Class 103 Electric Locomotive

Showpiece in the TEE Paint Scheme

It was once the absolute showpiece of the German Federal Railroad. Beautiful in shape, elegant, dynamic, fast, and equipped with pioneering technology. We are talking about the legendary class 103. The prototypes already caused a flurry of excitement as soon as they moved almost majestically on the track. They had their first heyday pulling the TEE trains that offered 1st class, dignified plush, and high quality gastronomy in the dining car. Later in the period of the EuroCity and InterCity trains they were usually spinning along, ubiquitously at a top speed of 200 km/h / 125 mph. It was no wonder in view of 149 units built that it remained hidden from no railroad passengers. Many units then vanished without a trace. Very few remained preserved to the present to remind people of the once glorious class. Among them is road number 103 113. It too was already retired but returned to regular scheduled service. This even happened twice. Since 2017 it is now retired and only now and then is it underway with special trains such as in 2019 when it was a guest in Göppingen. Visually, it attracts attention because its frame is not painted dark gray but rather crimson which fits well with the beige color tone. Finally, something more beautiful: Road number 103 113 part of the roster for the DB Museum in Nürnberg, branch location Koblenz-Lützel, will continue to cause admiring glances. For in the fall of 2020, it was given an overhaul and fresh paint. Even the buffer cladding was put back on the locomotive.

Prototype

DB Museum electric locomotive, road number 103 113-7 as it currently looks in Era VI.

Highlights