Since the class 218 was not yet ready for series production in 1968, 150 class 215 locomotives were built. These already had many features of the class 218, but basically the same engine as the V 160 with 1,900 hp. Only a few locomotives had a MAN engine with 2,500 hp. They should later be able to be converted to the class 218, but this did not happen. The locomotives pulled passenger and freight trains until 2003 and the car train to Sylt until 2008. Some were previously converted to the class 225, with the steam boilers being removed, among other things. 