Key takeaways
- The LEW V 100 comes from Hennigsdorf and was built for Deutsche Reichsbahn – it's not related to the West German V 100.
- Four axles in two bogies is the first and most reliable feature of this design.
- Rebuilds and re-engining are the norm: many vehicles now carry modern engines and altered bodywork.
- The UIC type code depends on the individual vehicle: depending on approval and use it's 98 for shunting locos or 92 for mainline locos.
- Keeper and livery change constantly – colour is never an identification feature.
Contents
Fact file
| Vehicle type | Diesel-hydraulic locomotive, today mostly used in shunting and trip working |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | VEB Lokomotivbau Elektrotechnische Werke (LEW) Hennigsdorf |
| Wheel arrangement | B'B' – four powered axles in two bogies |
| Numbering scheme | procured by Deutsche Reichsbahn as V 100, later carried as class 110 |
| Later classification | after 1992 carried by DB AG in classes 201 to 204 |
| UIC type code | depending on the vehicle, 98 (shunting/light loco) or 92 (mainline loco) |
Identifying features
Is this really the class in front of you?
- Four axles in two bogies, no rigid frame
- Box-type body with a long bonnet and a cab set centrally or offset to one side
- Distinctive cab shape with wraparound glazing and raked windscreens
- Running board with handrail all around the body, steps at the vehicle corners
- Often visible signs of rebuilding: new exhaust system, altered louvres, modern lighting
- Liveries vary widely – every private operator has its own colour scheme
Updated: August 2026 – Hardly any German diesel locomotive has been rebuilt, repainted and resold as often as the LEW V 100 from Hennigsdorf. Anyone wanting to identify it has to learn to see past colour and add-ons. This page explains its origin, numbering scheme, rebuilds – and the features that stay constant regardless.
Spotted a V 100? Note number and livery.
Few classes change keeper and colour scheme as fast as this one – a dated sighting is worth its weight in gold.
What is the LEW V 100?
The LEW V 100 is a four-axle diesel-hydraulic locomotive, built by the VEB Lokomotivbau Elektrotechnische Werke in Hennigsdorf for Deutsche Reichsbahn. The wheel arrangement is B’B’ – four powered axles, distributed across two bogies.
In Deutsche Reichsbahn’s numbering scheme, the machines initially ran as V 100 and were later carried as class 110; further class numbers came out of rebuilding programmes. After 1992 DB AG placed the vehicles into classes 201 to 204. From there they spread out in large numbers to private railway operators – and that’s exactly what makes them so varied today.
East or west: two completely different V 100s
The name regularly misleads people. There were two independently developed vehicle families with the same type designation, and technically they have little in common.
| Feature | LEW V 100 (Hennigsdorf) | West German V 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Client | Deutsche Reichsbahn | Deutsche Bundesbahn |
| Manufacturing region | Hennigsdorf | West German locomotive works |
| Wheel arrangement | B’B’ | B’B’ |
| Body shape | long bonnet, handrail all around | different bonnet shape and proportions |
| Later classes | 201 to 204 at DB AG | 211, 212 and successor numbers |
| Today’s setting | mainly private railways and engineering-train operations | private railways, museum and heritage railways |
For identification that means: don’t rely on the name, rely on the shape. Cab design and body are noticeably different between the two families. Related vehicles from the shunting sector include the class 298 (V 100) and the class 294.
Rebuilds: why hardly two machines look alike
Re-engining
New engines bring altered exhaust routing, different louvres and often extra units on the bonnet. That's the most conspicuous sign of rebuilding.
Cab and lighting
New window frames, modern headlights and extra mirrors or cameras are among the most common upgrades.
Operational equipment
Radio aerials, train protection systems and shunting equipment are retrofitted depending on the use – and help determine whether a vehicle is registered as a mainline or a shunting loco.
That last line also explains a quirk that stands out when reading vehicle numbers: the type code at the start of the twelve-digit vehicle number depends on the individual vehicle, not on the class. 92 marks mainline diesel locomotives, 98 shunting and light diesel locomotives. How the number as a whole is built up is explained in the article on the UIC number and its check digit.
Silhouette first, then the details
Rebuilds change add-on parts, not the basic shape. Look first at wheel arrangement, bonnet length and cab position – these features survive every modernisation.
Liveries change – your archive doesn't
Keep colour scheme, keeper and date together, and you'll be able to trace a machine's history later on.
