DB Class E 40

Last updated
Deutsche Bundesbahn E 40
139 558-1, Germaniia, Saksoniia, stantsiia Drezden-Tsentral'nyi (Trainpix 213268).jpg
139 558-1 of RailAdventure at Dresden Hbf with Israel Railways' Bombardier Traxx locomotive, 1 June 2017
Type and origin
Power typeelectric
Builder Krupp, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei, Siemens, AEG, BBC
Build date21 March 1957–17 August 1973 (E40.11/139: 1959,1965)
Total produced879
Specifications
Configuration:
   UIC Bo′Bo′
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Length16.49 m (54 ft 1+14 in)
Loco weight83 tonnes
(81.7 long tons; 91.5 short tons)
Electric system/s 15 kV 16.7 Hz Catenary
Traction motors Four
Loco brake K-GP mZ, electric brakes (Class 139 only)
Train brakes Air
Safety systemsSifa, PZB
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
later (110 km/h (68 mph))
Power output3,700 kW (5,000 hp)
Tractive effort 275 kN (62,000 lbf)
Career
Operators Deutsche Bundesbahn
Deutsche Bahn
Class E40 / E40.11 (from 1968: 140 / 139)

The Baureihe E 40 is a German Standard electric locomotive (German: Einheits-Elektrolokomotive) commissioned by the Deutsche Bundesbahn in 1955, designed for freight trains. Since the 1968 renumbering, it is listed as Class 140 and Class 139.

Contents

Development

Locomotive E 40 128 Lok E 40 128 (2010-04-03 39).jpg
Locomotive E 40 128

In 1950, the Deutsche Bundesbahn introduced two general types of electric locomotives with standardised components: A twelve-wheel (UIC: Co'Co') freight train locomotive as successor for the class E 94 and an eight-wheel (UIC: Bo'Bo') general purpose electric locomotive as successor for the class E 44. A new feature was that the driver was seated, whereas formerly they had to stand.

During the construction period the speed requirement for a general purpose locomotive (working title E 46, then changed to class E 10) was increased to that point that the layout was one for an express train locomotive. Two types were not found sufficient to cover all needs, so the Einheits-Elektrolokomotiven program was changed to four general types: Light passenger train locomotive (class E 41), express train locomotive (class E 10), freight train locomotive class E 40 and heavy freight train locomotive (class E 50). All four classes were designed to share as many components as possible.

Production and design of Class E 40

A BR 140 with a freight train north of Unkel in 2005. BR 140 bei Unkel am 25.05.2005.JPG
A BR 140 with a freight train north of Unkel in 2005.

The class E 40 basically is a class E 10 without electric brake, altered gear ratio for lower speed and correspondingly higher tractive effort along with additional minor changes.

As all other types of the Einheitslokomotiven program the class E 40 had welded bogies with central pins. Instead the formerly used axle hung motors it used a quill drive with a circular rubber spring as a connecting element ("Gummiringfeder" in German) reducing unsprung mass. The control unit had 28 power settings.

879 units were built, making it the Einheitslokomotive (standard locomotive) of its era.

The original speed was 100 km/h, this was enhanced to 110 km/h in 1969 in order to allow better usability also for commuter trains. A sub-series, known as 140.8, were equipped for push-pull train operation.

In 1968 class E 40 was renumbered to class 140.

Subclass E 40.11

Starting in 1959, 31 locomotives were equipped with electrical brakes (as all class E 10 units were) for the ramp near Erkrath-Hochdahl between Düsseldorf and Wuppertal and the Höllentalbahn in southern Germany. Nowadays these engines are in service around Munich, with recent services to Austria, where the electric brake is very useful. In the beginning of the 1990s some additional class 139 (as they were renumbered in 1968) were built by equipping class 110 units with class 140 bogies and gearboxes from class 110 units pulled out of service.

Both class 140 and class 139 are being replaced by newer constructions such as class 145, class 185 and class 189. It is widely expected that the last units will be scrapped before 2010, though the higher than expected increase in railway freight traffic has created some traction shortages, thus some class 140 units are being overhauled.


