DRG Class E 18 is one of the fastest German electric locomotives

DRG Class E 18 - production in 2 stages

The DRG class E 18 electric locomotive was developed by the manufacturer AEG in Hennigsdorf and 53 units were delivered by 1939 as E 18 01 – 44 and 045 – 053. A further series of 29 locomotives, intended as E 18 054 – 092, was cancelled because of the war. With a top speed of 150 km/h, the locomotives were among the fastest rail-bound electric vehicles in the German-speaking world in their day. For its speed, the DRG Class E 18 was awarded the Grand Prix at the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris. It was originally developed by AEG for heavy express service on the Munich – Berlin route, but electrification of this route was only partially carried out due to the war.

Details of DRG Class E 18

Manufacturer: AEG
Length: 16.920 mm
Numbering: E 18 01-053
DB: 118 002-:-055
DR: 218 019, 031
ÖBB: 1118.01
E 18 054-055
DB: 118 054-055
E 18 201-208
ÖBB: 1018.01-:-08
Weight: 108,5 t 110,0 t
Years of Construction: 1935−1939 1954−1955 1938/1939
Top speed: 150 km/h 130 km/h
Retirement: 1984 (DB) 1991 (DR) 1984 (DB) ÖBB 1992 / 2001 (ÖBB)
Drive:Spring pot
Motors: 4
Power system: 15 kV 16 2/3Hz AC
Numbers: 55 2 8
Power:2840 kW3340 kW
Tractive force: 206 kN 220 kN
Train protection:Sifa
Train controlIndusi
Brake: Compressed air brake HikssbrmZ (Hik-GPR mZ),
two-sided braking of the
driving and running axles
Ab 1979: KE-GPR mZ
Axle formula: 1'Do1'
Wissenswertes
The DRG class E 18 electric locomotive belongs to the locomotives with the 1'Do1' wheel arrangement. In the 1'Do1' axle arrangement, four individually driven wheelsets are arranged in the main frame with one running axle bogie each at the front and rear.

Useful Information

With an hourly output of 3,040 kW and a continuous output of 2,840 kW (the Austrian E 18.2 even 3340 kW), it was also one of the most powerful single-frame locomotives of the time. In 1937, the BBÖ decided to procure the E 18 in a somewhat modified form as series 1870 for express train service on the Vienna-Salzburg Western Railway, which was to be electrified. After the annexation of Austria, the design was adapted again by the DRB and the 8 locomotives were built by Wiener Lokfabrik, AEG-Union and ÖSSW and put into service as E 18 201 – 208.

Deployment in southern Germany

The locomotives were located in all electrified networks (Southern Germany, Central Germany, Silesia) and from 1938 also in Austria. The Silesian locomotives (E 18 10 – 17) were evacuated to Bavaria in early 1945, with the exception of E 18 15, which suffered a total loss in an accident.

Whereabouts at the end of the war

Southern Germany

At the end of the war, there were 36 locomotives in the southern German area, 17 of which were severely damaged. The DR West took 4 of them out of service (E 18 01, 03, 07 and 38), but ultimately repaired E 18 03 and 38 as well as the other 15 locomotives, which was equivalent to a new build. In addition, there were four locomotives that had already been taken out of service by the end of the war due to war damage. In 1953/54, the DB acquired five locomotives (E 18 24, 28, 34, 44 and 048) from the DR, which had bought them back from the Soviet Union. In 1954/55, two more locomotives were rebuilt for DB as E 18 054 and 055, the mechanical part of which was supplied by Krupp and the electrical part by AEG. This meant that the DB had 41 locomotives in its fleet. At DB, the locomotives were given the EDP-compliant series designation “118” in 1968. Until 1984, the locomotives were used primarily in their traditional area of operation, Bavaria.

Central Germany

In Central Germany, 11 locomotives remained at the end of the war, 6 of them severely damaged locomotives for repair at the AEG (later LEW) Hennigsdorf plant. The remaining five locomotives had to be handed over to the USSR as reparations in 1946 and were given to the DB in exchange for catenary materials and steam locomotive spare parts after their return. Of the existing 6 badly damaged locomotives, which had been moved to Velten in the meantime, three locomotives were rebuilt by 1961: E 18 19, 31 and 43 (as “E 18 40”). The others were taken out of service. At the DR, the locomotives were initially used in express service, but soon the then “Fahrzeug-Versuchs-Anstalt Halle” (later VES-M), recognized the potential of the E 18s and used them for vehicle testing at higher speeds. Finally, in 1969, they were upgraded for a speed of 180 km/h by changing the gear ratio. The E 18 40 suffered an accident during the acceptance run after this modification and was taken out of service. In its place, the DRG class E 18 31, which was not originally intended, was rebuilt in 1970. The two locomotives were mainly used for special purposes, but occasionally also in regular service; they were not retired until after 1990, and both remain in service.

Austria

In Austria, or rather at the Austrian Federal Railroad, the E 18 201-208 (which were re-designated as 1018.01-05 and 06-08) and the two DRB locomotives E 18 42 and 046 remained, of which the E 18 206 and 046 suffered the most severe damage. The E 18 046 was rebuilt with electrical parts of the E 18.2 and put into service as 1018.101. The E 18 42 was given the ÖBB number 1118.01. In the mid-1960s, all 1018/1118s were thoroughly overhauled and their exteriors were changed. 1018.101 was already retired in 1980 due to its loner existence, followed in 1986/87 by 1018.01, 03 and 1118. 01. The others served in the Linz depot until 1992, 1018.05 became an ÖBB nostalgia locomotive.