4rail.net - Taurus Locomotives of Siemens

Main > Reference > European Electric Locomotives > Taurus

Train Recognition Guide Super High Speed Main Manufacturers Rolling Stock Europe High Speed EMUs Pendolino TGV Family Velaro Family General Platforms Traxx of Bombardier Vectron of Siemens Electric Locos Lok2000 Family > Taurus of Siemens Eurosprinter of Siemens Diesel Locos Class66/JT42CWR European Countries Austria Belgium Croatia Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Russia Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom North America	Welcome to the new Taurus locomotives theme page! Taurus is one of the trend setters for today and tomorrow in the modern electric traction category. Powerful state of the art locomotives with an exterior design of almost a modern sportscar can be attractive to any customer! Technical details of Taurus locos... Taurus locomotives background... Taurus generations and variations... Pictures of Tauruses of different operators... Older version of the page...	Created for 4rail.net by Ilkka Siissalo and John McKey. Pictures by Ilkka Siissalo, Hannu Peltola and John McKey. Also in this section









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Taurus - Technical Details

Siemens AG Taurus class 1216 hauling a Railjet train in Austria

Class numbers and terms of the different Taurus locomotives

Technical details for Siemens Taurus 1 and 2 (Eurosprinter 2 family)
-> Type: ES64U2 (EuroSprinter 6400kW dual power sourced: 15 kV and 25 KV)
-> Type: ES64U4 (EuroSprinter 6400kW dual power sourced: 15 kV and 25 KV)
-> German classes: 182 and 183
-> Austrian classes: 1016, 1116, 1216

-> Usage: multipurpose medium heavy electric locomotive
-> Builder: Siemens AG
-> Production dates: 1997 - current
-> Numbers built: > 500

-> Users: DB Schenker, Hupac, MAV of Hungary, Mittelweserbahn GmbH MRCE/Dispolok, ÖBB, ÖBB Railjet
-> Seen: Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Sweden

-> Energy Source: electricity 15kV 16,7 Hz, most with 25kV 50 Hz
-> Power output: 6400 kW (8700 Hp), momentary 7000 kW (9517 Hp)
-> Tractive Effort:
-- 300 kN start (67'000 lb) ,
-- 250 kN continuos max. (variates with speed)
-> Braking effort on traction motors (dynamic braking): available
-> Wheel arrangement: Bo'Bo'
-> Wheel diameter: 1150 mm as new
-> Technical details: Quill drive
-> Gauge: 1435 mm
-> Loading gauge: UIC 505-1

-> Maximum operational speed: 230 km/h (143 Mph),
-> record speed 357 km/h (222 mph)

-> Length: 19,3 m
-> Heigth: 3,96 m
-> Width: 3,00 m

-> Weight: 85 metric tons ( lb)

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Taurus - Background

In the beginning of the 21st century demand for the new passenger and cargo locomotives was quickly rising. One of the most successful new locomotive families was - and still is - the Eurosprinter family, developed by Siemens and ADtrans (later acquired by Bombardier) together. The first really widespread cargo locomotive of this family was the German class 152. Based on the success of the Br 152 Siemens started developing a new multi purpose fast locomotive together with the Austrian state railways ÖBB. The design was modular and the dynamic new looks were designed by Porsche. The Taurus was born!

Ever since this stylish looking powerful and fast medern locomotive has been the leader in the European markets. With its success also the Americans have now ordered this locomotive for their demanding and not forgiving railroad environment. This proves the widespread trust to the Siemens Mobility's ability to meet the customer demands.

On the left one of the large ÖBB (Austrian Railways) Railjet fleet of virtual EMUs consisting of one or more Taurus locomotives and the fixed sets of coaches built for higher speeds. The Railjets run up to 230 km/h speeds in Austria and Germany.

Picture: A first generation class 1016 (of Austrian Railways) Taurus locomotive is stopping at Bregenz. Despite the shared "Porche" look, the product development has come far ahead from these initial days of the locomotive use. If you look at the newer Taurus beside the older, at first looks they look quite the same but if you pay a closer look, you start picking up significant differences one by one.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo 2002.

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Taurus - Generations and Variations
	A dear child has many names. The first generation Taurus was of the Eurosprinter 2 family of the Siemens Mobility. It has a single electric system fo 16 kV 16,6 Hz and is known as the class 1016 in Austria and class 182 in Germany. The first Taurus was soon followed by a further development. The second generation Taurus (still a second generation Eurosprinter), ÖBB class 1116, is almost similar to the first one, but with the added capability to run on Hungarian 25 kV 50Hz. On the left: The second generation Taurus class 1116 number 045 with a traditional passenger train arriving at St Poelten (Sankt Pölten) Austria. These locomotives have double electrical systems and can run for instance to Hungary and Slovenia. Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.
	On the left: the MAV, Hungarian railways, Taurus class 1047 number 005 in Linz. Notice that the Austrian (early) version has 4 pantographs and the later built Slovenian version just 2. Picture by Ilkka Siissalo. Later a third generation, class 1216 appeared, with slightly modified looks. This new locomotive has slightly different outlook, when you start looking carefully. Actually after a while you start thinking taht everything has been developed further! The class 1216 is a 4 system locomotive, also capable of running on 1,5 and 3 kV DC lines for example in Slovenia and Italy. Among other things it can be recognized from the first Tauri by the doors at the cab sides right behind the cab windows. The first two Taurus generations only have a door at the middle of the locomotive. The move of the doors had to be made because of the European Union safety regulations. ÖBB and the Taurus Locomotives For the ÖBB (Austrian Railways) alone, Siemens has built 50 class 1016, 282 class 1116 and 50 class 1216 Taurus locomotives! The newest, class 1216 has a maximum operational speed of 230 km/h (143 Mph). The starting maximum tractive effort of 300 kN, 6400 kW power rating, a weight of 87 tons and a length of 19,6 metres. All the Tauri are Bo'Bo' type 4 axle locos. One of the class 1216 locomotives also set the new world record of 357 km/h. [Picture] Class numbers, "names", of the different Taurus locomotives 1st generation Austrian ÖBB Br 1016, German DB Br 182, Siemens product type ES 64 U (=EuroSprinter 6400 kW universal locomotive) 2nd generation ÖBB Br 1116, Hungarian MAV and GySEV class 1047, Siemens type ES 64 U2 3rd generation ÖBB Br 1216, Slovenian railways SZ class 541, German Br 183, Italian class E190, Polish class 168, Siemens type ES 64 U4. Picture on the left: Polish PKP Taurus class 168 number 606 (Siemens third generation Taurus loco) is crossing the bridge in Warsaw, Poland.


This PKP Intercity Taurus 3 has been registered to Germany as class 183.	Above: Another angle to the 601 on display at the trade fair.

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Taurus Unit pictures

ÖBB *

ÖBB

Taurus - ÖBB 1016 number 040

Eurosprinter Taurus class 1016 of Austria seen stopping at Bregenz with a passenger train. The unit is owned by ÖBB, the Austrian railways.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.

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