DB Class 215

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title: "DB Class 215" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["diesel-locomotives-of-germany", "deutsche-bundesbahn-locomotives", "b-b-locomotives", "henschel-locomotives", "krupp-locomotives", "krauss-maffei-locomotives", "mak-locomotives", "railway-locomotives-introduced-in-1968", "standard-gauge-locomotives-of-germany", "diesel–hydraulic-locomotives-of-germany"] topic_path: "geography/germany" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_215" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox locomotive"]

Field	Value
name	DB Class 215
image	215-017.jpg
imagesize	250px
caption	DB Class 215 017
builder	Henschel, Krupp, Krauss-Maffei and MaK
serialnumber	prototypes: 215 001 to 215 010
remainder: 215 011 to 150
builddate	1968
totalproduction	150
uicclass	B′B′
gauge
length	16.4 m
locoweight	79 t (2/3 of fuel and supply tanks full)
fueltype	Diesel
fuelcap	2700 L
lubecap	690 L
sandcap	320 kg
watercap	2850 L
primemover	215 001-010, 071-093: Maybach MB 12 V 956 TB 10
215 011-070, 094-150: MTU 16 V 652 TB
enginetype	Diesel engine
cylindercount	215 001-010, 071-093: V12
215 011-070, 094-150: V16
transmission	Voith L820 brs (or MTU K252 SUBB)
maxspeed	215 001 to 215 004:
130 km/h
215 005 onwards:
140 km/h
poweroutput	V12 variant: 1320 kW
V16 variant: 1840 kW
locobrakes	Hydrodynamic brake, Air
trainbrakes	Air
safety	ETCS
multipleworking	All of class - with DB Class 211, 212, 213 and other from DB V 160 family
operator	Deutsche Bahn
::

| name = DB Class 215 | powertype = | image = 215-017.jpg | imagesize = 250px | caption = DB Class 215 017 | designer = | builder = Henschel, Krupp, Krauss-Maffei and MaK | serialnumber = prototypes: 215 001 to 215 010 remainder: 215 011 to 150 | buildmodel = | builddate = 1968 | totalproduction = 150 | rebuilder = | rebuilddate = | numberrebuilt = | whytetype = | aarwheels = | uicclass = B′B′ | gauge = | trucks = | bogies = | wheeldiameter = | wheelbase = | length = 16.4 m | width = | height = | frametype = | axleload = | locoweight = 79 t (2/3 of fuel and supply tanks full) | fueltype = Diesel | fuelcap = 2700 L | lubecap = 690 L | coolantcap = | sandcap = 320 kg | watercap = 2850 L | consumption = | electricsystem = | collectionmethod = | primemover = 215 001-010, 071-093: Maybach MB 12 V 956 TB 10 215 011-070, 094-150: MTU 16 V 652 TB | enginetype = Diesel engine | aspiration = | displacement = | alternator = | generator = | tractionmotors = | cylindercount = 215 001-010, 071-093: V12 215 011-070, 094-150: V16 | cylindersize = | transmission = Voith L820 brs (or MTU K252 SUBB) | maxspeed = 215 001 to 215 004: 130 km/h 215 005 onwards: 140 km/h | poweroutput = V12 variant: 1320 kW V16 variant: 1840 kW | tractiveeffort = | locobrakes = Hydrodynamic brake, Air | trainbrakes = Air | safety = ETCS | multipleworking = All of class - with DB Class 211, 212, 213 and other from DB V 160 family | operator = Deutsche Bahn | operatorclass = | numinclass = | fleetnumbers = | officialname = | nicknames = | locale = | deliverydate = | firstrundate = | lastrundate = | retiredate = | restoredate = | scrapdate = | currentowner = | disposition = The DB Class 215 is a 4 axle diesel locomotive of the V 160 type. They were built for the German Federal Railways (Deutsche Bundesbahn) for medium-weight passenger and freight service on secondary and primary routes, and later passed to the Deutsche Bahn AG.

A number of variants were made by rebuilding; some were converted to Class 225 locomotives for freight only work for DB Cargo and the sub-class Class 215.9 were altered for use on the SyltShuttle.

Background

The locomotives of Class 215 were a longer version of the original DB Class V 160, and consequently were equipped with steam heating apparatus. In the pre 1968 classification scheme they were to be numbered V 163.

The engines were built to the length of the DB Class 218 (400 mm longer than a Class V 160), so that later they could be rebuilt to the same specification of the longer class, which at the time only existed as a prototype; the Deutsche Bundesbahn could not wait for the Class 218 to reach production maturity as it was forging ahead with the replacement of the last steam locomotives.

Design and modifications

The locomotive has a diesel powertrain, using hydraulic transmission, with both bogies driven by cardan shafts, and all wheels powered.

The ten initial prototype machines built from 1968 to 1969 by Krupp were powered by diesel engines of type 12 V 956 TB 10 with a power of 1839 kW.

