Information about the model

One of the main reasons for the development of the 360 ​​hp diesel locomotive WR 360 C 14 with fluid transmission was the requirement for "smoke-free" railway facilities of the Wehrmacht, so that, for example, ammunition depots or refineries could not be discovered from the air by the steam plume of a steam locomotive.

A joint venture involving Berliner Maschinenfabrik AG (formerly Louis Schwarzkopf), Orenstein & Koppel, and Deutz and Voith (only for engine and transmission issues) produced two prototypes within a year, which were extensively tested by the Locomotive Testing Office of the German Reichsbahn in the second half of 1937. The knowledge gained was immediately incorporated into further development, so that further advance locomotives could be built as early as 1938. The first of the 245 series locomotives hit the rails at the beginning of 1939 and were delivered to the army, air force, navy and industrial companies. The WR 360 C 14 was powered by Deutz or MWM engines, which were also used in submarines at the time.

During World War II, the WR 360 C 14 reached many European countries and even as far as North Africa, where some of them remained. In addition to the routes of the German Federal and Reichsbahn, several WR 360 C 14 were also in use after 1945 in Austria, France and Italy.

At the German Federal Railway, the locomotives, now known as V36, were used primarily in shunting duties and in front of transfer trains. In the greater Wuppertal, Frankfurt and Nuremberg areas, they were also used in suburban passenger transport. For this purpose, some locomotives were equipped with a simplified push-pull train control or converted to one-man operation and equipped with a roof cab. This gave the locomotive crew a better view when pushing trains. Other notable modifications included a larger and more distinctive cooling water expansion tank on the engine front and adjustable radiator shutters. 

The last locomotives, now known as the 236 series, were in use until 1981. The V36s lasted about four years longer on the Deutsche Reichsbahn side. Private railways and industrial companies kept the locomotives in use until the end of the 1980s, and several V36s can still be seen in use on various heritage railways today.