Key takeaways
- 162 and 163 are four-axle Škoda DC locomotives with the established nickname "Peršing".
- The difference lies in the design, not in a shape you could recognise from a distance – the number decides.
- The 300-series classes are the dual-system relatives, largely the same build but with a considerably greater operating range.
- The Czech Republic numbers purely numerically: the first digit names the vehicle group, 1xx stands for DC locomotives.
- Deployments change – private operators also run locomotives from this family.
Contents
Fact file
| Vehicle type | Electric locomotive for passenger and freight service |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Škoda (Plzeň, Czech Republic) |
| Wheel arrangement | Bo'Bo' – four axles in two bogies |
| Electrification system | 3 kV DC (single-system locomotive) |
| Nickname | "Peršing" – established in Czech everyday usage |
| Relationship between 162 and 163 | Related classes of the same design with a different gear ratio setup |
| Related classes | The dual-system variants carry class numbers in the 300-series group |
Identifying features
Is this really the class in front of you?
- Four axles in two bogies – a compact general-purpose locomotive silhouette
- Angular, functional Škoda box body with a continuous cab window band
- Class number begins with 162 or 163
- Only found under 3 kV DC overhead line
- Just as likely in front of passenger trains as freight trains – not a pure long-distance vehicle
Updated: August 2026 – Compact, four-axle, angular and found practically everywhere on the Czech DC network: ČD Classes 162 and 163 are among the vehicles you’re bound to get in front of your lens when spotting in the Czech Republic. This page shows you how to recognise them, and how to tell them apart from each other and from the similar-looking 300-series classes.
Spotted a Peršing? The number decides
162, 163, or actually a 363? Note the full vehicle number before the train moves on.
What are Classes 162 and 163?
Classes 162 and 163 are four-axle electric locomotives from Škoda for the Czech DC network at 3 kV. They’re built for general-purpose use and are therefore just as much at home in front of passenger trains as freight trains – unlike dedicated express machines, which are clearly tailored to passenger service.
Both classes belong to the same design lineage and differ in their setup, particularly in the gear ratio. This determines whether a machine is geared more towards top speed or more towards tractive effort. For spotters, that means: the two classes look very similar to each other, and the only way to tell them apart is the class number.
In Czech everyday usage, the nickname “Peršing” has become established for this family. Such names aren’t an official part of the designation, but they’re common enough in daily life that you should know them – like “Brejlovec” for certain diesel locomotives, or “CityElefant” for a regional multiple unit.
The Czech numbering logic – and what it reveals here
Since 1988, the Czech railways have used purely numeric class numbers. The first digit names the vehicle group, and that’s enormously helpful for identification in the field.
| Number range | Vehicle group | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 1xx | Electric locomotives for 3 kV DC | Only runs in the DC area |
| 2xx | Electric locomotives for 25 kV AC | Only runs in the AC area |
| 3xx | Multi-system electric locomotives | Can run in both areas |
| 4xx / 6xx | Electric multiple units | No separate traction vehicle |
| 7xx | Diesel locomotives | Independent of the overhead line |
| 8xx | Diesel railcars | Branch lines without overhead line |
For the 162 and 163, that means: leading 1, so DC, so a limited operating range. The visually closely related ČD 362 / 363, by contrast, carry a leading 3 and are dual-system machines – same family, considerably greater range of action.
Alongside the class number, every vehicle carries the European standard vehicle number with the country code 54 for the Czech Republic. Exactly where these numbers are shown on the vehicle is explained in the guide on finding train and vehicle numbers.
How to identify them in the field
Count the axles
Four axles in two bogies. That already narrows down the possible classes considerably and works even from a distance.
Read the first digit
If the number starts with 1, it's a DC locomotive. If it starts with 3, you're looking at a multi-system machine – despite an almost identical silhouette.
Note the full number
That's the only way to tell 162 and 163 apart. A photo of the front or side number is the safest backup.