The machines numbered 215 011 to 215 070, and 215 094 to 215 150 had less powerful (1397 kW) but more reliable 16-cylinder Maybach MTU 16 V 652 TB engines (the same as the engines with which the Class 216 / V 160s were equipped), while the numbers 215 071 to 215 093 had a more powerful engine, but this time again the 12-cylinder 12 V 956 TB used in the prototypes. 215 091 to 215 093 were later retrofitted with the V-12 engine, having initially had the 16-cylinder engine.

The steam heating also doubled as a pre-heater for the locomotives engine, and other parts. Space was reserved for the installation of an electrical generator later on, the proposed conversion of the machines to the 218 series never came about - the exception was 215 112 which was rebuilt as DB Class 218 399 after an accident.

Numbers 030 to 032 locos were exceptional in that they were fitted from the outset with an electric heater (steam heating was removed) driven from an auxiliary diesel of type 8V 331 TC 10 with an output of 520 kW at 2100 rpm. Unlike in the DB Class 217 the auxiliary diesel is not connected to the transmission and cannot be used for additional traction power | name = DB Class 215.9 | powertype = | image = | imagesize = 200px | caption = DB Class 215.9 001 and others, the image show the class on secondment to Chemnitz after their AutoZug work had ended | designer = | builder = | serialnumber = 215-901 to 215-914 | buildmodel = | builddate = | totalproduction = | rebuilder = Aw Bremen | rebuilddate = Late 2003 / Early 2004 | numberrebuilt = 14 | whytetype = | aarwheels = | uicclass = | gauge = | trucks = | bogies = | wheeldiameter = | wheelbase = | length = | width = | height = | frametype = | axleload = | fueltype = | fuelcap = | coolantcap = | watercap = | consumption = | electricsystem = | collectionmethod = | primemover = | enginetype = | aspiration = | displacement = | alternator = | generator = | tractionmotors = | cylindercount = | cylindersize = | transmission = | maxspeed = | poweroutput = | tractiveeffort = | locobrakes = | trainbrakes = | safety = | multipleworking = | operator = | operatorclass = | numinclass = | fleetnumbers = | officialname = | nicknames = | locale = | deliverydate = | firstrundate = | lastrundate = | retiredate = | restoredate = | scrapdate = | currentowner = | disposition =

Conversion variant 215.9

In the summer of 2003, DB AutoZug acquired a total of 18 locomotives from DB Regio, 14 units were rebuilt in a fashion analogous to the DBAG Class 225 but numbered as Class 215.9. The remaining four locomotives were kept for spare parts.

The steam heating boilers needed fuel and water tanks which for this service were now unnecessary, thus they were replaced with a ballast weight, the engines remained unchanged. A GSM-R system was fitted, as well as automatic brake slack adjusters.

DBAG Class 225

Main article: DBAG Class 225

After passenger work for many of the DB Class 215 disappeared, DB Regio transferred 68 locomotives to DB Cargo (later Railion) for freight work, the steam heating boilers being removed and replaced with ballast. The new class was augmented by further DB Class 218 machines, which formed the subclass 225.8.

Operations

Class 215

The class were used on all types of train; the main area of used was on the Eifel rail (Cologne to Trier) in the Lower Rhine and Baden-Wuerttemberg area down to Lake Constance.

One high-profile working in the 1980s was the D 216/217 "Austria-Express" ( from Klagenfurt via Graz/Krefeld to Amsterdam) between Krefeld central station (Hauptbahnhof Hbf.) and Arnhem, the Netherlands. The units with electric heating modifications (030 to 032) were used for this service.

The last scheduled working of the 215 series was on the DB Regio Hessen trains, which ended in April 2003. Afterwards some were kept on standby for the DB Regio Rheinland Regionalbahn trains.

In June 2003 transfer of the sub-class 215.9 to DB AutoZug GmbH took place, many others having been sent previously to DB Cargo.

Class 215.9

This class were specifically used for the AutoZug (car ferry trains) between Niebüll and Westerland operated by DB AutoZug. The Class 215.9s work around the Sylt island ended in March 2008. Afterwards some were transferred for work around Chemnitz.

References

Further information

• Allgemeine Infos - Baureihe 215 Class 215 - technical information, and individual locomotive statistics.

References

1. [http://www.dbtrains.com/en/locomotives/epochIV/BR215 BR 215] dbtrains.com
2. [http://www.deutsche-lokomotiven.de/v160/kon.php Die V160-familie: Konstruktion] ''deutsche-lokomotiven.de''
3. [http://www.deutsche-lokomotiven.de/v160/tech.php Die V160 familie : Technische Daten] ''deutsche-lokomotiven.de''
4. [http://www.eisenbahn-kurier.de/aktuell/news_db_syltshuttle.html Baureihe 225 für SyltShuttle]{{dead link. (September 2017)
5. [http://www.eisenbahn-kurier.de/aktuell/news_db_215.9.html DB-Baureihe 215⁹]{{dead link. (September 2017)
6. [http://www.v160.de/statistik/br215/inhalt901.php Statistik- Übersicht BR 215 901 bis 215 914] {{webarchive. link. (2010-01-31 Statistics overview for Class 215.9 ''v160.de'')

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