Although the Bundesbahn had officially stopped to order six-axle diesel locomotives, MaK, Krupp and ABB built three DE 1024 prototypes in 1989. In contrast to most German diesel locomotives, they had electrical power transmission to utilize the latest advancements in the field of three-phase traction motors. Power came from a MaK twelve-cylinder with 3,600 hp. All three were tested by the Bundesbahn, but the rising demand for powerful diesel locomotives that arose after the German re-unification could be filled by the Soviet-built class 232. So the three DE 1024 were sold to HGK and numbered DE 11 to DE 13. DE 12 was sold to Voith in 2009 and rebuilt into a dual-power locomotive, but retired after a short period. HGK retired the last one in 2014 and by 2021, all had been scrapped.