Log the operator
Livery and lettering reveal whether the locomotive is running for the state railway or a private provider. That's a piece of information in its own right.
Practical tip: group first, then class
With Czech vehicles, it pays to read just the first digit first. That tells you the vehicle group, and therefore which classes are even possible. You can then check the remaining two digits at leisure – often a glance at the photo is enough.
Keep similar-looking locomotives straight
Number, operator and place in one entry – so you won't mix up 163 and 363 in your archive either.
What this means in operation
A general-purpose locomotive covers a broad range of duties, and that’s exactly what makes this family interesting for spotters: you can encounter them in very different contexts.
Operationally, the 162/163 family sits between two poles. On one side stand dedicated express machines like the ČD 150 / 151, which are clearly built for high-quality passenger trains. On the other side stand the multi-system locomotives, which enable continuous runs across the system boundary.
Another point: in the Czech Republic, the market for rail passenger transport has been more open than in many neighbouring countries for years. That’s why locomotives from this family show up not only in state railway livery – private providers also run them, for example in the shape of the RegioJet 162 WB. Behind that livery stands the brand Regiojet, which competes in Czech long-distance traffic with its own trains. For photographers, that’s a bonus, because the same type is out and about in several liveries.
Operators and deployments change
Which provider runs which machines depends on contracts, leasing and vehicle availability, and changes over the years. Treat information from older overviews as a starting point, not as proof.
Photo tips
| Situation | Chance | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Larger station in the DC area | high | Dwell times allow front and side shots |
| Station with mixed traffic | high | Passenger and freight trains of the same class in one place |
| System boundary with locomotive change | high | Several classes side by side, good comparison shots |
| AC area | very low | A single-system locomotive can’t run there |
| Depots and stabling facilities | none | Operational railway land – no access, no shot |
Photograph only from publicly accessible areas and behind the safety line. Tracks, shunting areas and operational railway land are off limits – not even an especially rewarding subject changes that.
How to file your sightings afterwards so they stay usable even years later is shown in the guide on keeping a sightings logbook. The methodical groundwork for identifying unfamiliar vehicles is provided by the guide to identifying classes.
Common mix-ups
It points to a 162 or 163 if …
- the locomotive has four axles in two bogies
- the class number starts with 16
- you're in the DC area of the network
- the body looks angular and functional
Look more closely if …
- the silhouette fits but you couldn't read the number – the 300-series classes look very similar
- the locomotive carries a private-operator livery
- you only see a partial view or the rear
It's not a 162 or 163 if …
- the number starts with 3 – then it's a multi-system locomotive
- the number starts with 7 or 8 – diesel locomotive or diesel railcar
- there's no locomotive at all, but a multiple unit instead
Verdict
The 162 and 163 are the workhorse of the Czech DC network – unspectacular but omnipresent, and therefore a good vehicle for learning the country’s numbering system. Axle count puts you in the right group, the first digit names the electrification system, and the full number decides the class. Anyone who internalises these three steps also correctly places the visually near-identical 300-series classes without hesitation.
In short
A four-axle Škoda locomotive with a leading 1 in the class number: DC, so a 162 or 163. If the number carries a leading 3, you're looking at the dual-system sister – despite the same silhouette.
Gather your Czech sightings
Class, number, operator and date in one place – turning single photos into a reliable collection.
Summary
- Classes 162 and 163 are the workhorse among Czech DC locomotives and cover a broad range of duties.
- Their dual-system relatives from the 300-series group look similar but get around considerably further.
- For identification, axle count and class number are enough; the rest follows from the electrification system of the section.
- Operating areas and operators change – alongside the state railway, private providers also use vehicles from this family.
Frequently asked questions
What are ČD Classes 162 and 163?
They're four-axle electric locomotives from Škoda for the Czech DC network at 3 kV. They're built for general-purpose use, at home in front of passenger trains just as much as freight trains. In Czech everyday usage, they carry the established nickname "Peršing".
