Introduction

The DB V160 locomotive family comprises several classes of closely related diesel-hydraulic locomotives. The first prototype serie, called V160, was introduced in the early 1960's. Over the years various different series were built, with the last serie being the DB 218 with the last delivery in 1979.

I first met the V160 family in 1982/1983 where it was seen in the weekday freight train in Franeker.

V160 family line-up
V160 family members in HO (210, 215, 216 and 218)
DB 216 086-9
DB 216 086-9 with freight train in Franeker - May 1983

My first V160 model was a Roco DB 215 model (second from left in the model picture above), I bought this in my teenage years. A very solid model that I still have today. The V160 family has been of interest to me ever since and over the many years I got a collection of models. Some very good books (all in German language) have been published over the years and must-have for anybody interested in this locomotive family.

Brief history of the V160 family

In the 1950's the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) used twin-engine locomotives (class V200) and that proved to be expensive in maintenance. The V160 family was the result of the search of a medium-duty single engine locomotive.
The first prototype was built in 1960 (V160 001) and was followed by 9 more. These 10 prototype models proved to be successful and resuled in a set of 114 more locomotives, the class 216. The 216 had a 16 cylinder engine of 1900 horse power (hp).
In the following years to prototypes were built, V162 (217) and V164 (218) that were trying to get more horse power and solve for electrical train heating. The 217 had a small auxilary engine for heating, breaking with the single engine idea of the series. The 218 had a larger engine that could also provide electrical heating. This larger engine was succesful and while tests were done for the 217/218 prototypes a new serie of class 215 models were built, still with steam heating.
Eventually the 218 was the most succesful and a large serie 398 production units were produced between 1971 and 1979.

The quest for more power resulted in a prototype, V169 (219), that used a gas turbine for additional power. While this prototyoe only ran briefly it resulted in a production of eight additional units class 210 that used a simular concept.

My first V160 model was a Roco DB 215 model (second from left in the model picture above), I bought this in my teenage years. A very solid model that I still have today. The V160 family has been of interest to me ever since and over the many years I got a collection of models. Some very good books (all in German language) have been published over the years and must-have for anybody interested in this locomotive family.
V160 family line-up
V160 family book and model collection
Last update: 2021-09-25