Diesel locomotives of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) in the GDR marked the gradual transition away from the steam era. Beginning in the 1960s, they took on key roles in freight and passenger service to make operations more modern, faster, and more economical.
Development and Deployment
- Modernization: The DR replaced heavy steam locomotives with powerful diesel locomotives.
- Variety of Models: Well-known locomotive series came from both domestic production and imports.
- Main Lines: The locomotives operated on non-electrified main and branch lines.
- Shunting: Special smaller diesel locomotives handled shunting operations at railroads.
Major Locomotive Series
- DR Class V 180 (later Class 118): The largest four-axle or six-axle diesel locomotive built in the GDR for general service.
- DR Class V 200 (later Class 120, “Taiga Drum”): A large, imported diesel locomotive from the Soviet Union that was very noisy.
- DR Class V 100 (later Class 110/112): The standard locomotive for medium-distance and branch line service.
- DR Class V 60 (later Class 106): The standard switching locomotive for daily operations.
Click on the series name to go directly to the images in our photo database.
On June 22, 2019, 118 719 hauled the Dresden–Sonneberg special train over the “Schiefe Ebene” near Marktschorgast, together with a sister locomotive. Photo: Peter Pfister
| Series | Numbers | Built | Decommissioned |
| V 60, 105, 106, 345 | 105 001-165; 965 … 991 | 1959; 1962-1982 | in service |
| V 60, 106, 346 | 106 001-170; 181-185; 201-999; | 1959; 1962-1982 | in service |
| V 75 – 107 | 001-020 | 1962 | 2004 |
| V 180.0, 118, 228 | 001-087 | 1960-1966 | 1995 |
| V 100.1, 110, 201 | 001-171 | 1964-1968 | in service |
| V 180.2, 118, 228 | 201-406 | 1966-1970 | 1995 |
| V 200, 120, 220 | 001-378 | 1966-1975 | in service |
| V 100.2, 112, 202 | 201 … 896 | 1969-1985 | in service |
| 114 – 204 | no change of numbers | 1988 from conversion of Class 110 | 2009 |
| 130, 230 | 001-080; 101-102 | 1970-1982 | 1994 |
| 131, 231 | 001-076 | 1970-1982 | 1995 |
| 132, 232, 233 | 001-709 | 1970-1982 | in service |
| 142, 242 | 001-006 | 1970-1982 | in service |
| 119, 219 | 001-200 | 1976-1985 | 2006 |
| 108, 298 | 036, 037, 156, 161 | 1978 Remodeling | in service |
| 111, 293, 298.3 | 001-037 | 1981-1983, Remodeling 1993 | in service |
| 347 (1520mm) | 14 pieces | 1986 Remodeling | in service |
| 234 | See the appendix | 1991 Remodeling | 2017 |
| 344 | 80 pieces | 1991 Remodeling | 2001 |
| 229 | 100-199 | 1992-1993 | 2001 |