[DE] DB Cargo 193 318 ‘I am the backbone’ – livery change [updated]

Vectron 193 338 debuted its #DBCargofährt appearance in June. Now, DB Cargo Deutschland adds yet another special livery to its Vectron fleet. And this time it is a full-body wrap in black…

Railcolor News thanks Steve Wiktor and Florian Kasimir‎ for sharing their photographs of the locomotive.

This article was originally published on 24.07.2020 – and updated on 31.07.2020/18.08.2020/19.08.2020.

It is no longer only special details that are being stickered on DB Cargo Deutschland’s special  ‘WerbeVectron’. This time we witness a full-body wrap with a black base and the locomotive starring is 193 318:

“I am the backbone of the economy” is the slogan that the carrier has selected for the latest member of its ever-growing series of distinctive Vectron locomotives.

DB Cargo’s 193 318 “I am the backbone of the economy” in Seelze (DE) 23.07.2020 Photo credit: Steve Wiktor

And this design comes to show that sometimes no color – or monochrome colors – can be eye-catching too.

The design itself is a quite literal expression of the slogan. The locomotive has been symmetrically encompassed by a total of 4 backbones starting at its cab fronts and fading out on its sides to make space for the bold text:

DB Cargo’s 193 318 “I am the backbone of the economy” in Seelze (DE) 23.07.2020 Photo credit: Steve Wiktor

Railcolor Data: 193 318

  • NVR-Number: 91 80 6193 318-3 D-DB;
  • Year of manufacture: 2018;
  • Works number: 22391;
  • Country-package: A22.

First train

Out with the wrap, the locomotive entered freight service right away on 23.07.2020:

DB Cargo’s 193 318 “I am the backbone of the economy” in Seelze (DE) 23.07.2020 Photo credit: Steve Wiktor

Meeting Günni

But it is not only Vectrons that are being made colorful by DB Cargo. Remember Günni? Well, it had a personal acquaintance with the ‘Backbone’, as seen below:

DB Cargo’s 193 318 “I am the backbone of the economy”, together with 185 367 “Günni Güterzug” in Seelze (DE) 23.07.2020 Photo credit: Steve Wiktor

Update 31.07.2020: Action!

Of course, it was great to see the locomotive freshly branded last week, but seeing it in action with freight trains is a different story. Steve Wiktor has us covered with that too, enjoy the pics below taken near Mannheim on 25.07.2020:

Steve Wiktor also brings us

Update 18/19.08.2020: Red mustache

Something happened to that special livery in the past weeks. Several details were changed, to align the design with Italian regulations concerning DB Cargo multi-system Vectrons. These would allow the use of 193 318 on the Italian railway network:

  • Two red stripes on the lower ribs of the grille were added;
  • The SCMT stickers next to the cab doors returned;
  • The ‘DB Cargo’ markings / small DB logos had to be moved up.

The picture below shows the locomotive passing through Wilhelmshorst (DE) with a freight service bound to Sedddin (DE):

DB Cargo’s 193 318 “I am the backbone of the economy” in Wilhelmshorst (DE) 13.08.2020 Photo credit: Florian Kasimir

DB Cargo’s “I am” Vectrons

Looking for more colorful locomotives from DB Cargo’s fleet? Check out the updated list below:

Read more

[Data] Siemens Vectron – DB Cargo Deutschland