DB Class 215

The Series 215 was a diesel locomotive series German Federal Railroad and later the Deutsche Bahn AG for the medium-duty passenger and freight service on branch lines.

Through the acquisition of locomotives by DB Cargo, the series was 225

History

The locomotives of the series 215 were procured at short notice as a variant of the V160 family for the passenger and freight transport, while in contrast to other models of V- 160 family - just like nor the BR 216 / V160 - equipped with Heizdampferzeugern. The plan they had in the old series scheme as V 163 These locomotives should be able to be rebuilt later in the series 218. To this end, they already got the extended 400-millimeter locomotive body other until then only as a prototype of existing series. The main reason for the construction of the 215 series was that the number 218 had not yet reached production stage, but the Federal Railroad wanted to replace the rest of the remaining steam locomotives. 1968-1970 were built a total of 150 locomotives.

The ten Vorserienloks followed by a series of 140 locomotives, of which with the exception of 215071-093 all received one set at a power of 1900 hp 16-cylinder engine, which was similar to the engine of the 216 series. 215071-093 wore as the Vorserienloks the 12 - cylinder engine MA 12V 956 TB10 MAN, MTU later.

Mid-1980s were the machines with 12-cylinder V-engine exhaust hoods on the roof. They caused an acceleration and deflection of the exhaust gases, so that in air-conditioned coaches, which had the air intake vents on the roof, a nuisance to the passengers was avoided by exhaust gases or exhaust odors. Furthermore, the scoops ensured even for other effects: up to 280 ° C hot exhaust gases were V-shaped bypasses the overhead line, so that the overhead line is not fouled and not get too stretched. Moreover, the risk of embankment fires was reduced by herabsinkende, hot soot particles. Also, a door locking system and automatic slack adjuster for adjusting the Bremskolbenhubes were retrofitted.

From 2000 onwards, the locomotives were retired strengthened. From 2001 to 2003 68 locomotives were rebuilt, they were given the new designation 225

Technology

The locomotive has a diesel- hydraulic drive. This is done through cardan shafts from the centrally disposed gear to the two -axle bogies. So are both final drives each and thus driven all axes. A reversing gear allows the change of direction.

The ten pre-production aircraft were delivered by Krupp diesel engines of the type MA 12V 956 TB10 (2500 hp) MAN 1968 and 1969. The machines 215011-215070 and 215094-150 were then 16 V 652 TB (1900 hp) equipped with the weaker but more reliable MTU MB from the 216 series, while the 215071-215093 in turn received the more powerful engine, the has since been referred to as MTU 12 V 956 TB 10 MA. The built for passenger trains steam heating Vapor Heating OK4616 could also preheat the machinery and keep warm. The proposed conversion of the machines in the selected solution as a series series 218 was omitted because of high costs. The only exception here is 215 112, which was rebuilt after an accident as 218 399. The locomotives 215030-032 received a diesel-electric heater 1974. They have not been transferred to the row 218. An auxiliary diesel engine was parked at work as a locomotive air compressor and recharge the batteries, so they did not have to be in the vicinity of a foreign power connection.

Inserts

The number 215 came from all types of trains are used. The focus was on the Eifelbahn, the Lower Rhine and Baden- Württemberg right down to Lake Constance. Star power in the 1980s was the D 216/217 "Austria - Express" (Klagenfurt ( Graz -Krefeld - ) Amsterdam) between Krefeld Hbf and Arnhem / Holland, which was covered with the electric heating locomotives of this series ( 030-032 ).

The last scheduled performance of series 215 were run until April 2003 DB Regio Hessen. Unscheduled they were only used in the DB Regio regional train Rhineland then, were there but then sold to the DB AutoZug GmbH in June of the same year.

Through the sale of locomotives of DB Regio to the former DB Cargo 225 series was created. It has expanded the steam heating at them and replaced with a pre-heating and hot holding equipment. To the service weight to equalize again ballast weights were also installed. This happened mostly in one main study.

Special

Throughout its history, some locomotives were also occasionally special equipment, such as were the locomotives with atomic numbers 023-029 for use in a Belgian SNCB inductive magnet. The locomotives 030-032 were tentatively fitted with an electric heater ( steam heating was thereby removed ), which was driven by a Heizdiesel 8V 331 TC 10. This engine had an output of 520 kW at 2100 rpm. The transmission of power carried out directly on the heating generator, could therefore, unlike the series 217, this performance does not also be used on the transmission for driving flow. In the meantime locomotives than 225 030 to 032 referred to the Heizdiesel have since been removed and replaced with ballast weights. Since the machines are only used for freight, the electric heater was expendable. Meanwhile, all three locomotives were 225030-032 parked and waiting for a buyer.

Tag variant 215.9

In summer 2003, a total of 18 locomotives bought DB AutoZug of DB Regio, had 14 pieces similar to the Class 225 rebuild and described it as the class 215.9. The remaining four locomotives were used as spare parts. In the originally planned renumbering in the range 225.9 was omitted because the series 215 already retired from the fleet and the number of new occupancy was free.

The space required for steam heating boiler and the feedwater tank were removed. Instead, a pre-heater and a ballast weight were installed. The engines remained in the vehicles. The tank was rebuilt and received a capacity of 2700 liters of diesel and 650 liters of heating oil. The locomotives were equipped for digital train radio GSM-R and received new trucks with automatic brake slack adjusters.

The operational area of ​​215.9 series were designated as SyltShuttle car trains between Niebüll and Westerland. The use of this series ended in 2008. In March 2008, the locomotives were postponed by the repair and finally stops in September. The last operational locomotive, 215 901 completed her last voyage on 11 and 12 September 2008. She pulled a four further locomotives of the series 215.9 Lokzug from Westerland to Chemnitz. The locomotives will be parked on the premises of the local DB work to recycling.

Whereabouts

Many are 215 after conversion to Class 225 still in use (as of 2012). 225 086 in 2011 to the Rheinische Eisenbahn GmbH, a subsidiary of Eifelbahn Transport Company ( EDC), sold 2012 and restored to the original factory settings. She's back as 215 086 labeled in use. 215 049 is owned by the steam locomotive tradition Oberhausen.