Liliput L162601 N Diesel-loco., 332 013-2 (DBG), DB AG, yellow, EP.V

The small locomotives of power group III.
Power group III was introduced in 1956 by the German Federal Railways for small locomotives with an output of more than 150 HP, as there was a need for stronger small locomotives, which could also be used in the transfer service in front of heavy goods trains. This was the result of the small locomotives with the series designations Köf 10, Köf 11 and later BR 331, 332, 333 and 335, That can no longer be omitted from the tracks of the DB since the end of the 50s and which is still used tirelessly in many industrial and works trains at home and abroad.

KÖF 10/11 or series 331/332
The company Gmeinder initially developed eight prototype locomotives, including three Köf 10 (later BR 331) and Köf 11. The power transmission was via chains that WAS had already proven to be successful. The DB decided to buy the Köf 11, the later series 332. A total of 312 series locomotives have been purchased. The first series till the Köf 11 036 still had the old unit locomotive lanterns of the DB; from the Köf 11 037 new permanently installed lamps were used. In addition to Gmeinder, the engine factories Jung Jungenthal and Orenstein & Koppel were involved in the construction of the Köf in 11. From 1990 onwards, the machines were gradually parked on the rail due to the decline in goods and, above all, shunting traffic, and the last was the 332 262 officially eliminated from the DB stock in 2002. A very large number of these machines, however, found new tasks in private and industrial railways or also in museum railways, in which they are still in use.

Series 333
However, Gmeinder continued to develop the locomotives during production and they were given an articulated shaft drive. These machines, which are not externally different from their predecessors, were delivered from 1968 until order number 101 under the new series designation 333. After four years of delivery, a further 150 locomotives in series 333 were purchased between 1973 and 1977 (from number 333 102 onwards), which now differs visually through a new, improved cooling system from the earlier locomotives. A total of 251 locomotives of the series 333 were put into service, in which the three companies Gmeinder, Jung and Orenstein & Koppel were also involved in the construction. In February 1978 the procurement of small locomotives ended by the German railways A total of 571 machines were built, all of which proved to be very good.

Series 335
From the end of the eighties a large part of the locomotives were equipped with radio remote control in order to allow for personnel savings. These locomotives received the new series designation 335. In 2003, however, the radio remote control was shut down for some 335 as they were no longer needed. A number of 335 series are still in use with DB AG today, partially again without radio remote control as series 333.

This text is machine translated.