Baureihe (Class) 141 is a child of Deutsche Bundesbahn's first electric locomotive program, which also brought forward the classes 110, 140 and 150. It is a light multipurpose loco, built from 1956 through 1969 mainly by Henschel, Krupp, BBC and AEG. The whopping number of 451 engines were built.
141 is not the most powerful or fastest of locomotives; its main purpose is powering not-too-long, not-too-heavy trains, which means mainly local trains (RegionalBahnen and such) and light freight trains. Because its transformer switch is very noisy when switching, 141 earned the nickname "Knallfrosch" (firecracker).
Technical fact sheet:
- Concept: Bo'Bo' layout (four axles in two bogies), all axles driven; conventional two-phase AC motors controlled by a 28-level motor-driven or pneumatic switch (depending on date built); unlike 110, 140 or 150, the transformer has low-voltage control to save weight and cost
- Power: 2400 kW for one hour at 97.8 km/h; 2310 kW sustained at 101.8 km/h
- Traction: 216 kN maximum, 115 kN for one hour, 108 kN sustained
- Top speed: 120 km/h
- Total weight: 66.44 tonnes (16.6 tonnes per axle)
- Length: 15.62 m
- Width: 3.06 m
- Height: 4.42 m (pantograph down)
- Distance between axles in bogie: 3.2 m
- Distance between bogies: 7.3 m
- Diameter of driven wheels: 1.25 m