DB Class V200 “Warships” – survivors and where to find them

V200 007 (220 007) at Dagebüll Mole, 05/08/12 (JW)

As the forerunners to our own D800 “Warship” class diesel-hydraulics, the famous Deutsche Bundesbahn V200 class have always commanded a great deal of interest among British enthusiasts. Most are aware of the esteemed V200 033, which frequently hauls railtours in Germany, but this article will be a concise round-up of where all of the V200 survivors are now to be found.

Of the 86 Maybach-engined V200.0s (class 220), 26 are thought to remain in existence – although most of these have since been re-engined. In common with many retired German diesel-hydraulics, 10 of them are now working in Italy – all for the private freight operator Ferrovie Emilia-Romagna.

Here is a link to a list of forthcoming haulage opportunities, which is at present limited to Maybach-engined V200 033 and Mercedes-engined V200 007.

V200 001	Fränkische Museums-Eisenbahn e.V., Nürnberg Nordostbahnhof
V200 006	Ferrovie Emilia-Romagna, Italy – as 220R01
V200 007	Historische Eisenbahnfahrzeuge Lübeck e.V.
V200 009	Eisenbahn & Technikmuseum Rügen, Binz
V200 011	Ferrovie Emilia-Romagna, Italy – as D220.011
V200 013	Railconsult? – last reported stored at Nymburk, Czech Republic, overhaul abandoned
V200 015	Hammer Eisenbahnfreunde – masquerading as “220 023” in ozeanblau-beige livery
V200 016	GES Stuttgart, stored at Kornwestheim
V200 017	Eisenbahnmuseum Bochum
V200 018	Deutsches Technikmuseum, Berlin
V200 028	GCF, Italy – as D220.028ER
V200 029	GCF, Italy – as D220.029ER
V200 031	COMSA, Spain – location/fate unknown
V200 033	Hammer Eisenbahnfreunde
V200 039	COMSA-GMF, stored at Constantí, near Tarragona, Spain. Link to Google Maps street view.
V200 041	Ferrovie Emilia-Romagna, Italy – as D220.041ER
V200 045	GCF, Italy – as D220.045ER
V200 048	SNTF, Algeria – stored at Constantine Depot
V200 049	Ferrovie Emilia-Romagna, Italy – as D220.049ER
V200 051	Ferrovie Emilia-Romagna, Italy – as D220.051ER
V200 053	Deutsche Privatbahn, Altenbeken
V200 058	Technik Museum Speyer
V200 060	GCF, Italy – as D220.060ER
V200 071	Technik Museum Speyer
V200 074	Ferrovie Emilia-Romagna, Italy – as D220.074ER
V200 077	dumped derelict at premises of WLH Reuschling near Hattingen – future uncertain

A similar percentage of the 50 Mercedes-engined V200.1s (class 221) have fared better – with 16 still extant. However, this is largely thanks to a fleet of 20 of them being exported to Greece in 1989/90 to plug a traction shortage with OSE. Their withdrawal by OSE in the late 1990s coincided with interesting developments on the railways back in Germany and, to cut a long story short, the Prignitzer Eisenbahn GmbH ended up purchasing and repatriating the entire fleet, to strip them back to the frames and effectively use them as the basis of brand new machines. Some were scrapped (as recently as 2012) but many continue to work on the main line today – admittedly with little original details inside, but ensuring that the classic shape of a V200 can still be seen on the main line over 60 years on.

V200 101	Eisenbahnmuseum Heilbronn
V200 105	Rail Transport Service GmbH
V200 106	Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam
V200 112	Prignitzer Eisenbahn GmbH – stored and robbed at Neustrelitz?
V200 116	DB Museum – partway through overhaul at Neustrelitz?
V200 117	EfW-Verkehrsgesellschaft
V200 120	Eisenbahnmuseum Heilbronn
V200 121	Schienen Güter Logistik – as V270.09
V200 122	EfW-Verkehrsgesellschaft
V200 124	Schienen Güter Logistik – as V270.10
V200 125	HSH, Albania – dumped in scrap line at Prrenjas
V200 134	Rail Transport Service GmbH
V200 135	Bahnlogistik24
V200 136	Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam
V200 145	Prignitzer Eisenbahn GmbH
V200 147	Bentheimer Eisenbahn