Built between 1956 and 1964, the DB Class V 60/360 is a diesel locomotive designed for shunting duties and the occasional light goods train for Deutsche Bundesbahn. 942 of these shunters were produced in total, with several modifications through their lifetime including new engines and remote control operation.
The first prototype was designed in 1951 as DB had a shortage of small shunters, 4 prototypes were built in 1955, each built by a different manufacturer: Krupp, Mak, Henschel and Krauss-Maffei. Each featured different engines too, however they still proved to be successful. DB opted for the Maybach GTO 6/GTO 6A engines for their production models, which started to be delivered in 1956.
Even in these early stages of the V60s life, some models were modified with stronger frames and a higher adhesive weight increase from 48.3 to 53 tons, these heavier shunters were able to haul an extra 6 tons of ballast compared to the unmodified variant. Despite this difference, they were all still classified as V 60s, which was until all of DBs rolling stock was reclassified, dividing the V 60s in Class 260s and 261s for light and heavy variants respectively.
The V 60 has a top speed of 60km/h (37mph), however the diesel motor needs to be pre-heated before it can run, as a result the earlier models had to have a small coke oven and carry about 150 kg of coke to heat the diesel motor, newer V 60s used oil burners instead.
Despite being built primarily as shunters, the V 60s were also used for transporting light freight and passenger trains, some even saw some departmental use. In 1982 the V 60 was to be replaced by the Class 259, however DB decided to work on improving the 25 year old V 60s instead.
By 1987 they were reclassified as minor locomotives (Kleinlok) meaning they went from Class 260s/261s to Class 360s/361s, this was an economical benefit because a Kleinlok doesn’t require a train driver instead it can be controlled by a Kleinlok operator, saving DB lots on driver training. Radio control started to be installed on the Class 360/361s, meaning the operators can drive the shunters away from the cab remotely.
The new radio control models were classified as Class 364 and 365 as light and heavy variants, there was only a single Class 364, so this was eventually changed into a 365 (No. 700). The Class 365s started to be re-engined in 1997 with the Caterpillar 12-cylinder engines, these were reclassified as Class 362s and 363s (light and heavy variant). One shunter was given a Caterpillar V8 engine in 2001 and ran on natural gas, however this ‘Class 760’ was proved unsuccessful after testing around Munich and was eventually scrapped.
Today, many of the 942 locomotives are still in service, any without radio control by 2003 were retired, leaving about 400 for DB and other examples for various private railways in Germany and beyond, including Turkey and Norway. As of 2008 Class 362 362 was the third oldest locomotive in service under DB/DBAG at an incredible 50 years old. One locomotive, V 60 150 was originally on display at the Nuremburg Transport Museum, however it was lost to fire damage in the Museums great fire in 2005.
FEATURES
The DB BR 361 for Train Simulator features:
- DB BR 361 in DB Traffic Red Livery
- SGGRSS Container Freight Wagons in Multiple Liveries
- Scenarios for the Munich – Rosenheim Route
- Quick Drive Compatible
The DB BR 361 is available now on Steam.
