Baureihe (Class) 218 was the third incarnation of the 'V160' diesel locomotive design that had already spawned 216 and 217. It is distinguished from other members of the family by its stronger diesel that could power both the loco itself and the heating generator.
Built by Henschel, Krauss-Maffei, Krupp and MaK, powered by MTU or KHD motors, the 218 is Deutsche Bahn's most important (and soon, only) road diesel. It basically pulls any train anywhere where there's no overhead wire.
Technical fact sheet:
- Concept: B'B' layout (four axles in two bogies), both bogies driven by a single diesel engine by articulated shafts from a central fluid transmission; a mechanical intermediate gearbox to select either a high-traction or a high-speed gear can only be shifted when standing still
- Power: 1,840 kW
- Traction: 235.2 kN maximum, 166.6 kN sustained
- Top speed: 140 km/h in high-speed gear, 90 km/h in high-traction gear
- Total weight: 78.5 tonnes (19.63 tonnes per axle)
- Length: 19.4 m
- Diameter of driven wheels: 1.25 m
- Tank volume: 3.15 m3
- Number in service: 401