V60

V60

Light/medium diesel shunting locomotive

The V60 shunters were introduced in 1955 to replace the steam shunting locos of this time with a more modern and easier to handle and maintain system. In service until these days, these reliable engines are the last rod-driven locos in regular service on german rails. Used mainly for shunting services on bigger stations, many of these could also be seen as pulling locos on short freight and passenger sidelines, especially in the early years.

Main Specifications:

Wheel Configuration

: C-dh

Length

: 10460mm

Width

: 3100mm

Wheelbase

: 4400mm

Weight

: 48/54 metric tons

Power

: 353 kW

Tractive Effort

: 118 kN

v_max

: 60kph(main)/25kph(shunting)

Units built: 1086

Original Livery

: Old Red (Purple Red) with Sand-Yellow linings

During their service time many of these had been undergoing several changes on livery and equipment, some of which can be recognized on their numbering. The main changes were:

• Change of the db numbering system in the early 1960s: Numbers were changed from V60-xxx to 260 xxx-x for 48ton and 261 xxx-x for 54ton versions, no colour changes.
• Change of db livery colours in 1974: Locos beeing send to revision were painted in the new colours ocean blue-ivory, no changes on numbering.
• Change of db livery colours in 1986: Locos beeing send to revision were painted in the new colours orient red-ivory, type numbering changed from 26x to 36x, due to changes in db numbering standards and V60 usage.
• Change of db livery colours in 1996: Locos beeing send to revision were painted in the new colours traffic red-white/grey frame, no numbering changes.

Additional changes were:

• Upgrade to Caterpillar engines: type numbers changed from 360 to 362 and from 361 to 363.
• Upgrade to rc-equipment: type numbers changed from 360/362 to 364 and from 361/363 to 365.

So the numbering also (partly) signifies the equipment of the loco. Important in any case: 48ton-units had even numbers, 54ton-units had odd numbers.




The Rail3D Models

Modelling the V60 in Rail3D was quite a detail challenge, not only due to its round edged shape, but also because the additions like railings, shields etc. are quite important for its characteristic look. So I had to keep a close eye on vertex reductions at distance, to keep the framerate within acceptable values.

Actually available liveries are:

• db Old red (Purple red), 1955–1974
• db Ocean blue, 1974–1986
• db Orient red, 1986–1996
• db Traffic red, since 1996

import