DB Class V 60

Deutsche Bundesbahn Class V 60

Company type	Diesel locomotive series
Industry	Railway
Founded	1951
Headquarters	Germany
Products	Diesel shunting locomotives

Overview

The DB Class V 60 represents a series of German diesel locomotives initially operated by the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) and subsequently by the Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG). These locomotives are primarily designed for shunting operations but are also employed in the transportation of lighter freight trains. A total of seventeen units were acquired second-hand by the Norwegian State Railways, where they received the classification NSB Di 5. Additionally, used locomotives from this class were purchased by the Yugoslav Railways, who assigned them the designation JŽ 734. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, these locomotives were reclassified as Series 2133 under the Croatian Railways.

History

During the early 1950s, Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) faced a deficit of compact shunting locomotives. Consequently, in 1951, a diesel shunter was developed with contributions from nearly all prominent locomotive manufacturers. This new class was initially designated as the V 60. By 1955, the first prototypes, numbered V 60 001–004, were delivered by Krupp, Krauss-Maffei, Maschinenbau Kiel (Mak), and Henschel, each fitted with distinct engines. Later that year, the initial production orders were placed; these units were equipped with Maybach GTO 6 or GTO 6A engines. Some locomotives featured reinforced frames and an increased adhesive weight of approximately 53 tonnes compared to the earlier 48.3 to 49.5 tonnes range. Additionally, these models could carry an extra ballast weight of up to 6 tonnes for more demanding tasks but remained classified under the V 60 designation. Altogether, 942 units of this class were manufactured. In 1968, DB introduced computer-readable numbering for all its locomotives, splitting the V 60 class into Classes 260 for the lighter versions and 261 for the heavier ones.

Norwegian State Railways

In the 1980s, the Norwegian State Railways (NSB) identified a requirement to replace their aging Di 2 shunters. In response, they acquired seven used V 260 locomotives from DB in 1985, reclassifying them as NSB Di 5. Two years later, NSB purchased an additional ten units; however, one was reserved solely for spare parts. These locomotives bore the numbers 5.861 through 5.877. They were withdrawn and scrapped between 1996 and 1998, with none preserved.

Croatian Railways

In 1985, Yugoslav Railways (JŽ) procured several second-hand locomotives which were assigned the JŽ 734 designation. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, these units transferred to Croatian Railways and were reclassified as Class 2133. This class comprised two variants: subtype 2133-0 offering a tractive effort of approximately 118 kN and subtype 2133-1 with around 132 kN of tractive effort.

Technology

The V 60 (Classes 260/261) measures roughly 10.45 meters in length and can reach maximum speeds of up to 60 km/h. Its frame is constructed entirely through welding. The transmission system is located beneath the driver’s cab, which itself is positioned slightly off-center within the locomotive body. At the front end reside the engine and cooling apparatus; at the rear are housed the brake compressor, main air reservoir, fuel system components, and fuel tank. The cab is sound-insulated with a footplate situated at its front side and features dual-sided operation capability.

Propulsion is provided by a twelve-cylinder Maybach GT06 diesel engine delivering about 478 kW of power. This engine represents an evolution of the G05 type that had been installed since 1932 in various railcars such as the Flying Hamburger (DRG Class SVT 877). Power transmission occurs via a Voith hydraulic transmission connected through a jackshaft and coupling rods to all three axles—a design previously utilized on earlier shunting locomotives like the Class V 36.

The central axle allows lateral movement of approximately 30 mm to accommodate track irregularities. A jackshaft is positioned between the second and third axles. The locomotive incorporates both shunting and mainline running gear.

Starting the diesel engine requires preheating: initial production batches used a small coke oven (later replaced by oil burners), necessitating carrying up to about 150 kg of coke onboard. Classes 362/363 featured electrically controlled preheaters with heat retention systems.

Braking systems include compressed air through brakes, auxiliary brakes, and a hand brake acting on the third axle specifically for parking or emergency use.

Operations

Class 261 (V 60) at Uelzen in 1984

These locomotives were utilized not only for shunting tasks but also handled light freight and passenger services. Additionally, they occasionally hauled departmental trains.

Around 1982, after approximately a quarter-century of V 60 service, the DB evaluated several shunting locomotive models under the Class 259 designation as potential replacements for the V 60. No definitive choice was made, leading to various initiatives aimed at enhancing the V 60's operational efficiency in subsequent years.

In 1987, the locomotives were reclassified as minor locomotives (Kleinlok), with Class 260 becoming Class 360 and Class 261 redesignated as Class 361. This change to Kleinlok status reduced personnel expenses by eliminating the need for "engine drivers," allowing instead for "Kleinlok operators" who required less extensive training. The introduction of radio control facilitated one-person shunting operations via remote control; fully radio-controlled variants were designated Class 364 (light version) or 365 (heavy version). However, the sole locomotive initially assigned to Class 364 was soon renumbered to 365 700.

Starting in 1997, during overhauls, Maybach engines were replaced with Caterpillar 12-cylinder units producing 465 kW (632 PS), a modification applied exclusively to radio-controlled locomotives. These updated machines received the classifications Class 362 (light type) and 363 (heavy type).

In 2001, a locomotive fitted with a Caterpillar V8 engine powered by natural gas underwent trials around Munich and was classified as Class 760. This unit has since been retired and scrapped.

Y60 diesel locomotive A-104 of OSE at Thessaloniki New Passenger Station, Greece.

Out of the original fleet of 942 locomotives delivered to the DB, many remained operational. Those lacking radio control were phased out by early 2003; meanwhile, about 400 radio-controlled units were still active within DB in 2004. Several have since been transferred to private and industrial railways in Germany and abroad, including state railways in Turkey, former Yugoslavia (such as Croatian Railways HŽ series 2133), and Norway (17 units designated as NSB Di 5). By 2008, over seventy locomotives were owned by German private and industrial operators, primarily engaged in construction logistics and regional freight transport.

Locomotive number 362 362 holds the distinction of being the first V 60 to reach fifty years of service within DB/DBAG; it was commissioned on April 12, 1957, and as of 2008 ranked as the third oldest locomotive still active in DB AG's roster.

Comparable or nearly identical locomotives have been employed by other national railways. As early as the 1960s, deliveries were made to countries such as Greece (Hellenic State Railways, class A-101), Turkey, and models produced under license in Belgium. Similar engines were also operated by Israel.

The museum locomotive V 60 150 was destroyed in a major fire at the Nuremberg Transport Museum's locomotive depot.

Sources

• Arno Bretschneider, Manfred Traube, Die Baureihe V 60. Das Arbeitstier der DB, Eisenbahn-Kurier Verlag, Freiburg, 1997, ISBN 3-88255-804-0
• Horst J. Obermayer: Taschenbuch Deutsche Diesellokomotiven. Mit Kleinlokomotiven. Franckh, Stuttgart 1972, ISBN 3-440-03932-3
• Rolf Löttgers: Bundesbahn-Rangierhobel. Eisenbahn Magazin 9/2007, pages 60–62

See also

• List of Deutsche Bundesbahn locomotives and railbuses
• List of Deutsche Bahn AG locomotives and railbuses

External links

• V 60 at v60.de (in German)
• Image gallery at railfaneurope.net
• V 60 at rangierdiesel.de (in German)
• DB Class V 60 – DB’s shunting locomotive