DR 156 004 and 143 820 at Frankfurt (Oder) Hbf. East Germany.
One of the ill fated class 156 electric locomotives is seen in the wet at Frankfurt (Oder) Hbf in the company of multiple working fitted class 143/8 no. 143 820. Before German unification the Deutsche Reichsbahn set about updating the powerful class 250 (later class 155) Co-Co freight locomotive with a new more powerful Co-Co design with three phase motors rated at 5880kW. There were four prototypes built for evaluation in 1991 designated class 252 (later 156) and based at Dresden Hbf Depot. With unification of East and West Germany and rapid decline of the rail network in the former East Germany there is no way the class 156 was ever going to go into series production so just four remained in traffic until being withdrawn as non standard. Ironically the older class 143's like the one behind were a very reliable type and being built in large numbers it wasn't long before examples started to be transferred to former West German depots as work for them in the east evaporated.
DR 156 004 and 143 820 at Frankfurt (Oder) Hbf. East Germany.
One of the ill fated class 156 electric locomotives is seen in the wet at Frankfurt (Oder) Hbf in the company of multiple working fitted class 143/8 no. 143 820. Before German unification the Deutsche Reichsbahn set about updating the powerful class 250 (later class 155) Co-Co freight locomotive with a new more powerful Co-Co design with three phase motors rated at 5880kW. There were four prototypes built for evaluation in 1991 designated class 252 (later 156) and based at Dresden Hbf Depot. With unification of East and West Germany and rapid decline of the rail network in the former East Germany there is no way the class 156 was ever going to go into series production so just four remained in traffic until being withdrawn as non standard. Ironically the older class 143's like the one behind were a very reliable type and being built in large numbers it wasn't long before examples started to be transferred to former West German depots as work for them in the east evaporated.