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DB Class E 10

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DB Class E 10

The class E 10 is an electric locomotive of the Deutsche Bundesbahn, introduced in 1952. It belongs to the Einheits-Elektrolokomotiven (standardised electric locomotives) 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.

Until 2020, individual locomotives of the 115 series were used for "special passenger trains". All locomotives of this series have now been retired from regular service by DB, but some are still in active use by private railway companies.

In 1950, the Deutsche Bundesbahn decided to develop two base types of electric locomotives with largely 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. As a new feature the engineers should be able to be seated, whereas formerly they had to stand in order to boost their attentiveness.

This multi-purpose locomotive received the working title E 46, but was then renamed to Class E 10, once the required maximum speed was increased from 125 to 130 km/h (78 to 81 mph), which formally made this model an express train locomotive. The trial program, which consisted of 5 prototypes of class E 10.0, resulted in the realization that a single uniform type of electric locomotive was not sufficient to cover all needs. The modified program then included a local passenger train locomotive (class E 41); an express train locomotive (class E 10), which could be changed into a freight train locomotive (Class E 40) with a gear ratio change, and a heavy six-axle freight train locomotive (class E 50). In addition plans for a high speed electric locomotive Class E 01 were made, but quickly cancelled, as, due to low maximum speeds on the main lines at that time, the class E 10 was seen as sufficient for express trains.

The five prototypes of class E 10.0 were taken out of service between 1975 and 1978. Of these E 10 003 and E 10 005 were preserved as museum locomotives.

The first serial units went into service in 1956 and started with number E 10 101 (class E 10.1). As opposed to class E 40 these units were equipped with a rheostatic/regenerative brake, which also accounted for the difference in the roof design between the two classes. Starting in December 1956 a total of 379 locomotives in several series were delivered by the manufacturers (Krupp, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei (mechanical parts); Siemens, AEG, BBC (electrical parts). Starting with E 10 288 the new body created for E 10.12 (see below), the so-called "crease" (Bügelfalte) type, was also applied to new-production E 10 machines. Thereafter these locomotives were sometimes designated as class E 10.3. One locomotive (designated 751 001, former 110 385) served as a service locomotive for the Central Office of the German Federal Railways in Minden (BZA Minden, or Bahnzentralamt) from 1989 to 1996. The earlier units up to E10 287 became E10.1, then 110.1 in 1968; they were nicknamed "Kasten", for box.

The service spectrum of the (since 1968 as class 110 designated) locomotives was shifted more and more to local/regional service by the 1990s. As part of this shift, during the third stage of the Bahn reform program the locomotives were assigned to the local service branch DB Regio, which practically meant the end of their service in the express area. In order to use the machines more efficiently in regional service, from 1997 many of the units were equipped with push-pull train controls, partly using components of class 140 and class 141 units that were retired.

Originally the class E 10 units were delivered in cobalt blue express train livery, the blue indicating that they were cleared for a maximum speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) or more. Starting in 1974, as part of other maintenance, the new ocean blue/beige colour scheme was applied to the locomotives. From 1987 the (then-current) orient-red was used, which was then substituted, starting in 1997, with the traffic red (verkehrsrot) concept, which is the current colour of all active locomotives of this class, barring a few exceptions.

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