Locomotive numbering system of the Deutsche Bahn AG
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Since 1992, the German state railways (DB and DR, merged into
the DBAG since 1994) have a common numbering system, which is
similar to the one that the DB used since 1968.
The numbers look like this:
000 000-0, the first group of three denotes the class, the next
group of three is the serial number, and the last digit is the
check digit, to check whether the number is correct.
The numbers can be extended to international numbers later, by
adding a sequence such as 90 80 0 at the left.
1st digit
- 0: Steam locomotives
- 1: Electric locomotives
- 2: Diesel locomotives
- 3: Small shunting locomotives
- 4: Electric railcars (EMUs)
- 5: Accumulator railcars
- 6: Diesel railcars (DMUs) except rail buses
- 7: Service railcars and rail buses
- 8: Additional/intermediate/cab cars for 4 and 5
- 9: Additional/intermediate/cab cars for 6 and 7
2nd and 3rd digit
- x88 = all museum locomotives/railcars (the number is not written outside)
- x99 = all narrow gauge locomotives
The 2nd digit groups the classes:
- if 1st digit = 0:
0-1 locomotives with tender for advanced (fast) passenger trains
2-3 locomotives with tender for passenger trains
4-5 locomotives with tender for freight trains
6-7 tank locomotives for passenger trains
8-9 tank locomotives for freight trains and shunters
97 (2nd+3rd digit) rack locomotives
98 (2nd+3rd digit) old locomotives for local trains
99 (2nd+3rd digit) narrow gauge locomotives
- if 1st digit = 1: 0--1 = passenger, 2--3 = universal, 4--5 = freight, 6
= shunting, 7 = other systems, 8 = multiple systems
- if 1st digit = 2: 0--8 = mainline, 9 = shunting
- if 1st digit = 3: denotes `power group'
- if 1st digit = 4: 0 = high speed, 2 = commuter AC, 7--8 = commuter DC
- if 1st digit = 6: 0--1 = long distance, 2--9 = short distance
- if 1st digit = 7: 0--8 = service cars, 9 = rail buses
- if 1st digit = 8--9: same as accompanying power car
4th, 5th and 6th digit
serial number, starting with 001.
7th digit
Check digit: the digits 1 to 6 are multiplied alternately by 1
and 2, the digits of the results are added, and the last digit
of what comes out is subtracted from 10 (0 stays 0) - the result
of this is the check digit, which is used to be sure the number
is correct, thus transmission errors can be detected.
Tobias B. Köhler (ukjp@rz.uni-karlsruhe.de) - October 1996