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class 103</span> Class of 4+145 electric locomotives in Germany

The Baureihe 103 is a class of electric locomotives in Germany, originally operated by Deutsche Bundesbahn. For a long period, they were perceived as flagships of the DB rolling stock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alstom Traxx</span> Family of locomotives manufactured by Alstom, originally by Bombardier

Alstom Traxx is a modular product platform of mainline diesel-electric and electric locomotives. It was produced originally by Bombardier Transportation and later Alstom, and was built in both freight and passenger variants. The first version was a dual-voltage AC locomotive built for German railways from the year 2000. Later types included DC versions, as well as quadruple-voltage machines, able to operate on most European electrification schemes: 1.5/3.0 kV DC and 15/25 kV AC. The family was expanded in 2006 to include diesel-powered versions. Elements common to all variants include steel bodyshells, two bogies with two powered axles each, three-phase asynchronous induction motors, cooling exhausts on the roof edges, and wheel disc brakes.

Originally, both Deutsche Bundesbahn and Deutsche Reichsbahn continued the classification system of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRG) – see also a short overview of the numbering system of the German railways. When UIC introduced a new classification system that could be processed by the computers of the late 1960s, DB did a major modification of their system, effective 1 January 1968. This system is still in use and now includes the engines of the former GDR railways as well.

The different railway companies in Germany have used various schemes to classify their rolling stock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class E 41</span>

The class E 41, also known as the DB Class 141 is the first class of German Einheits-Elektrolokomotive commissioned by the Deutsche Bundesbahn in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class 111</span>

The Baureihe 111 is a class of electric locomotives built for the Deutsche Bundesbahn, and now owned by Deutsche Bahn AG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class E 10</span>

The class E 10 is an electric locomotive of the Deutsche Bundesbahn, introduced in 1952. It belongs to the Einheits-Elektrolokomotiven program and was built for express passenger service. In 1968 the series was redesignated as class 110 (E10) and class 112 (E10.12). In 1988 the last series of class 112 locomotives were designated as class 114, and in 1991 the remaining locomotives of class 112 were designated as class 113. In 2006 38 locomotives were designated as class 115.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DR Class 250</span>

The Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 250 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DR Class 243</span>

The DR Class 243 is a universal electric locomotive of the Deutsche Reichsbahn which is used for general rail service. Deutsche Bahn lists the locomotive as Class 143. The locomotives of class 143/243 still belong to the most successful class of German electric locomotives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EuroSprinter</span> Family of electric locomotives

The EuroSprinter family of electric locomotives is a modular concept of locomotives for the European market built by Siemens Mobility. The internal Siemens product name is ES 64, with ES for EuroSprinter and the number 64 indicating the 6,400 kW power at rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DRG Class E 18</span>

The Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG) Class E 18 is a class of electric locomotives built in Germany and Austria between 1935 and 1955. With exception of Class E 19 it was Deutsche Reichsbahn's fastest electric locomotive. After 1945 most of the surviving locomotives were operated by Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB), although a few passed to Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) and Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DRG Kleinlokomotive Class II</span>

German Kleinlokomotiven like the DRG Kö II were developed as locomotives with a low weight and driving power for light shunting duties. There were two classes, based on engine power. The Class II were engines which developed more than 40 HP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class V 100</span> German diesel powered locomotive

These DB Class V 100 diesel locomotives were produced in the late 1950s by the Deutsche Bundesbahn for non-electrified branch lines as a replacement for steam locomotives. The V 100 class was built in three different variants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class V 160</span>

The Class V 160 is a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives of the German railways. It is the first variant of the V160 family, built for the Deutsche Bundesbahn for medium/heavy trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class V 162</span>

The DB Class V 162 is a class of four-axle diesel hydraulic locomotive built as a development of the DB Class V 160 for the Deutsche Bundesbahn from 1965 to 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class 215</span>

The DB Class 215 is a 4 axle diesel locomotive of the V 160 type. They were built for the German Federal Railways for medium-weight passenger and freight service on secondary and primary routes, and later passed to the Deutsche Bahn AG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class 218</span> Diesel-hydraulic locomotives class

The DB Class 218 are a class of 4-axle, diesel-hydraulic locomotives acquired by the Deutsche Bundesbahn for use on main and secondary lines for both passenger and freight trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class V 90</span> Locomotive class

The DB Class V90 locomotive is a German diesel-hydraulic locomotive for shunting and freight hauling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DR Class 130 family</span> Class of East German diesel locomotives

The DR 130 family of locomotives comprises the DR Class 130, DR Class 131, DR Class 132 and DR Class 142, in USSR locomotive called TE109 and TE129.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB V 160 family</span>

The DB V 160 locomotive family comprises several classes of closely related 4-axle diesel-hydraulic locomotives built in the 1960s and 1970s for the Deutsche Bundesbahn which take the family name from the earliest built model: the 'DB Class V 160'.

References