History of the class 103

In 1965 the DB presented it's first 4 locomotives of the class 103 at 4 different places. One was presented in Munich, the other three brought InterCity trains between Augsburg and Munich, which ran with 200 km/h. Beforehand, they assured, that they are ready for these velocities. They were built for this. Originally the class 103 had run with lightweight passenger trains with 200 km/h, but this velocity was not enabled yet, so the DB chose trains with more weight, but only a speed of 160 km/h. In 1977 the velocity of 200 km/h was enabled on the railroad between Augsburg and Hochzoll, so there the trains ran with 200 km/h.
In 1978 another three lines were enabled for the high velocity. The other locomotives of the DB were too slow for these velocities. In 1994, when the rail companies of the two ex-Germanys merged, the DB could not put it's engines of the class 103 away, furthermore the circulation intensified. The ICE system helped, but the class 103 was still heavy-laden. In 2001, after 25-30 years of duty, the class 103 was rejected

Other Pictures
Back to main page