DB Class 102

Updated: August 2026 – Six locomotives, one deployment area, an unmistakable front: the Class 102 is one of the smallest electric locomotive series on the German network, which makes it a rewarding target for anyone who likes to complete full collections. This page shows you how to recognise it, why it carries the number 102 of all things, and how you can realistically encounter one.

What is the Class 102?

The Class 102 is a four-axle electric locomotive for fast passenger services, built by Škoda Transportation as type 109E. The series comprises exactly six machines numbered 102 001 to 102 006. They were procured together with double-deck coaches from the same manufacturer and form a push-pull set with them – locomotive at one end, driving trailer at the other.

That makes it fundamentally different from the well-known German passenger locomotives: the Class 101 runs with classic long-distance coaches, and the Class 111 is a general-purpose locomotive from the 1970s. The 102, by contrast, was planned from the outset as part of a closed train concept.

Why the locomotive carries the number 102

The German numbering system isn’t an arbitrary sequence – it follows an order that has held since the 1968 renumbering. Back then, the old designations with a leading “E” – such as E 10, E 40, E 03 – were converted to three-digit class numbers: E 10 became 110, E 40 became 140, E 03 became 103.

Number range	Meaning	Examples
101–115	Electric locomotives in passenger service	101, 102, 103, 110, 111
120–129	Three-phase general-purpose locomotives	120
139–155	Older-design freight and general-purpose locomotives	139, 140, 143, 151
180–189	Multi-system and modern freight locomotives	180, 181, 189
2xx	Diesel locomotives	218, 232
4xx	Multiple units	401, 423

So the 102 falls into the passenger locomotive range – systematically correct and practical, since the number was free. For a quick guide to reading a vehicle number in the field, see the article on finding train and vehicle numbers.

Recognition in four steps

Where it fits into railway operations

A series of six machines covers exactly one diagram – no more. That leads to a clear rule for spotting: wrong route, no sighting.

Setting	Likelihood	Why
Routes with the associated double-deck sets	high	Locomotive and coaches run as a fixed unit
Major hub stations on these routes	high	Turnaround times at the platform, good visibility
Other regional routes	low	No scheduled deployment
Freight hubs and marshalling yards	very low	Wrong vehicle type
Depots and maintenance yards	not accessible	Private land, entry prohibited

What small series mean for spotters

Six machines is a statement. With the large German classes running to 150, 200 or 400 vehicles, a complete collection is a lifetime project – here it’s a matter of a few targeted trips.

That has three practical consequences:

• Every running number counts. Anyone who just logs “saw a 102” gives up exactly the information that makes this class interesting. Six numbers is manageable – but only if you record them individually.
• Withdrawals hit hard. If one locomotive out of a 200-strong series is out of service, nobody notices. With six vehicles, a longer spell in the workshop can mean a particular number goes unseen for months.
• Substitute stock is normal. If a locomotive is missing, other equipment steps in. A trip on the expected line is therefore no guarantee of a 102 – check shortly beforehand what’s actually running.

Anyone wanting to fully collect a small series is therefore better off working from a list of the numbers still missing rather than the feeling of having “seen one already”.

Spotting and photo tips

The 102 runs in express service – fast, with few stops. That places specific demands on where you stand.

• Favour stations with a stop. With high-speed passes there’s barely time for the number and a good composition. You’ll find a selection of suitable spots in the overview of the best stations for trainspotting in Germany.
• Choose a three-quarter angle. An angle of about 30 to 45 degrees shows both the rounded front and the side at once – head-on, the nose loses its shape.
• Plan for a short shutter speed. For sharp shots of passing trains, 1/1000 s is a useful starting point, which you adjust for speed and distance. The basics are covered in the guide to taking good photos of trains.
• Get the number in the frame. With only six machines, the running number is the real information in your sighting.

And the rule that applies everywhere: tracks, operational railway land and depots are off limits. They are private property, entry is prohibited and dangerous. Photograph only from the platform and from publicly accessible areas.

Common mix-ups

For the general method of working through such feature chains – from vehicle type through body shape to the number – see the guide to identifying classes. To tell it apart from the first German three-phase locomotive, it’s also worth checking the Class 120.

Verdict

The Class 102 is a special case: a small series, tightly bound to its coaches, with a design language that stands clearly apart from the German classics. That’s exactly what makes it easy to identify – and hard to encounter. If you’re after one, work out the diagrams of the associated sets and check the current status before you set off.