Key takeaways
- The G 18 is the top power class of the modern Kiel hydraulic locomotives – above the G 6 and G 12.
- The number stands for hundreds of kilowatts: unlike on the old types such as the G 1000 BB or G 2000 BB.
- G versus DE: hydraulic transmission versus diesel-electric drive in the same power class.
- The body style reveals the job: a centre cab means it's suited to shunting and trip working.
- Keeper, livery and deployment change – always check the current situation.
Contents
Fact file
| Vehicle type | Diesel-hydraulic locomotive for shunting, trip working and main-line duties |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Vossloh Locomotives, Kiel |
| Wheel arrangement | B'B' (four axles in two two-axle bogies) |
| Transmission | hydraulic, via a hydrodynamic transmission |
| Body style | Centre cab between two bonnets, modern Kiel locomotive family |
| Type logic | G = hydraulic locomotive (Getriebelok), number = power class in hundreds of kilowatts |
| Sister type | Vossloh DE 18 with diesel-electric transmission |
| UIC type code | 92 – diesel locomotive |
Identifying features
Is this really the class in front of you?
- Four axles in two bogies
- Cab in the centre, modern smooth-sided bodywork with large windows
- Long bonnet with a prominent cooling and exhaust system
- Noticeably more massive than the smaller G 6 and G 12 types of the same family
- Type marking G 18 on the cab or bonnet
- Vehicle number starts with 92 for a diesel locomotive
Updated: August 2026 – The modern Kiel locomotive family has short names and is easy to misread as a result. The Vossloh G 18 is its most powerful hydraulic model: four axles, a centre cab, hydraulic transmission. This page shows you what the letter and number mean, how to tell the locomotive apart from its closest relatives and what to look out for when documenting it.
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What is the Vossloh G 18?
The Vossloh G 18 is a four-axle diesel-hydraulic locomotive from Vossloh’s locomotive works in Kiel and the most powerful hydraulic model of the modern locomotive family, which also includes the G 6 and G 12. It’s designed for mixed duties: heavy shunting, trip working and main-line freight trains on routes without continuous overhead wires.
The name follows a simple pattern. G stands for Getriebelok, a locomotive with hydraulic transmission via a hydrodynamic gearbox. The 18 denotes the power class in hundreds of kilowatts. That places it clearly above the Vossloh G 12, while the compact three-axle Vossloh G 6 marks the lower end of the family.
Why the numbers have two meanings
A stumbling block that almost everyone trips over at some point: Kiel changed its naming system between two generations.
Old family: number equals kilowatts
On types such as the G 1000 BB, G 1206 or G 2000 BB, the number roughly corresponds to the engine output in kilowatts. The suffix BB additionally gives the wheel arrangement.
New family: number equals hundreds of kilowatts
On the G 6, G 12, G 18 as well as the DE 12 and DE 18, the number stands for the power class in hundreds of kilowatts. There's no wheel-arrangement suffix.
Practical consequence
A G 18 is not a miniature version of a G 1800. If you mix up the two systems, you'll end up with completely wrong orders of magnitude.
Recognition aid
Four-digit numbers with BB belong to the old family, one- and two-digit numbers without a suffix to the modern one. That works surprisingly reliably in the field.
Its place in railway operations
| Feature | Vossloh G 18 | Vossloh DE 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission | hydraulic, via hydrodynamic transmission | diesel-electric, via generator and traction motors |
| Wheel arrangement | B’B’ | B’B’ |
| Body style | centre cab, two bonnets | centre cab, two bonnets |
| Typical duties | shunting, trip working, main-line freight trains | shunting, trip working, main-line freight trains |
| Telling them apart in the field | only via type marking and vehicle number | only via type marking and vehicle number |
The table makes the core problem visible: the two types differ significantly in their technology, but hardly at all in appearance. If you rely on your visual impression, you’ll regularly get it wrong. The page on the Vossloh DE 18 goes into the diesel-electric concept in more detail.
Not sure how to classify it?
Photograph the data panel and clarify the type later – your sighting is still saved straight away.
Spotting in practice: the number first
With vehicles from private operators, one rule applies more strictly than anywhere else: the number beats any impression. Company colours, logos and wraps change with contracts; the twelve-digit vehicle number stays.
That’s why a fixed routine pays off. First record the overall impression – number of axles, cab position, proportions. Then look for the data panel, which is usually located below or next to the cab window. That’s where you’ll find the full number, including the country code and vehicle keeper marking. How this number is structured in detail and what the check digit is for is explained in the article on the UIC number.
If you’d like to share your observation afterwards rather than keeping it to yourself, the guide to reporting sightings properly helps you prepare the details so that others can make use of them.
Respect boundaries, check the current situation
Track areas, shunting yards, sidings and depots are operational railway land or private property. Entering them is not permitted – however rewarding the subject may seem. And: the keeper, livery and area of operation of these locomotives change frequently. Treat every older piece of information as a snapshot.
Where the German diesel locomotive system comes from
Modern manufacturer designations like G 18 are easier to understand if you know the established system behind them – not least because both systems appear side by side in everyday practice.
