DB Class V 65

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title: "DB Class V 65" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["deutsche-bundesbahn-locomotives", "d-locomotives", "mak-locomotives", "railway-locomotives-introduced-in-1956", "standard-gauge-locomotives-of-germany", "shunting-locomotives"] topic_path: "geography/germany" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_V_65" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

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

Field	Value
name	DB V 65 / 265
bgcolor	A00
color	FFF
image	DB Museum Koblenz-Lützel Sommerfest 2018 (19).jpg
powertype	Diesel-hydraulic
builder	Maschinenbau Kiel
serialnumber	600004–600018
buildmodel	MaK 600D
builddate	1956
totalproduction	15
whytetype
uicclass	D
driver
gauge
wheeldiameter	1,250 mm
wheelbase	5800 mm
drivers
coupled
truck
bogie
pivotcentres
wheelspacing
over buffers	10,740 mm
axleload	13.5 t
serviceweight	54.0 t
primemover	MaK MS 301 C
rpmrange max	750 rpm
enginetype	6-cylinder diesel engine
displacement
t/m amps 1 hr
t/m amps cont
maxspeed	80 km/h
poweroutput	552 kW
operator	Deutsche Bundesbahn
operatorclass	V 65, 265 from 1968
fleetnumbers	DB V 65 001–015
retiredate	1980
::

| name = DB V 65 / 265 | bgcolor = A00 | color = FFF | image = DB Museum Koblenz-Lützel Sommerfest 2018 (19).jpg | alt = | caption = | powertype = Diesel-hydraulic | designer = | builder = Maschinenbau Kiel | ordernumber = | serialnumber = 600004–600018 | buildmodel = MaK 600D | builddate = 1956 | totalproduction = 15 | rebuilder = | rebuilddate = | numberrebuilt = | website = | whytetype = | uicclass = D | Britishclass = | DRGtype = | driver = | gauge = | trucks = | bogies = | leadingdiameter = | wheeldiameter = 1,250 mm | trailingdiameter = | carrydiameter = | minimumcurve = | wheelbase = 5800 mm | engine total = | leading = | drivers = | coupled = | trailing = | truck = | bogie = | racksystem = | pivotcentres = | wheelspacing = | length = | over buffers = 10,740 mm | over headstocks = | body = | width = | height = | axleload = 13.5 t | weightondrivers = | locoweight = | emptyweight = | serviceweight = 54.0 t | fueltype = | fuelcap = | lubecap = | coolantcap = | watercap = | sandcap = | powersupply = | consumption = | watercons = | primemover = MaK MS 301 C | rpmrange = | rpmrange low = | rpmrange idle = | rpmrange max = 750 rpm | enginetype = 6-cylinder diesel engine | aspiration = | displacement = | alternator = | generator = | tractionmotors = | t/m amps 1 hr = | t/m amps cont = | headendpower = | cylindercount = | cylindersize = | transmission = | runningsteps = | runningstepswitch = | gear ratio = | multipleworking = | trainheating = | locobrakes = | dynamicpeakeffort= | locobrakeforce = | trainbrakes = | reservoircap = | compressorcap = | exhaustercap = | coupling = | maxspeed = 80 km/h | poweroutput = 552 kW | poweroutput start= | poweroutput 1 hr= | poweroutput cont= | powerindex = | tractiveeffort = | t/e starting = | t/e 1 hr = | t/e continuous = | factorofadhesion = | f/adh starting = | f/adh 1 hr = | f/adh continuous= | safety = | operator = Deutsche Bundesbahn | operatorclass = V 65, 265 from 1968 | powerclass = | numinclass = | fleetnumbers = DB V 65 001–015 | officialname = | nicknames = | axleloadclass = | locale = | deliverydate = | firstrundate = | lastrundate = | retiredate = 1980 | withdrawndate = | preservedunits = | restoredate = | scrapdate = | currentowner = | disposition = | notes = The DB Class V 65 locomotives (from 1968: Class 265) were German, eight-wheeled, rod-coupled diesel locomotives operated by Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) intended for light railway services and medium-heavy shunting duties. The 15 locomotives were delivered in 1956 by MaK (Kiel) to the DB.

Description

Class V 65/Class 265 engines were delivered to the DB shortly after the arrival in service of the first V 60s. Amongst their special features were the MaK motor with only 750 rpm and the Beugniot lever between the individual axles, that improved curve running. For train heating the engine had a boiler that was heated by the engine's exhaust gases. The engine itself had to be pre-heated with a Dofa coke oven. For this purpose up to 100 kg of coke could be carried.

Although, with only 15 units, the Class V 65 was built in relatively small numbers, it was really only a slight modification of the 600 D built by MaK for private railways. These belonged to the so-called , that were operated in large numbers by private railways. Their power ranged between 240 and.

Operations

The locomotives were initially deployed in the area of Marburg/Lahn ahead of light passenger trains, but in 1964 they were replaced by the more powerful V 100. After that, five examples were used for shunting duties at Puttgarden ferryboat station until 1980, being stationed at the depot (Bahnbetriebswerk) at Puttgarden. The remainder were employed at Hamburg-Altona where their duties included working on the Hamburg Harbour railway.

Locomotive V 65 001 has been preserved and, after a term with the Meppen-Haselünne Railway is now looked after by the Osnabrück Steam Railway Society (Osnabrücker Dampflokfreunden) and is used as a museum railway engine. Another V65, number V 65 011, has been loaned by the DB Museum to the Bochum-Dahlhausen Railway Museum owned by the DGEG.

Appearance in film

In the first scenes of the 1962 film Die Tür mit den sieben Schlössern (The Door with the Seven Locks) a pair of DB V 65 engines (V65 005 and 007) can clearly be seen standing in the station. This reveals that the scenes were filmed in a German station and not - as the film tries to suggest by the use of various English signs - at a station in London.

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