DR Class V 75 also known as Diesel locomotive Class 107
The DR Class V 75 (from 1970 incorporated as diesel locomotive DR Class 107) were diesel-electric shunting locomotives of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. The series 107 locomotives were manufactured by ČKD (Ceskomoravska Kolben Danèk) Prague.
| Manufacturer: | ČKD, Prague |
| Length: | 12560 mm |
| Numbering: | V 75 001–020 107 001–020 (ab 1970) |
| Weight: | 62,6 t |
| Years of construction: | 1962 |
| Top Speed: | 60 km/h |
| Retirement: | to 1986 |
| Fuel supply: | 2000 l |
| Axle arrangement: | Bo'Bo' |
| Numbers: | 20 |
| Power: | 552 kW / 750 PS |
| Brake: | Single release air brake K-GP m.Z. |
| Power transmission: | electrical |
| Special features: | Nickname: Hektor 107 002, 107 005 - 012 & 107 014 (Equipment with shunting radio) 107 004 und 107 013 (Equipment with PZB) 107 015 (for the installation of an automatic centre buffer coupling in preparation) |
| Interesting facts |
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| The class 107 diesel locomotive (DR class V 75) belongs to the Bo'Bo' type. It has two individually driven axles, which are mounted in two frame bogies. More Interesting facts |
The history of the shunting diesel locomotive DR Class 107 (V 75)
The DR series V 75 diesel locomotives were intended as a replacement for the largely closed class 80 and thus for the Leipzig Hbf shunting service. The DR series V 75 was imported from Czechoslovakia in the mid/late 1950s. The reason for this was that they were not able to produce their own diesel looks. A total of 20 machines were imported, which largely corresponded to the Czechoslovakian class T 435.0 (today’s designation: class 720) or the Soviet ChME2. As already mentioned, the diesel locomotives were used at the Leipzig railway stations (Hauptbahnhof, Magdeburg-Thüringer Bahnhof and Dredener Bahnhof). The locomotives were based at the Leipzig Hbf West (7 locomotives) and Leipzig West (13 locomotives) depots.
A large number of the locomotives, the series V 75 (diesel locomotive class 107), were scrapped after being taken out of service around 1980. Four locomotives were taken to the works railway of the Karsdorf cement plant and were thus preserved. In the 1980s, the Karsdorfer Eisenbahngesellschaft (KEG) acquired the series V 75 diesel locomotives and purchased largely identical vehicles from the Czech Republic. KEG went into insolvency in 2004. Until then, the locomotives were used in construction train service. The vehicles were taken over by Arco Transportation GmbH. Arco Transportation GmbH also acquired other former KEG vehicles. In 2011, the diesel locomotive with the number V 75 004 was scrapped.
The V 75 018 was refurbished by Railsystems RP GmbH and is operational again as Class 107 018. The locomotive was given the colour scheme of the Deutsche Reichsbahn again. 16 locomotives of the V 75 series were delivered to the Karsdorf cement works (3 vehicles), the Leuna works and the Schwedt petrochemical combine for use by the works railways.
Superstructure of the diesel locomotive Class 107 (DR Class V 75)
The locomotive series V 75 has a bridge frame and an end driver’s cab, as well as an external circulation. The locomotives were fitted with low-speed engines with a rated output of 750 hp (547 kW). The power was transmitted electrically to the four axles by means of an externally excited direct current generator, a likewise excited exciter machine and direct current series-wound motors. The DR class V 75 (diesel locomotive Class 107) had two bogies (gooseneck bogies before 1962, later bogies with wheel-set links). Two axles were mounted in each bogie.
The maximum speed of this series was 60 km/h. The machines were equipped with an air brake. This was adapted to German conditions and fitted with a single-release Knorr control valve. The unusual thing about the DR series V 75 and all locomotives with a driver’s cab is that the intended main direction of travel is the one with the front. The driver’s cab is only fully equipped in this direction. For driving with the driver’s cab ahead, there is only an auxiliary driving console with the most important operating devices. The series V 75 locomotives have two doors. One is located in the middle of the end platform, the other leads to the left circulation.
Use and whereabouts of the diesel locomotive Class 107 (DR Class V 75)
The areas of use of the DR Class V 75:
The DR series V 75 was also hauled in front of weed control and construction trains, as well as in front of passenger trains during the warm season.
Use of the Class 107 as a replacement for the Class 110 and Class 172 (Ferkeltaxe) in front of passenger trains on the following lines:
Leipzig – Rochlitz – Glauchau
Leipzig – Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz)
Leipzig – Döbeln
Leipzig – Wurzen
Leipzig – Pörsten
in front of the “blueberry train” to Pretzsch
In the years 1963 to 1964, the locomotives V 75 013, V 75 016, V 75 017 and V 75 020 were used on the line section Lutherstadt Wittenberg – Jüterbog. The locomotives 107 017 (V 75 017) and 107 007 (V 75 007) were used as working locomotives in front of ballast trains. They were replaced by the class 110 in 1979. Until 1979, locomotives 107 003 and 107 007 were used in shunting service at the Bavarian station.
These locomotives were based at the Leipzig West depot. The last vehicles were stationed in Eilenburg until 1984.