German Federal Railway V 100²⁰

Although the V 100 quickly proved to be a successful replacement for many tank locomotives, with its 1,100 hp it was only sufficiently motorized for use on branch lines. Although the locomotives initially had an additional acceleration notch for a short-term increase in performance, this was soon removed due to excessive wear. The torque converter in particular had already reached the limits of its performance.

Thus, Voith developed a new variant of this transmission that could also withstand more power and thus the V 100²⁰ with a 1,350 hp engine was created. Due to the higher power output of the engine, the hood was lengthened by 20 cm and a stronger cooling system was installed. The resulting locomotives could now also be used on main lines or on steep ramps. Locomotives for the latter area of application were also equipped with a hydrodynamic brake and assigned differently to class 213 from 1968.

Since in the meantime some V 100¹⁰ engines without piston oil cooling had become damaged, these locomotives were also equipped with the engine from the more powerful series. If they kept their old gearbox, the engines had to be derated to 1,100 hp. However, if the gearbox was also exchanged for a new one, they could use the full power of the engine, but there was no re-classification to 212.

The last 212s were initially phased out in 2004, but some were reactivated in the years that followed and fitted with modern MTU 8V 4000 R41 engines. However, these 1,360 hp machines did not stay with Deutsche Bahn, but were sold to private railways.