The DB Class 215 is a 4 axle diesel locomotive of the V 160 type. They were built for the German Federal Railways (Deutsche Bundesbahn) for medium-weight passenger and freight service on secondary and primary routes, and later passed to the Deutsche Bahn AG. A number of variants were made by rebuilding; some were converted to Class 225 locomotives for freight only work for DB Cargo and the sub-class Class 215.9 were altered for use on the SyltShuttle. Background The locomotives of Class 215 were a longer version of the original DB Class V 160, and consequently were equipped with steam heating apparatus. In the pre 1968 classification scheme they were to be numbered V 163. The engines were built to the length of the DB Class 218 ( longer than a Class V 160), so that later they could be rebuilt to the same specification of the longer class, which at the time only existed as a prototype; the Deutsche Bundesbahn could not wait for the Class 218 to reach production maturity as it was forging ahead with the replacement of the last steam locomotives. Design and modifications The locomotive has a diesel powertrain, using hydraulic transmission, with both bogies driven by cardan shafts, and all wheels powered. The ten initial prototype machines built from 1968-1969 by Krupp were powered by diesel engines of type 12 V 956 TB 10 with a power of 1839 kW. The machines numbered 215 011 to 215 070, and 215 094 to 215 150 had less powerful (1397 kW) but more reliable 16-cylinder Maybach MTU 16 V 652 TB engines (the same as the engines with which the Class 216 / V 160s were equipped), while the numbers 215 071 to 215 093 had a more powerful engine, but this time again the 12-cylinder 12 V 956 TB used in the prototypes. 215 091 to 215 093 were later retrofitted with the V-12 engine, having initially had the 16-cylinder engine. The steam heating also doubled as a pre-heater for the locomotives engine, and other parts. Space was reserved for the installation of an electrical generator later on, the proposed conversion of the machines to the 218 series never came about - the exception was 215 112 which was rebuilt as DB Class 218 399 after an accident. Numbers 030 to 032 locos were exceptional in that they were fitted from the outset with