Product Features and Details
To round off the upper end of the diesel locomotive program, the DB planned an extra heavy six-axle diesel locomotive. The plan was to use two independent machine systems with hydraulic power transfer.
This design originated from the tried-and-tested V 200 of the DB; however, the installed output of 3200 HP was to be much higher. The motors of the V 160, which were developed at the same time, were to be used. However it soon became apparent that the electrification of the main lines could be realised much quicker than originally planned and the extra heavy diesel locomotive lost its priority. Therefore, after a 6-year planning and construction period, only one locomotive, the V 320 001, was built. In 1962, the company Henschel constructed this machine at its own cost. The diesel locomotive V 320 proved its worth very well and, with its two motors, achieved a top speed of 160 km/h. Its shape was the basis for the whole V 160 family of DB. However, DB still did not order any of these locomotives, which were the largest diesel locomotives of their time, instead it leased this unique model from the delivery company and used it at Hamm and in Kempten.