Until 1968, German diesel locomotives carried V designations. The V stood for Verbrennungsmotor (combustion engine), and the number was a rough indication of power: the V 60 was the heavy shunter, the V 100 the medium-sized general-purpose locomotive, the V 200 the large main-line locomotive for passenger services. The 1968 renumbering replaced these names with three-digit, computer-friendly class numbers. The V 100 became Classes 211 and 212, the V 60 became Classes 260 and 261. If you compare old photos with today’s markings, you’ll keep running into this double naming.
Running in parallel is the operational division between main-line locomotive and shunting locomotive. It’s reflected in the UIC type code, the first two digits of every twelve-digit vehicle number: 92 for main-line diesel locomotives, 98 for diesel shunting locomotives and light shunters. Despite its shunting-friendly design, the G 18 carries 92 because it’s approved for main-line service.
The third level is the transmission – hydraulic or diesel-electric. German main-line diesel locomotives were traditionally hydraulic; internationally, electric transmission dominated. It’s exactly this division that lives on today in the letters G and DE.
Three levels, three names for the same vehicle: manufacturer type, class number, full NVR (National Vehicle Register) number. For sightings, the last is the most reliable, because it identifies exactly one locomotive and survives changes of keeper.
Photography: light on smooth surfaces
The modern Kiel design language is smooth-sided and calm. That looks tidy, but can quickly look flat in a picture.
Low-angled light in the morning or late afternoon works best: it picks out the few edges and gives the large side surface some structure. A slight three-quarter view from around 30 degrees adds depth, while a pure side view shows the complete lettering. Ideally, do both – an overall shot and a detail of the data panel. The basics of viewpoint, exposure and focus are in the guide to good photos of trains.
Common mix-ups
It points to a G 18 if …
- four axles run in two bogies
- the cab sits in the centre and the bodywork looks modern and smooth
- the type marking reads G 18
- the locomotive looks more massive than a G 12
Look more closely if …
- you have to decide between a G 18 and a DE 18 – only the marking helps here
- a company livery covers the type marking
- you only see the locomotive from a long way off
It isn't a G 18 if …
- you count three or six axles
- the cab is at one end of the vehicle
- the body looks angular and technical, like the older BB types
Conclusion
The Vossloh G 18 shows by example why, with modern private-railway locomotives, the designation matters more than the appearance. Four axles and a centre cab narrow down the family, the letter reveals the transmission, the number the power class – and the vehicle number turns a guess into a reliable sighting.
In short
G 18 means: a hydraulic locomotive of the modern Kiel family in the upper power class, four axles, centre cab. Only the markings separate it from the almost identical-looking DE 18 – so read them before you classify it.
Keep G and DE types neatly apart in your collection
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Summary
- The G 18 covers heavy shunting duties and main-line work for which the smaller types in the family aren't sufficient.
- Visually it's very similar to the G 12; the two are told apart by the type marking and vehicle number.
- Its diesel-electric counterpart is the DE 18, which does the same job with different technology.
- As a typical hire locomotive, it changes operator and lettering more often than state railway vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
What does the designation G 18 mean?
The G marks a hydraulic locomotive (Getriebelok) with hydraulic transmission, the 18 the power class in hundreds of kilowatts. This system applies to the modern Kiel family with the G 6, G 12 and G 18. On the older types such as the G 2000 BB, the number still stood for the power output in kilowatts.
How do I tell the G 18 and DE 18 apart?
By the transmission, which is stated in the designation: G means hydrodynamic transmission, DE means generator and traction motors. From the outside the two are very similar, so only the type marking and vehicle number help. A look at the data panel answers the question in seconds.
What is the G 18 used for?
For heavy shunting, trip working and main-line freight trains on non-electrified routes. It's the answer to jobs for which a G 12 would be too weak and a six-axle main-line locomotive would be oversized.
How do I recognise it in the field?
By its four axles, the centre cab and the modern, smooth-sided bodywork. Compared with the G 6 and G 12 it looks more massive, especially around the long bonnet with its large cooling system. The number provides the final identification.
Why does the locomotive carry UIC code 92?
Because it's approved as a main-line diesel locomotive. The first two digits of the twelve-digit vehicle number form the UIC type code: 92 for diesel locomotives, 91 for electric locomotives, 95 for diesel railcars, 98 for diesel shunting locomotives and light shunters. The code follows the approval, not the day-to-day duties.
Who operates these locomotives?
Private freight operators, industrial and port railways, and leasing companies. A large part of the fleet works in the hire market, which is why operator, livery and area of operation change regularly. The vehicle keeper marking after the number names the registered keeper, not necessarily the company running the train.
Can the G 18 be confused with the old BB types?
Hardly, if you pay attention to the design language. The older types such as the G 1000 BB or G 1206 look more angular and technical, the modern family much smoother and tidier. With unusual liveries, though, only the number helps.
How do I document a sighting properly?
With the full twelve-digit number, vehicle keeper marking, location and date – and, if possible, with a photo of the side panel. Because company liveries change frequently on these locomotives, the date is just as important as the number itself.
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