DB Class E 50

Last updated
Deutsche Bundesbahn Baureihe E 50
DB 150 089 (14.09.1985).jpg
E50 089
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderKrupp, AEG, BBC, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei, SSW
Build date1957–73
Total produced194
Specifications
Configuration:
   UIC Co′Co′
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Length19,490 mm (63 ft 11+38 in)
Axle load 21.4 t
(21.1 long tons; 23.6 short tons)
Loco weight128 t
(126 long tons; 141 short tons)
Electric system/s 15 kV 16.7 Hz Catenary
Current pickup(s) Pantograph
Safety systemsInduSi, SiFa, PZB
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output4,500 kW (6,000 hp)
Tractive effort Continuous: 210 kN (47,000 lbf),
Starting: 450 kN (100,000 lbf)
Career
Delivered1957
Withdrawn2003
Preserved2

The Class E 50 is an electric heavy freight locomotive built for German Federal Railways between 1957 and 1973. It belongs to the Einheits-Elektrolokomotiven (standardised electric locomotives) program and was built as a heavy freight mover to be used on the increasingly electrified main lines of the DB, where they were set to replace the steam traction. In 1968 the series was redesignated as class 150 (E50). Originally the Class 150 was also suitable for passenger service; however, it did not have any steam or electric heating capability for the passenger coaches.

Contents

Production

In 1957 the first locomotive, 150 001, was delivered by AEG and Krupp. Altogether, 194 locomotives were ordered and delivered.

Performance

E 50 177 in 1985 Stuttgart, Unterturkheim, Deutsche Bahn Class E 50, 1983 (SIK 03-020998).jpg
E 50 177 in 1985

To date, the Class 150's starting tractive effort of 450 kN (100,000 lbf) remains unparalleled on German rails. In fact, it was very close to the breaking force of the buffers and chain couplers used at the time of its production. Some engines were therefore fitted with automatic coupling (type unicupler AK69e ) to haul heavy ore-trains.

Survivors

By 2004 all class 150 locomotives except 150 091 and 150 186 were scrapped.


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Locomotive</span> Self-propelled railway vehicle

A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, motor coach, railcar or power car;

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric locomotive</span> Locomotive powered by electricity

An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage such as a battery or a supercapacitor. Locomotives with on-board fuelled prime movers, such as diesel engines or gas turbines, are classed as diesel-electric or gas turbine-electric and not as electric locomotives, because the electric generator/motor combination serves only as a power transmission system.

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-10-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, ten powered and coupled driving wheels on five axles, and no trailing wheels. This arrangement was often named Decapod, especially in the United States, although this name was sometimes applied to locomotives of 0-10-0 "Ten-Coupled" arrangement, particularly in the United Kingdom. Notable German locomotives of this type include the war locomotives of Class 52.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2-8-2</span> Locomotive wheel arrangement

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles and two trailing wheels on one axle, usually in a trailing truck. This configuration of steam locomotive is most often referred to as a Mikado, frequently shortened to Mike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 90</span> British electric locomotive

The British Rail Class 90 is a type of electric locomotive. They were built for mixed-traffic duties, operating from 25 kV AC overhead lines and producing 5,000 bhp (3,700 kW). They weigh 84.5 tonnes and can typically achieve a top speed of 110 mph (177 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deutsche Bundesbahn</span> State railway of the Federal Republic of Germany (1949–1994)

The Deutsche Bundesbahn or DB was formed as the state railway of the newly established Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on 7 September 1949 as a successor of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG). The DB remained the state railway of West Germany until after German reunification, when it was merged with the former East German Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) to form Deutsche Bahn, which came into existence on 1 January 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class 120</span> Class of German electric locomotives

The DB Baureihe 120 is a class of electric locomotives operated by DB Fernverkehr in Germany. From 5 July 2020, almost all locomotives have been withdrawn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M62 locomotive</span> Class of Soviet-built diesel-electric locomotives

The M62 is a Soviet-built diesel locomotive for heavy freight trains, exported to many Eastern Bloc countries as well as to Cuba, North Korea and Mongolia. Beside the single locomotive M62 also twin versions 2M62 and three-section versions 3M62 have been built. A total number of 7,164 single sections have been produced, which have been used to build 5,231 single-, twin- and three-section locomotives.

<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.

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

<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 77</span>

The German DRG Class E 77 was a Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft electric locomotive class, which was ordered in 1923 and entered service in 1924. The 56 units of this class were specifically intended for the Halle (Saale) - Leipzig line and for routes in southern Germany.

<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 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'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DBAG Class 145 and 146</span> Two related classes of German electric locomotives

The DBAG Class 145 and DBAG Class 146 are Bo′Bo′ mainline electric locomotives built by Adtranz primarily for the Deutsche Bahn at the end of the 1990s. The Class 145 is the freight version for DB Cargo; the Class 146 is the passenger version for DB Regio. Additional freight machines were built for the former Swiss railway Mittelthurgaubahn as well as for various private operators and leasing companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DB Class 151</span> Electric locomotive type

The Class 151 is an electric heavy freight locomotive built for German Federal Railways between 1972 and 1978. They were built as a replacement for the ageing Class 150, in order to cope with the increased requirements of this type of locomotive, in particular the desire of a 120 km/h (75 mph) top speed.