ES 64 F Class 152 The
ES 64 F is an electric freight locomotive with power and a top speed of . Though it is equipped for passenger services, it is exclusively used for freight trains. It was introduced to
Deutsche Bahn AG as
Class 152 in 1996 and today is operated by
DB Schenker Rail. Its main role is to replace the older
Class 150 and
Class 151 locomotives on heavy freight trains. The original German order of 195 units was reduced to 170, as the
ÖBB decided that the track forces generated as a result of using nose-suspended traction motors exceeded standards and refused to certify them for use in Austria. Instead, DB AG changed the remaining 25 locomotives to Siemens model
ES 64 U2 which were assigned as Class 182. With Class 152 DB AG abandoned the CoCo wheel arrangement of the class 150 and 151; with the new digitally controlled
anti wheel-slip control the tractive effort should be brought to bear more reliably: nonetheless, some engine drivers argue that in autumn, due to greater power and lighter weight, especially with
slippery tracks, heavy trains are hard to accelerate.
ES 64 F4 EU45 at
Břeclav. The
ES 64 F4 is an electric freight locomotive with power and a top speed of , in Germany the reporting name is
Class 189. It is also equipped for passenger service, but seldom used in that role. ES 64 F4 is equipped for all four electric systems commonly used in Europe (
15 and
25 kV AC, 1.5 and 3
kV DC). Because limited space inhibits installation of all safety systems, Class 189 is equipped with various packages giving partial European coverage, e. g. Germany and Switzerland. The braking system includes an electrical energy recovery system. As well as being in service with Deutsche Bahn AG as Class 189, it is also utilized by
SBB as
Class Re 474 and in service with PKP as class
EU45. Some units are available to let from the
Dispolok locomotive pool.
ES 64 U (Taurus) Class 182 Class EU44 Based on the Eurosprinter concept the
ES 64 U was developed as a universal electric locomotive with a top speed of . The series
ES 64 U is only capable of operating on the
15 kV 16.7 Hz AC supply. It is in service in Austria with
ÖBB as
Class 1016. Unlike the F series, all U series are equipped with
quill drive instead, thus reducing the track forces. The ÖBB assigned the protected name
Taurus to Class 1016 (and later to the Classes 1116 and 1216); since then all ES 64 U+ series are widely known as 'Taurus' locos. The
ES 64 U2 can also operate on . It is operated by ÖBB as
Class 1116, by
Deutsche Bahn AG as
Class 182 and as well as by
MÁV as
Class 470 and as a hire locomotive from
Dispolok. The Hungarian-Austrian company
GySEV (Győr-Sopron-Ebenfurth Railway Corp) operates these units as
Class 1047. All four European electric systems can be used by the
ES 64 U4. Its electric components are mostly identical to those of ES 64 F4. The four-system series (with the 1500 V capability disabled within the software) are currently used in Austria by ÖBB and the private operator
Rail Traction Service as
Class 1216, in Slovenia by
Slovenske železnice (SŽ) as
Class 541 and in Poland by
PKP Intercity (PKP IC) as
Class EU44 "Husarz". In Italy RFI assigns it the classification
E 190.
ES64 U and
ES 64 U2 locomotives have become notable for the musical-sounding notes, said to resemble an
alto saxophone, produced when a train is moving off. The sound comes from the traction converters (German:
Stromrichter) and its duration/speed is dependent on the selected acceleration.
ES 64 U4 locomotives do not produce this sound. A version of the ES 64 U4 was delivered to the
Vogtlandbahn of Germany with the designation
Class 183. Although the body is the same as any other ES 64 U4 locomotive, it is dual supply and can only operate on the German 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC and the Czech 25 kV 50 Hz AC systems. Even though these locomotives are only equipped to operate under AC power supplies like the DB Class 182, they received a new class designation because they meet the revised EU Driver Protection Standards which required significant structural changes: these include the entrance doors, from one on each side nearer to the middle of the locomotive to two on each side directly into the locomotive cab. On 2 September 2006 the locomotive 1216 025-5 (prior to delivery to ÖBB) set a new world record for conventional electric locomotives, when, during the trials near
Nürnberg, it reached a top speed of . The locomotive was not modified for the record. Since then, this type has become the fastest locomotive in the world. 4700 at Porto-Campanhã == Derivatives ==