DB Class 120 loco’s

[superjohn]

Possibly a question for @BR111

I’ve been in Germany recently and I’ve noticed the remaining class 120s used by DB Fernverkehr are all marked as 140kph on the bodysides. Whilst they don’t have much scheduled work they are still Fernverkehr allocated rather than hired in. As such it would seem that the work they are going to be used for will always be faster than that.

So what do the bodyside speed markings on German loco‘s actually indicate? I’ve had class 120s on a few trains in the last week (thanks to the excellent DSO forum) and they are definitely exceeding 140kph routinely. In fact this thread was prompted by a storming run I had last week. A late running train, top and tail with a class 101 leading, 120 trailing and only seven carriages. Predictably we absolutely flew along and I suspect even the 101 was exceeding its marked Vmax at times. The driver may have been on his last turn of the day!

 

[87015]

It’s speed when being dragged dead in a convoy, or similar.

 

[Spoorslag '70]

If I remember a discussion on DSO correctly, it is indeed the speed when dragged dead.

 

[duesselmartin]

Yes, the speed is if its dragged and not travelling under its own power, as stated.
Mind you, the Class 120 is now an endangered species.

 

[Segedunum]

Do the BR120s still have any booked RE work in the NRW region?

 

[superjohn]

Do the BR120s still have any booked RE work in the NRW region?

Unfortunately not. They still work a few Regio services around Hamburg though. The only way you will ride them in NRW is substituting for a class 101 or working an ‚Ersatz‘ ICE replacement set. There are no fixed plans for these though, they change from day to day.

Going back to my original question, I saw a class 101 this morning that actually had “Vmax schleppen” (Max speed towed) under the 200 speed label on the side. Can’t say I’ve noticed that before.

The class 120 is indeed endangered but seems to have been for a long time now. They are still in daily use despite supposedly having no booked daytime work.

Today at 12noon, at München Hbf there were classes 101, 111, 120, 146, 218 (no less than five present simultaneously) and a couple of Austrian locos to be found. The German rail scene still has lots to see!

 

[Jamesrob637]

Do 120 not work Hamburg RE services anymore?

 

[Richard Scott]

Do 120 not work Hamburg RE services anymore?

120202 and 120203 both seen when I was in Hamburg in August.

 

[superjohn]

Do 120 not work Hamburg RE services anymore?

They do but there is only one diagram. Basically 0509&1523 Hamburg to Schwerin and 0655&1724 returns M-F. On Friday the loco covers 2017 Hamburg to Rostock and on Sunday 0707 Rostock to Hamburg to get back the depot and then into position for the next week (the loco‘s being based at Rostock).

I observed 120202 on the diagram on Monday.