Spotting: where and what to look for
V 100 machines from Hennigsdorf work with private railways, construction and infrastructure firms, and on trip workings. That means: irregular diagrams, changing areas of use and a lot of chance. Anyone specifically looking for them should focus on private sidings, construction-site logistics and regional freight hubs. Individual machines have also been preserved in the care of heritage societies, for example at the Eisenbahnmuseum Schwarzenberg in the Ore Mountains. A similar setting is offered by the Förderverein Bahnbetriebswerk Arnstadt historisch, which preserves a complete Reichsbahn locomotive depot along with its rolling stock.
Because the liveries are so varied, it’s worth a look at the guide to promotional liveries and special paint schemes – the system described there can be applied one-to-one to private-operator colour schemes. The general approach to identification is covered in the guide Identifying classes.
Trip and shunting areas are dangerous
Where these machines work, shunting is under way: vehicles are moved unannounced, without signals and often propelled, and parked wagons can start rolling at any time. Private siding, port and works railways are also private land. Observe only from public paths, bridges or platforms.
Why this class has so many keepers
After 1990, large parts of the Reichsbahn fleet were no longer needed – at the same time, a market of private railway operators emerged that were looking for reliable diesel locomotives at reasonable prices. The two met, and the V 100 from Hennigsdorf was the right fit.
- Robust basic design. Frame, bogies and body last considerably longer than the original drivetrain.
- Suitable size. Four axles and a mid-range power class cover both trip workings and light mainline duties.
- Good spares supply. Because so many machines are in circulation, a working market for parts and rebuilds exists.
- High rebuild rate. Workshops have gathered years of experience with modernisations, which makes further rebuilds economical.
For spotters that means: this is one of the most rewarding classes of all if you want to follow individual vehicle biographies. A single machine can have gone through several keepers, several colour schemes and several technical states in its lifetime – and all of that can be traced through dated sightings.
Always record the full number
For a class with this many keepers, a rough note isn't enough. Only vehicle number plus keeper marking plus date turn a sighting into a usable data point.
Common mix-ups
It points to a LEW V 100 if …
- four axles run in two bogies
- the long bonnet and the handrail all around shape the silhouette
- the vehicle number falls into the class 201 to 204 range
- the loco stands with a private railway or on engineering-train duty
Look more closely if …
- the machine has been heavily rebuilt and carries modern add-ons
- the livery is unusual and no markings are recognisable
- you only see the front and can't judge the bonnet length
It's not a LEW V 100 if …
- the loco has three axles in a rigid frame, like many industrial locos
- the body shape clearly matches the West German V 100 family
- it's a noticeably smaller two-axle light locomotive
For a size comparison it’s worth looking at the LKM V 10 C, which despite a similar type designation represents an entirely different vehicle class.
Verdict
The LEW V 100 is a prime example of vehicles outliving their designations. Reichsbahn locomotives became DB classes, from those came private-railway machines, and from those re-engined workhorses in ever new colours. What stays constant are wheel arrangement, basic shape and vehicle number – and that’s exactly what you use to identify it.
For beginners this class is therefore a good practice object. It’s common enough to encounter regularly, and varied enough to teach the essentials: separating basic shape from add-on parts, reading numbers correctly, and always dating changeable details like keeper and livery. Anyone who’s practised this on the V 100 will find every other diesel loco easier afterwards.
Quick verdict
Four axles in two bogies, long bonnet, handrail all around: that's the V 100 from Hennigsdorf. Ignore the livery, check the vehicle number, and note keeper and date – both change faster than the technology.
Track your sightings' history
Number, keeper, livery and date in one place – so you can see how a machine has changed over the years.
Summary
- The V 100 from the Hennigsdorf locomotive works is one of the longest-lived diesel locomotives in German rail operation.
- After 1990 many machines went to private railway operators and were thoroughly modernised there.
- For identification, wheel arrangement, body shape and cab design count – not the current livery.
- Because rebuilds are so widespread, a dated sighting with vehicle number is especially valuable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the LEW V 100?
It's a four-axle diesel-hydraulic locomotive, built by the VEB Lokomotivbau Elektrotechnische Werke in Hennigsdorf for Deutsche Reichsbahn. The vehicles initially ran there as V 100 and were later carried as class 110. After 1992 DB AG placed them into classes 201 to 204.
