In order to cover losses incurred during World War II, Deutsche Reichsbahn had some additional Kleinlokomotiven built in the early 1950s. However, a more powerful light shunting locomotive with an engine power of 150... 180 PS was required to replace the aging Kleinlokomotiven and the steam locomotives used for similar duties. In 1956, LKM Babelsberg presented the new type V 10 B with mechanical gear and a engine with wheels of diameter, based upon the concept of the Kö, but with a higher and closed cab for use on industrial railways and sidings. As this class did not quite satisfy the demands of DR, class V 15 was developed from it. This new class was equipped with hydraulic gears of type GSR 12/3,7 and originally with engines of type 6 KVD 18 SRW. The design model V 15 101 still resembled a Kö II and was not taken into service by DR. Instead, it was sold to Institut für Schienenfahrzeuge Berlin-Adlershof. In 1959/1960 a pilot series of five locomotives and a first production run of 15 locomotives were built with engines and numbered as sub-class V 15.10. Beginning in 1960, further locomotives were built with engines as sub-class V15.20-21. This more powerful version of V 15 with was also supplied as V 18 B to industrial railways. From V 15 1026 on, the wheel diameter was increased to. Several batches of this type were built until 1966. A second, more powerful series was developed in 1966 with newly developed engines of type 6 VD 18/15-1 SRW 1 and a more robust power transmission of type GSU 20/4,5 with two torque converters. Starting in 1967, these locomotives were sold as V 22 B to industrial railways, and from 1968 to 1970 DR took 80 locomotives into service DR as V 23. When the newly developed DR class 102.1 was introduced in 1970, DR stopped purchasing locomotives of this class. Industrial railways continued to procure V 22 B locomotives until 1976. From 1974 on, some were equipped with multiple-unit train controls and automatic engine control so that one driver could operate two coupled locomotives. V 15 locomotives with worn-out engines were gradually, and from 1975 on systematically, refitted with engines and the improved GSU 20/4,2 gears, also with two torque converters, and were re-numbered into class V 23.0 or 101.5-7 in the order of their conversion. Some engines have been equipped with vigilance devices and shunting radios.
Technical details
The frames of the locomotives are welded from thick steel plates with a cover plate that was cut out for engine and gearbox. The ends of the frame are strengthened to carry standard buffers and chain link couplers. The frame rests on adjustable leaf springs, the axles have slide bearings. Engine, radiator, fuel tank, sandboxes and silencer are mounted under the hood, air tanks beneath the running boards. The batteries are mounted behind the front steps. Starting with class 102.0 the locomotives were also fitted with an oil-fired engine pre-heater under the cab. The engine is connected to the hydraulic transmission by a torsionally flexible clutch and a short articulated drive shaft. The reversing gear is directly connected to the hydraulic transmission and drives the jack shaft. The torque is transmitted by side rods to the wheels. A belt drive from the engine drives the radiator fan, the air compressor and the alternator. The pneumatic brake of type Knorr acts on both wheelsets, the hand brake also uses the linkage of the pneumatic brake.
Use and withdrawal
The locomotives of these classes were used all over the GDR, mainly for their intended purpose of light shunting duties in smaller stations and on industrial tracks, but also for work trains and in some cases for light freight and passenger trains, in particular on the short-distance Blankenfelde–Mahlow shuttle and on the tourist trains between Dessau and Wörlitz. Maintenance was performed locally or in RAW Halle, industrial locomotives were mainly maintained in Tharandt. Starting in 1992 and continued by DB AG, classes 311 and 312 were withdrawn from service, scrapped or sold. Some engines have been retained for works duties, others were preserved on industrial railways, in railway museums and by museum railways.
