DR Class 250

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title: "DR Class 250" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["15-kv-ac-locomotives", "co′co′-locomotives", "deutsche-reichsbahn-(east-germany)-locomotives", "electric-locomotives-of-germany", "lew-locomotives", "railway-locomotives-introduced-in-1974", "standard-gauge-locomotives-of-germany", "co′co′-electric-locomotives-of-europe"] description: "German electric locomotive class" topic_path: "geography/germany" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DR_Class_250" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary German electric locomotive class ::

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

Field	Value
name	Deutsche Reichsbahn Baureihe 250
(Deutsche Bahn Baureihe 155)
powertype	Electric
image	DB Cargo 155 043 Gz Leinefelde.jpg
caption	155 043-3 hauling a freight train through Leinefelde/Thuringia.
builder	LEW Hennigsdorf
operatorclass
totalproduction	273
builddate	1977–1984
firstrundate	1974
uicclass	Co′Co′
maxspeed	120 km/h
gauge
length	19.6 m
locoweight	123.0 t
electricsystem	15 kV 16.67 Hz AC overhead
collectionmethod	Pantograph
tractionmotors	Six
poweroutput	5400 kW
tractiveeffort	380 kN
operator
locobrakes	Knorr airbrake / regenerative
trainbrakes	Knorr airbrake
safety	Sifa / PZB / LZB / ETCS
lastrundate	Still in service
::

| name = Deutsche Reichsbahn Baureihe 250 (Deutsche Bahn Baureihe 155) | powertype = Electric | image = DB Cargo 155 043 Gz Leinefelde.jpg | caption = 155 043-3 hauling a freight train through Leinefelde/Thuringia. | builder = LEW Hennigsdorf | operatorclass = | totalproduction = 273 | builddate = 1977–1984 | firstrundate = 1974 | uicclass = Co′Co′ | maxspeed = 120 km/h | gauge = | length = 19.6 m | locoweight = 123.0 t | electricsystem = 15 kV 16.67 Hz AC overhead | collectionmethod = Pantograph | tractionmotors = Six | poweroutput = 5400 kW | tractiveeffort = 380 kN | operator = | locobrakes = Knorr airbrake / regenerative | trainbrakes = Knorr airbrake | safety = Sifa / PZB / LZB / ETCS | lastrundate = Still in service The Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany) Class 250 (known since 1992 as Deutsche Bahn AG Class 155) is a German electric locomotive used on freight trains. It is nicknamed the "Electric Container" or "Powercontainer" due to its distinctive carbody shape. It was the most powerful locomotive in the former GDR and is still in use with Deutsche Bahn AG.

History

In the mid-1960s, it became apparent that engine classes 211 and 242, in production since 1961, were not powerful enough, so DR built a new, 6-axled, electric locomotive suitable for all classes of traffic. In 1974 three prototypes were built by LEW Hennigsdorf, the leading builder of railway locomotives in the GDR. A series of 270 locomotives were delivered between 1977 and 1984. They were mainly used for heavy cargo trains as well as the fast Städteexpress-train services of DR (comparable with InterCity).

After the reunification of Germany, railway traffic in East Germany slumped. The locomotives were renumbered as class 155, and many of them also operated in West Germany. After Deutsche Bahn was restructured, the engines were assigned to DB Cargo (later Railion, now DB Schenker Rail) for freight services. Since 1998, some locomotives have been used for spare parts. Approximately 200 are still in existence and can be seen throughout Germany pulling all sorts of freight trains. Today the 155s remain indispensable for DB Schenker, Deutsche Bahn's railway cargo carrier.

Construction

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/DB_Class_155_-_drivers_desk.jpg" caption="Driver's desk of class 155"] ::

The locomotives have a Co′Co′ arrangement with two 3-axled bogies. Each axle is powered by a single-phase, series-wound, AC traction motor. The torque is transferred by a double-sided spur gear to a hollow shaft, and by an elastic rubber cone flange to the wheels. Each motor has an own cooling blower. Two scissor-shaped pantographs collect the current of 15 kV / 16.7 Hz from the catenary. Recently, many of these pick-ups have been refitted as modern single-arm pantographs.

The core of the electric system is the 3-blade main transformer with oil-cooling. The control unit has 30 power notches, semi-automatic in operation. The settings are thyristor controlled and the thyristor voltage is regulated by phase cutting, which was a novelty for series locomotives in the GDR. All units are equipped with a catenary-current-controlled electric brake. The safety equipment in the driver's cab has an electronic deadman's brake (Sifa), “punctiform” automatic train controls (PZB 90), and train radio equipment with GSM-R communication. Relatively recently, computers were added for the electronic timetable EBuLa.

Some of the models have been equipped with the LZB System. Recently, these are used to haul heavy and fast container trains on the German high-speed network.

Gallery

File:Ellok 250 164.jpg|250 164-1 staying at Leipzig Trade Fair, 1982 File:19.01.94 Senftenberg 155.006.jpg|155 006-0 at Senftenberg, 1994 File:Db-155201-01.jpg|155 201-7 at Heilbronn Hauptbahnhof, 2005 File:Elektrolokomotive DBAG 155 040-9 in Worms 2009-06-26.jpg|155 040-9 at Worms Hauptbahnhof, 2009 File:155 245-4 (Flickr 14703346720).jpg|155 245-4, 2014 File:155 001 Luetzel 03042010.JPG|155 001-1 at DB Museum, Koblenz, 2010

References

References

1. Bäzold, Dieter. (1987). "Ellok-Archiv".
2. (2016-11-30). "DR Baureihe 250/155".

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