Is the LEW V 100 the same as the West German V 100?
No. Both carry the same type designation, but they come from completely separate development lines: one from Hennigsdorf for Deutsche Reichsbahn, the other from West German manufacturers for Deutsche Bundesbahn. They differ noticeably in body shape, cab design and technology.
Why are so many of these locos rebuilt?
Because the basic design is robust and the frame long-lived. After 1990 many private railway operators took over withdrawn machines and had them re-engined – that is, fitted with new, usually lower-emission engines and modernised controls. That extended their service life considerably.
How do I recognise a re-engined machine?
By details that don't match the original build year: altered exhaust routing on the bonnet, new or extra louvres, modern LED headlights, changed cab windows, and often extra plates from the rebuilding workshop. The basic frame with four axles in two bogies, however, stays recognisable.
Why does a V 100 sometimes carry code 98 and sometimes 92?
Because the type code at the start of the twelve-digit vehicle number reflects the use and approval of the individual vehicle. 92 stands for mainline diesel locomotives, 98 for shunting and light diesel locomotives. If a machine is mainly used in shunting and trip working and registered accordingly, it can run under 98.
Where can you find LEW V 100 machines?
Mainly with private railway operators, construction and infrastructure firms, and on private siding and port railways. Many examples are also preserved by museum and heritage railways. Keeper, livery and area of use change constantly – check the current status rather than relying on older lists.
How do I tell it apart from other four-axle diesel locos?
Via the combination of body shape and cab: long bonnet, handrail running around, distinctively shaped cab with wraparound glazing. The B'B' wheel arrangement alone isn't enough, because many designs share it. When in doubt, the vehicle number decides.
How do I document such a locomotive properly?
With the full vehicle number, keeper marking, date and location, plus a side-on photo. Because liveries and keepers change especially often on these machines, the dated sighting is the actual information – a type name without a time reference tells you little for this class.
Log your sighting of the LEW V 100
Date, location and vehicle number logged in seconds – and visible to the community.
Related classes
Class 298 (V 100)
Class 298 is a four-axle diesel locomotive from the Deutsche Reichsbahn's V 100 family that is classified as a shunting locomotive in the numbering system. Here's how to identify it.
ShunterClass 294
The 294 is the radio-remote-controlled variant of the V 90: same design, different fitting-out status. Why that matters for safety in shunting areas.
ShunterLKM V 10 C
The LKM V 10 C is a three-axle shunting diesel locomotive from Babelsberg. Reliable identification comes down to the type code and the twelve-digit vehicle number.
ShunterHenschel DH 500 Ca
The Henschel DH 500 Ca is a three-axle diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive. The lower-case letter in the type name marks a version variant – here's how to handle it.
ShunterHenschel DHG 1200 BB
The Henschel DHG 1200 BB is a four-axle shunting locomotive on two bogies. The wheel arrangement in the name tells you more about the duty than any power figure.
ShunterHenschel DHG 240 B
The Henschel DHG 240 B is a two-axle works locomotive with cardan-shaft drive. A single letter sets it apart from the DH design – here's which one and why.
Who is behind it
Groups, brands, manufacturers and operators – who owns whom and how to recognise them out in the field.
Eisenbahnmuseum Schwarzenberg (VSE)
The Verein Sächsischer Eisenbahnfreunde has built up one of the largest collections of Saxon vehicles in the former Schwarzenberg locomotive depot. On top of that comes running operation on an Ore Mountains line that is itself already a subject worth photographing.
Heritage railwayFichtelbergbahn
The Fichtelbergbahn isn't a weekend heritage railway - it's a narrow-gauge line with a year-round timetable and scheduled steam operation. From Cranzahl it climbs on 750mm gauge up to Oberwiesenthal, Germany's highest town.
Heritage railwayFörderverein Bahnbetriebswerk Arnstadt / historisch e.V.
In the former Arnstadt motive power depot stands one of Thuringia's largest collections of historic steam locomotives. A preservation society holds shed, turntable and vehicles together - with no heritage line of its own, but with a complete depot instead.
Heritage railwayHarzer Schmalspurbahnen (HSB)
The Harzer Schmalspurbahnen run one of Europe's largest connected metre-gauge networks – and steam runs to a timetable on it. The Brockenbahn, Harzquerbahn and Selketalbahn are three very different railways under one roof.
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