DB Class V 51 and V 52

The DB V51 and DB V52 are two classes of narrow-gauge diesel-hydraulic locomotives built in 1964 for the Deutsche Bundesbahn. The Class V51 were built for and the Class V52 for gauge lines respectively. The locomotives were built to replace steam locomotives on the narrow gauge lines in Baden-Württemberg and apart from the gauge are identical. Due to line closures the locomotives did not work for long for the Deutsche Bundesbahn, and subsequently worked for different private companies in Italy, Spain and Austria.

Background

In the early 1960s the narrow-gauge railways of Baden-Württemberg were still operated by 13 steam locomotives. To enable their withdrawal, and to continue operations on the and gauge railways, the state of Baden-Württemberg subsidised the production of diesel locomotives by the Deutsche Bundesbahn.

Development and design

Thus the Deutsche Bundesbahn was asked to provide locomotives with suitably low axle load, suitable for both freight and passenger work, and which were suitable for use on small radius curves. High speed was not a primary requirement, more so ease of maintenance and a reliable design.
A design for a four-axle, twin-bogie locomotive was developed based on the MaK 400 BB built in 1959 for the. Apart from the rail gauge and couplings both classes shared the same design. All had two MWM diesel engines each with an output of @ 1600 rpm. located in the longer end. The shorter end contained the auxiliary diesel engine, the batteries, the compressor and the diesel tanks.
The transmission was via a TwinDisc 11500 MS450 torque converter with a MaK 3.162.04 final drive. The locomotive's maximum service speed was though the actual top speed was around. The Sifa safety system was fitted but not Indusi because of the slow speeds the trains used on the branch lines.

Construction

The locomotives were constructed by Gmeinder under license and delivered in 1964. Within each class the locomotives were numbered from 900 upwards - like narrow gauge steam locomotives had serial numbers 900 upwards.

Renumbering

In 1968 the locomotives class numbers were changed, the V51 locomotives became Class 251 and the V52 machines became Class 252. The serial numbers within each class remained unchanged.

Work history

Class V 51

The three V51 locomotives were delivered in 1964 to their respective lines: V 51 901 to the, V 51 902 to the Biberach-Warthausen-Ochsenhausen line and V 51 903 to the, where they replaced the old steam engines. All three locomotives performed well in their duties, however such trouble-free operation could not stop the decline of the Baden-Württemberg narrow gauge lines
After the closure of the Federseebahn in 1968, 251 901 moved to join 251 902 on the Bottwartalbahn. When the Bottwartalbahn also closed the two displaced locomotives were transferred to the Biberach-Ochsenhausen line in 1970 to replace steam locomotives. At this time the line still had substantial freight operations using rollbocks for the Liebherr refrigerator factory in Ochsenhausen, assuring that this section of the line remained open for almost 20 years after the end of passenger traffic and the closure of the section to Warthausen.
There was no need for all three locomotives on this shorter route so 251 901 was sold in 1971 to the in Austria and regauged to. There the locomotive was renumbered to VL21 and operated on the Thörlerbahn until 1998 when it was purchased by the Rügensche Kleinbahn. It has been regauged back to and as of 2024 is in operation.
251 902 and 251 903 continued working on the Biberach to Ochsenhausen line, pulling freight trains, until its closure on 31 March 1983. After the closure 251 902 was bought from DB for use on the Warthausen-Ochsenhausen line under its new guise as a heritage railway It remained there until 1996 when the locomotive was withdrawn.
251 903 was sold in 1984 to the Italian firm Gleismac Italiana SpA in Gazzo di Bigarello and then in 1985 to the Spanish track company COMSA where it had exchange bogies for use on, and gauges. In 2009 the locomotive returned to the Öchsle railway and as of 2020 was under restoration and had been rebuilt back to gauge.

Class V 52

The two V52 locomotives were delivered in 1964 to the to replace the 4 steam locomotives that were working there. The locomotives worked passenger services with four new passenger cars procured 1965 and goods traffic using rollbocks to transport standard-gauge freight wagons.
Despite the dieselisation the line closed in 1973. Both locomotives were rebuilt to standard gauge and sold to local private rail companies to recover the state grant which had been used in their purchase. Locomotive 252 901 became 62 on the Albtalbahn in Karlsruhe. As part of the rebuilding at Gmeinder the cab was broadened. The second locomotive, 252 902, was sold in 1974 to the Südwestdeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft mbH, numbered VL 46-01 and used on the Kaiserstuhlbahn.
In 1985, both locomotives where it was numbered as 7152 T. 252 902 was converted back to meter gauge and sold to the Genova–Casella railway in 1986. Later in the 1990s work was undertaken on it to enable a snow plow to be fitted. The locomotive has been restored between 2008 and 2015 by the Italian company Tesmec based in Monopoli and as of 2021 is in working condition.