Notes

There’s absolutely no part of the short history of this locomotive that isn’t in some way confusing. It’s a Siemens ES64F4, also (and possibly better) known as DB class 189, and was originally delivered to the freight division of DB, which was known as “Railion” (Germany) at the time, where it did service. Now, thinks started to get weird when it, among with several of it’s sisters, was the subject of a sell-lease-back deal with Mitsumi Rail Capital Europe (MRCE in short), where MRCE bought the units and Railion leased them back. This worked out well, for a while, but then MRCE decided it needed these units itself.

Since, they’ve been repainted from traffic red to MRCE black (which I think actually suits the 189 better), although some have gotten additional temporary liveries by their current operator. Some work for Railion (or whatever it’s name is right now. It’s going to change on January 1st again) again, some work for Railion’s competitors, and some, like this one, got to work for DB again, only a different part. Namely, DB Autozug.

DB Autozug handles all the passenger trains where you can take your car with you as well as all the sleeping trains, under the CityNightLine brand. The company is actually too small to buy it’s own modern multiple-system electrics, which would otherwise be a great advantage in the often international services it operates. Thanks to leasing companies such as Siemens Dispolok and MRCE, now MRCE Dispolok since MRCE bought the other, they can, so the locomotive staid in the family, over a corner.

If that’s not confusing enough for you, consider the number. This unit is booked with MRCE as the E 189 092, which sounds reasonable enough and mirrors the number it had with Railion. However, MRCE also owns a ES 64 F4 092, which was built specifically for MRCE. Both have, however, different twelve-digit UIC numbers, also known as NVR numbers (after National Vehicle Registry). The one seen here is 91 80 6189 092-0 D-DISPO, while the other is 94 80 0189 992-1 D-DISPO - a number which actually classifies it as an EMU. No, it doesn’t make sense to me either.

The locomotive is prepared for services in Germany and the Netherlands only (although that can be changed on relative short notice), and it’s also allowed on the new dutch Betuweroute. That does not actually help anyone since the Betuweroute is only for freight services, but actually this locomotive isn’t meant for passenger duty to begin with, so it all works out.

And the cathedral? I just threw that one in there because it looks cool.