now service in lower graded passenger trains. For a matter of fact many locomotives BR 215 were also by their delivery already used in lower graded passenger trains. The lacking of an electrical train heating installation was also a cause that many locomotives were used in cargo trains in the Northern and Western part of Germany.

On this moment the locomotives are in service in cargo trains and regional trains. You can see often a class 215 locomotive with a train of "Silberlingen" coaches, because these coaches can still be heated by steam. The locomotives are now stationed in the Bw's Ulm, Trier, Köln Deutzerfeld, Gießen, Darmstadt, Oberhausen and Kempten. A couple of locomotives got later the ocean blue cream coloring, also some locomotives got in epoch V the new red color ("Verkehrsrot").