After Millenium the German State Railway (DB) need to order new locos to replace old fashioned shunting locos of Classes 362 - 365 (former BR V60) and 290 - 295 (former BR V90). The German Voith Turbo Lokomotivtechnik GmbH & Co KG developed the BR261 diesel locomotive. The prime mover of version 10BB is MTU 8V 4000 R42 and develops 1000 kW at 1800 rpm. With a maximum speed of 100 km/h and a tractive power of 258 kN the BR261 is used in heavy shunting service as well as for mid range freight service on main and branch lines. DB ordered 130 locos, but manufacturer Voith assembled some more locos to use in German leasing fleets. Because of different equipment concerning emission standard the class had been splitted into BR 260 and 261.
