The classes (BR) 215 and 218 diesel locomotives of the Western German Railway (DB) are used in mixed service since 1968. 218 101 to 194, 218 242 to 288 were equipped with a 12 cylinder 4 stroke main Diesel from MAN that was later called MTU 12 V 956 TB10 that generates 2500 HP. The 2800 HP version of this motor is called MTU 12 V 956 TB11.
In the late 1980s the exhaust system of BR 218 with the 12 V motor had been optimized. Since 1995 many of the 218 are equipped with motors called "MTU 12 V 956 TB11 NEU". The technical data stayed nearly the same but the exhaust detoxication improved again.
Heavy load operation:
F5 - Activates heavy load operation. The acceleration now takes noticeably longer and the diesel engine work harder.
Coast/Idle operation:
F12 - Activates Coast/idle operation. The engine speed goes to Coast/idle. This simulates, for example, a downhill ride or rolling without a trailer load.
Braking function:
F17 - H brake function (Hydrodynamic Brake). The locomotive brakes down to a speed of approx. 30 km / h and the revolution speed of the diesel engine increases.
Deactivate braking Sound:
F27 - Deactivates brake squeal Sound when the train stops. (4 different brake squeal sounds with CV170 value 0-3 selectable)
F14 - Station Announcement #1: Announcements selectable via CV169: (0=randomized Announcement, 1=Ulm, 2=Cologne, 3=Mainz, 4=Munich, 5=Mannheim, 6=Salzburg, 7=Stuttgart, 8=Dortmund, 9=Duisburg, 10=Augsburg)