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.

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 , 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 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.

As all other types of the Einheitslokomotiven program, the class E 10 / class 110 had 2 axle pivoted bogies/trucks as welded box construction with pivot pins, and welded superstructure with fan grills. The class 110.3 used the body of the E 10.12 with the pulled forward frontal area, also called the “crease” (Bügelfalte). The frame is propped up over the bogies by coil springs and rubber elements. Originally a bumpy ride at higher speeds was noticeable, which required repeated rework of the bogies. In two locomotives (110 475 and 476) a flexicoil suspension was tested. All locomotives feature an indirect air brake manufactured by Knorr, with automatically stronger braking action at high speeds; for shunting/switching service an additional direct brake is present. All units also feature a separately excited rheostatic/regenerative brake, which is coupled to the air brake. The heat generated by the electric brakes is dissipated via roof exhausts. For the first time in German locomotives high voltage regulation of the transformer was used in serial production. The traction motors are 14 pole motors of type WB 372, which were later again used in class 111 and 151. As was the case in all locomotives in the Einheitslokomotiven program, the rubber ring transmission system made by the Siemens Schuckert Werke/SSW was utilized, which had proven themselves above all expectations in the prototype E 10.0 units. On the roof are found scissor (double arm) pantographs of the type DBS 54a, standardized for all Einheits classes, mounted on the obligatory roof insulators, as well as the compressed air main switch and the current to voltage converter for the monitoring of the overhead wire voltage. The 3 core transformers are oil cooled, to which the control unit with its 28 running steps is connected. The acceleration is designed to function in delayed mode, where the engineer chooses the running step, and the control unit will initiate the chosen setting independently. For emergency operation manual control by hand crank is possible. Many locomotives feature thyristor load diverters. The safety equipment in the driver's cab features either a mechanical or electronic deadman's device, punctiform automatic train controls (now compliant with the new regulations with software version PZB 90), and train radio equipment with GSM R communication. Relatively recently computers were added for the electronic timetable EBuLa, as well as the automatic door locking at 0 km/h (TB0), which has become a compulsory requirement for all locomotives in passenger service. A few units have also been equipped with computers for the control system CIR ELKE.

During production some E 10 units were equipped with newly developed Henschel made bogies and transmissions fit for speeds up to 160 km/h, and starting in 1962 63 they pulled long distance express trains such as the Rheingold, and were classified as class E 10.12 (and from 1968 designated as class 112). In addition these locomotives introduced the more aerodynamic superstructure (the "crease", or Bügelfalte), which was used for all new units of the class E 10, starting with E 10 288. In order to differentiate these units from the "normal" E 10s, a "1" (indicating a sub class) was placed in front of the running number. In this way the E 10 1265 1270 were established, which became the eponym for the class description of E 10.12. In 1963 64 came E 10 1308 1312, again with Henschel made high speed bogies, primarily for the Rheinpfeil. Neither group of E10.12 locomotives was ready in time for the launch of the trains for which they were ordered. Pending their delivery, 2 separate groups of E10.1 locomotives (E10 239 244 in 1962 63, and E10 250 254 in 1963 64) were temporarily modified for 160 km/h service, complete with Henschel bogies, the prefix 1 to their running numbers, and the appropriate paint scheme. All were later restored to normal E10.1 standards. Finally, in 1968, came 112 485, already designated as class 112, which did not have the expensive Henschel bogies, but featured modified serial production bogies.

By 1991 it had become clear that the deployment of the 11 locomotives of the first two series of class 112 in heavy and fast service had taken its toll. Several gear wheel malfunctions during service caused heavy damage to motor and transmission of the affected units. The maximum speed was reduced to as an emergency measure, and the locomotives were only utilized as express trains in the Munich area. At the time they were already re designated as class 113, in order to free up the designation of class 112 in the new German number scheme (for the more numerous and modern class 212 locomotives of the former Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany)). In the meantime these locomotives, after some units had been fitted with refurbished Henschel high speed bogies in the mid 1990s, were able to again work at the speed of 160 km/h, but were considered not to be much better than the normal class 110 units, and were soon listed for impending retirement.

Class 114 is made up of 20 re designated units from the third series of class 112, which were capable of speeds up to 160 km/h, and ran on modified bogies made for class 110 in serial production. Because of significant wear, starting in 1985 the top speed of locomotives with numbers 112 485 504 was reduced to To differentiate these units from the other class 112 machines, which were still allowed to travel at , they were designated as class 114 from 1988 on. Further conspicuous issues on and around the bogies continued to be noticed even after the speed reduction, and the locomotives were first further slowed down to , and retired altogether soon thereafter. Starting in 1993, using bogies from class 110 units with numbers 110 287 and lower, all 20 of the class 114 locomotives were rebuilt as normal class 110.3 units and were inserted into inventory as 110 485 504. 18 of the class 110, which lost their bogies to these "new" 110s, were rebuilt with bogies from retired class 140 locomotives, and were re designated as members of class 139, with which class they were nearly identical in the first place, due to their electric brake system. (The 2 remaining former class 114s received bogies from 2 other retired class 110.3 units). The concept of the Einheitslokomotive completely paid for itself in this swap exercise.

Starting in 2005 a few former class 110 and class 113 units were transferred from DB Regio to DB Autozug, the DB subsidiary for express passenger service with car transportation. In order to differentiate these units, they are slowly being renumbered to class 115, and are being relocated to Berlin Rummelsburg. These locomotives are thereby the first units of this class to be domiciled in the former East Germany. The Class 115 hosts one of the oldest locomotives still in regular passenger service in Germany. 115 114 1 (pictured in 2006 on the left) was introduced on 21 November 1957, and is used on various InterCity services across Germany.