Diesel Locomotives - GDR: Books - History and Types

Die Knödelpresse - Die Baureihe 180

To "close the electrical gap" on the Dresden-Prague railway line, the DR, together with the Czechoslovakian State Railways (CSD), procured a total of 35 multi-system locomotives, which were to be used on both the 3 kV direct current network of the CSSR and the 15 kV alternating current network of the GDR. The 20 locomotives for the Reichsbahn were given the series designation 230, the CSD classified its 15 machines as series 372. The two railways each received a prototype locomotive in 1988, but series deliveries did not begin until 1991.

With the founding of DB AG, the former Reichsbahn machines were designated series 180 and used together with their Czech sisters in the Elbe valley. With a top speed of 120 km/h, the 180 series was only partially suitable for passenger transport, so a conversion to 160 km/h was considered. The Czech State Railways converted six machines to the new 371 series, while the DB stuck with the conversion of the 180 001.

Since the machines represented a fragmented type in the DB's vehicle fleet, they were soon handed over to DB's freight transport. The first locomotive was retired in 2002 and all machines were completely taken out of service at the timetable change in 2014.
The Thuringian Railway Association has the 180 014 in its museum collection, the remaining locomotives were transferred to the Czech Republic, where they will be used again by private railways after being refurbished.

This image archive presents the technical development of this former DR series and shows its use in Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. A look at the Czech variant is also included.

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Die Baureihe V 100 der Deutschen Reichsbahn (Band 1) - Entwicklung, Technik und Umbauten

The diesel locomotive series V 100 (from 1970: series 110) is still one of the most prominent locomotive series of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. Between 1966 and 1985, a total of almost 1, 150 machines in various technical designs were manufactured at the locomotive construction company Elektrotechnische Werke "Hans Beimler" in Hennigsdorf, after extensive tests with three prototype locomotives.
The introduction of the V 100 marked the replacement of steam traction in light to medium-heavy passenger and freight train service, including the series 38.2-3, 38.10-40, 55.16-22 and 57.10-40.

The development and operational history of the V 100 series is covered in detail in two volumes. This volume 1 is devoted to the technical development, construction, testing of the advance locomotives and series production.
The various design variants of the V 100 (series 108, 111, 112, 114, 115 and 1998) as well as the conversions at Alstom and Adtranz in the 1990s are also described in detail.

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Die Baureihe V 100 der Deutschen Reichsbahn (Band 3) - Verbleib bei Privat- und NE-Bahnen

The era of the Reichsbahn V 100 is almost over at Deutsche Bahn AG, but the tried and tested locomotives still provide valuable service on non-federally owned railways (NE railways).
Often re-motorized and extensively modernized in various versions, many of the former 201, 202 and 204 have now found new tasks on the numerous NE railways throughout Germany, mostly in freight transport, in construction train service or as shunting locomotives. This means that the appearance of the former DR-V 100 is now more colorful and versatile than ever before.

Volume 53 of the Bildarchiv-Reihe is the third part about the DR-V 100 and is now dedicated to the locomotives in use on the NE railways, and thus follows on from Bildarchiv volumes 39 and 49, which were already published on the DR-V 100 and documented the use of the locomotives on the DR and DB AG.
The book again offers 102 carefully selected color photographs that provide a representative cross-section of the diverse construction and color variants of the V 100 on the NE railways.
In view of the large number of different NE railways, this volume also documents the liberalization of the railway sector in Germany, which is far advanced compared to other European countries.

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Lokporträt Baureihe 155

LEW Hennigsdorf delivered three pre-series locomotives in 1974 and 270 series locomotives of the six-axle electric universal locomotive of the 250 series from 1977 to 1984. The Reichsbahn used the 125 km/h, 5400 kW locomotives in freight and express train service.
The angular structure, the corrugated side walls and the continuous fan belt earned the machine the rather disrespectful but certainly sympathetic name "Container". Used in the Bundesbahn network from 1991 and renamed the 155 series in 1992, the 219 locomotives still in existence today are in freight train service.

The volume is dedicated to the development of these locomotives in all eras of use with selected black and white and color photographs.

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Unterwegs mit der Taigatrommel - Die Reichsbahn-V 200 in Ostthüringen

In the summer of 1994, the use of the DR-V 200 in East Thuringia ended. From 1970 onwards, it was known as the 120 series and from 1992 as the 220 series, and was quickly given the name "Taiga Drum" due to its original, extremely loud noise level.
Initially hardly noticed by railway enthusiasts due to its idiosyncratic appearance, the fan base of the rustic, robust freight train locomotive, which was very popular with the staff, grew quickly.
After German reunification at the latest, the now aging machines were among the absolute favorites of many railway enthusiasts.

The volume recalls the great era of the V 200 in East Thuringia and the neighboring West Saxony in impressive black and white images and color photographs.
Experience the unforgettable DR-V 200 again in the local railway depots, on the routes between the Saale and Elster valleys and the Altenburg region, in the Vogtland and the Thuringian Oberland, as well as on the legendary works railway of the former SDAG Wismut, where the use of the last "drums" only ended in 2001.

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Die V 300-Familie der Deutschen Reichsbahn (Band 1) - Entwicklung, Technik und Umbauten

After the Deutsche Reichsbahn of the GDR purchased the first large number of diesel-electric locomotives from the "October Revolution" locomotive factory in Voroshilovgrad (Lugansk) in 1967 with the 2000 hp Russian diesel locomotive type M62 ("Taiga Drum" or DR series V 200), an even larger mass procurement of diesel locomotives from the Soviet Union (USSR) began in 1970.
The V 300 family of the DR was created on the basis of the 3000 hp Russian T 109 from the same manufacturer, of which four series (BR 130, 131, 132 and 142) with a total of 873 locomotives were delivered to the GDR between 1970 and 1982.
The series 132 (from 1992: 232) represents the largest number of locomotives in terms of number, with 709 units alone.

Despite some initial difficulties in dealing with the diesel-electric drive technology, which was still unfamiliar to the DR at the time, the machines quickly became the most important backbone of rail transport in the GDR, especially on the non-electrified main routes.
The locomotives proved so successful that even today - almost 50 years later - several examples are still in active use. The robust machines are also very popular with locomotive and workshop personnel to this day.

Volume 1 first describes the development and technology of the V 300 locomotives. Furthermore, in this book - like no other V 300 publication before it - the almost unmanageable number of their conversions and the countless structural differences have been completely compiled for the first time and clearly documented using a total of more than 500 illustrations.

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Die V 300-Familie der Deutschen Reichsbahn (Band 2) - Einsätze bei DR, DB AG, NE-Bahnen und im Ausland

While volume 1 is dedicated to the history of the V 300 locomotive family, the technology, the numerous modifications and countless differences in detail, volume 2 focuses on the locomotives' homes and operations at DR and DB AG.
The numerous locomotives that have now been sold to private railway companies in Germany and those that remain abroad are also presented in detail.
A large set of statistics with the delivery and whereabouts data of all locomotives and much more round off volume 2.

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