The P160 DE and F140 DE are two diesel locomotives from the TRAXX 2E generation. The designations are made up of “passenger - 160 km/h” (P160) or “freight - 140 km/h” (F140) and DE for “diesel-electric”. After no diesel variants could be sold with the TRAXX 1 and 2, the 2E with its modular design was more attractive in this respect. Since there is an installation area for a power converter or diesel motor with generator in the machine room, diesel-powered locomotives can be implemented with the same body, thus saving money. An MTU 16V 4000 engine was installed in this installation bay, which originally had an output of 2,200 kW. External differences to the electric locomotives are initially only additional ventilation grilles on the sides and a higher roof. While the F 140 DE freight version has node-suspended motors, the passenger version has quill drives for better driving characteristics at higher speeds.
The first order for the P160 DE went back to the Lower Saxony commuter company, which ordered eleven units in 2005. The engines, now referred to as the class 246 based on the class 146, were delivered in 2007 and are used, among other things, with the “Metronom” brand on the Hamburg-Cuxhaven route. The only example on the DB was road number 246 010, which belonged to the Southeast Bavarian Railway for less than a year in 2009. The F140 DE was first ordered by leasing company CBRail in 2006 and also delivered in 2007. It is listed in Germany as class 285. Other customers were the Polish Lotos Kolej and various private railways from Germany. The Pressnitztal railway uses the locomotives as towing locomotives for failed multiple units on the Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle high-speed line. At the request of the freight transport division of the SNCF, a more powerful variant with 2,400 kW was developed, which is used as the BB 76000 or BB 76100 in cross-border traffic.
