TT Scale. The Ideal Scale.

Ok, let`s start with a staple of Germany`s DB AG the BR 101....and here you can see her in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjzuo19M9Ko

Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBAG_Class_101

I`m going to get myself this limited edition as soon it comes available: http://www.elriwa.de/exklusivmodelle_tt ... etail.html

DBAG Class 101

Power type Electric
Builder ADtranz
Model 101
Build date 1996–1999
Total production 145
AAR wheel arr. B-B
UIC classification Bo'Bo'
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Length 19,100 mm
Weight 83,000 kg
Electric system(s) 15kV 16⅔ Hz AC
Top speed 220 km/h
Power output 6,400 kW
Tractive effort 300 kN
Train brakes KE-GPR, electric brakes
Safety systems Sifa, PZB, LZB

I've always wondered why the BR 101 is only used for IC routes. No regional. And I know it was originally designed specifically for the IC to replace the BR 120. Just curious why it's not utilized on other routes. Kind of the same for the BR 143 - regional but no IC. The BR 218 however is used on both.

The reason is, that the ex class 243/143 can't run faster than 74 mph, only her siblings, class 112 (99 mph) and 114 (87 mph) do that. Both classes, 112 and 114, are more than busy with regional services (RegionalExpress, RegionalBahn, S-Bahn and s.o.) since more and more regional lines were improved for such high speeds as standard. So the DB meanwhile also has to use its new 143 mph fast 182's (same like ÖBB class 1116) for simple lightweight regional traffic from/to Leipzig!
But in the 1990's the class 112 was actually used for IC services, also the class 232 and 219/229 diesels until new locomotive classes were available and some east-west missing links electrified.

The class 101 again is (and have to be) able to run 136 mph. IC's normally run 124 mph here, because they often use ICE high speed routes. By the way, the 101's were ordered to replace the old class 103, not the class 120. The 124 mph fast class 120 is still in service!

218's are used for IC's due to the lack of other faster diesels in the DB fleet, I think. However, the most IC's track electrified routes ...

I'm very happy to have been able to spend about a month and a half in Germany in 1995 - got to see plenty of 103s in service! My favourite of the German electrics.

Thanks lüTTe. I could have sworn that wikipedia gave the br 120 as the predecessor of the 101. But I just checked and sure enough it's the BR 103. Maybe I was on crack when I read that some time ago.................. This also answers my curiosity about the 122 / 114

lüTTe wrote:The reason is, that the ex class 243/143 can't run faster than 74 mph, only her siblings, class 112 (99 mph) and 114 (87 mph) do that.

The 114 was limited to 87mph (140kph) for quite a short time, but is back set to 99mph (160kph) since a few years.

lüTTe wrote:So the DB meanwhile also has to use its new 143 mph fast 182's (same like ÖBB class 1116) for simple lightweight regional traffic from/to Leipzig!

Well, the ÖBB also uses them for regional trains. And the 182 came from Railion, the freight carrier, they even still have a few. But since the 152 is approved for austria now (the only reason why the DB bought 182), Railion doesn't need them any more. And the regional carrier DB Regio also doesn't really know what to do with these locos. In my opinion it would have been better to give them to the longdistance carrier DB Fernverkehr to support the 101 and 120, at least until the new IC EMUs arrive.

Both the 120 and the 101 are also used for freight trains from time to time to prevent unnecessary and expensive empty runs. The 101 is the last all-purpose locomotive the DB ordered. After that every division ordered locomotives that fit their needs (and only their's).

lüTTe wrote:218's are used for IC's due to the lack of other faster diesels in the DB fleet, I think. However, the most IC's track electrified routes ...

I'd agree. The DB would like to replace the slow and uneffective BR 218 (you need two locos for an IC train, one just for heating and electrical supply), but they don't have an alternative. As far as I know there's only the mainline from Hamburg to Westerland, where the 218s pull IC trains, and in single parts of Bavaria around Mühldorf, I guess. But I heard that Munich - Mühldorf is about to be electified.

@ConducTTor
The 120 in fact is the predecessor of the 101, but the 101 was never aimed to replace the 120. The 120 was the first three-phase current locomotive in Germany, after that no new locomotives were built with classic AC power. (If you exclude the 112/114 that was built, because it was easily available, and is not a real new locomotive but based on the 143.)

These are the kind of useful explanations that get butchered using translators for wikipedia or tt-board. Thanks guys!

I do not think, the DB has no intention for more beneficial use of its class 182. A reason for their use on the RE10 line is the huge speed overhead and acceleration they have, anyhow more than the 143 family which were used before. The class 442 which should actually serve this line isn't available yet, but the timetable is concepted for this new TALENT II.

We're definitive off topic ...

You're right, we are off topic... Ok, back to topic here are a few pictures showing the class 101. All taken in Cologne (near / at Cologne West station).

101 054 coming from the city of Bonn and heading for Cologne central station.


101 035 in the opposite direction coming from Cologne central station. This loco has the for class 101 somewhat typical dent above the coupling hook.


101 047 with promotion for the german association of fire brigades. The loco lost these promo foils in late 2009 or early 2010, I think. Now it's the first (and as far as I know only) class 101 loco with LED headlights.


101 109 very dirty and punched in heading for Bonn.

"Typical dent"???? What's causing that?