What's the difference between the 162 and the 163?
Both belong to the same design family and differ in their setup – above all in the gear ratio, which determines whether a machine is set up more for top speed or more for tractive effort. Visually they're closely related, so in the field the class number on the vehicle is what decides.
What are Classes 362 and 363 about?
Those are the dual-system variants of the same design lineage. They can run under both 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC, and can therefore cover the whole Czech network. The build is largely the same – which is why the class number is the most reliable distinguishing feature.
How does the Czech class system work?
It's been purely numeric since 1988. The first digit names the vehicle group: 1 for DC locomotives, 2 for AC locomotives, 3 for multi-system locomotives, 4 and 6 for electric multiple units, 7 for diesel locomotives, 8 for diesel railcars. There are no letters as in the Polish system.
Where does the nickname Peršing come from?
Nicknames for locomotives arise in operational and enthusiast jargon and often relate to shape, sound or the flavour of the era. "Peršing" is firmly established for this class family in the Czech Republic and comes up in forums, sighting reports and conversations. It has no official meaning.
Do 162s and 163s also run to Germany?
Not in scheduled service. As pure DC locomotives, they can't operate on the German network with its 15 kV AC. Cross-border trains between the Czech Republic and Germany use multi-system vehicles or change locomotive at a border station.
Do private operators also run locomotives from this family?
Yes, vehicles from this design family aren't limited to the state railway in the Czech Republic – private providers use them too. Which operator runs which machines changes with contracts and vehicle leasing, and should be checked for the current situation.
How do I usefully log a locomotive sighting?
With the full vehicle number, date, place, train type and operator. The number is shown on the front and side; in addition, every vehicle carries the twelve-digit European vehicle number with the country code 54 for the Czech Republic. A photo of the number saves you from having to reconstruct it later.
Log your sighting of the CD 162 / 163
Date, location and vehicle number logged in seconds – and visible to the community.
Related classes
CD 150 / 151
ČD Classes 150 and 151 are four-axle Škoda electric locomotives for express service under 3 kV DC. Here's how to identify them and how the Czech numbering system works.
Electric locoČD Class 362 / 363
Classes 362 and 363 are Škoda dual-system locomotives for the mixed Czech electrification network. A bogie swap explains why there are two class numbers.
Electric locoRegioJet 162 WB (Skoda)
RegioJet runs Škoda DC Class 162 locomotives in a striking yellow livery. Here's how to identify them and what sets the 162 apart from the near-identical 163.
Electric locoČD Class 380 (Škoda 109E)
Class 380 is the Czech Republic's modern multi-system locomotive: 20 machines, 200 km/h and three electrification systems. How to identify the Škoda 109E confidently in the field.
Electric locoCD 193 (Siemens Vectron)
The ČD Class 193 is a Siemens Vectron – the same platform that's just as common in Germany. Here's how to recognise it and how to read its pantographs.
Electric locoCD 242 / 243
Classes 242 and 243 are four-axle Škoda AC locomotives from southern Czechia. Where the nickname Laminátka comes from, and how to identify them reliably.
Who is behind it
Groups, brands, manufacturers and operators – who owns whom and how to recognise them out in the field.
Where to see the CD 162 / 163
Specific viewpoints with lighting times, coordinates and an honest verdict on whether the trip is worth it.
Ostrava hlavní nádraží
Ostrava lies at the heart of the Moravian-Silesian industrial region – where coal, steel and chemicals have generated rail traffic for over a hundred years. For spotters the hub is above all one thing: the place with the highest density of private freight operators in Czechia.
Freight hubŽilina
In Žilina, the Slovak east–west main line crosses the north–south corridor towards Czechia and Poland. The high share of freight traffic, a large marshalling yard on the edge of the city and a wide range of older vehicles make this hub the most rewarding spot in the country.
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