To replace medium-duty steam locomotive series in passenger and freight train service, the Deutsche Reichsbahn DR developed the twin-engine V180 series with diesel-hydraulic drive in the late 1950s. The four-axle vehicles, initially equipped with two 900 hp twelve-cylinder Type 12 KVD 21 A diesel engines, reached a top speed of 120 km/h. The locomotives delivered from 1965 received the second expansion stage of the diesel engine. This also applied to the six-axle versions, which were heavier than their four-axle counterparts, but thanks to the two additional axles they had an axle load of only 15 t, suitable for branch line use. Both types received a steam heating boiler. From 1968, the DR ran its locomotives as the 118 series, the DB referred to them as the 228 series. From the 1970s onwards, some of the locomotives were equipped with new, more powerful versions of the 12 KVD. The six-axle vehicles also proved their worth on steep slopes. In the late 1990s, Deutsche Bahn retired the last of the reliable locomotives. Different starting processes can be selected with F1:
1x press button = warm start / press button 2x = false start / press button 3x = cold start
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 functions:
F17 - Brake function 1. The locomotive slowly brakes to a standstill with the sound of the brake valve.
Deactivate braking Sound:
F27 - Deactivates brake squeal Sound when the train stops. (4 different brake squeal sounds with CV162 value 0-3 selectable)