Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 20, 2026

DSB Class MH

The class MH was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives of the Danish State Railways (DSB), built by Danish manufacturer Frichs. A total of 120 units, numbered 301–420, were delivered between 1960 and 1965. They were primarily used for shunting and light freight traffic.

Last revised
Jun 20, 2026
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≈ 1 min
Length
291 w
Citations
13
Source
Wikipedia ↗
MH 301–420
MH 346 at the Danish Railway Museum (2005).
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel
BuilderFrichs
Build date1960–1965
Total produced120
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICC
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Wheel diameter1,150 mm (3 ft 9+1⁄4 in)1
Length9.44 m (30 ft 11+5⁄8 in)
Width3.13 m (10 ft 3+1⁄4 in)1
Height4.29 m (14 ft 7⁄8 in)1
Loco weight
  • 40.5 t
  • 45.0 t (with extra ballast)23
Prime moverMAN W8V17,5/22A23
Engine typeStraight-8 diesel4
Cylinders8
Cylinder size175 mm × 220 mm (6.9 in × 8.7 in)2
TransmissionHydraulic, Voith L37U3
Performance figures
Maximum speed60 km/h (37 mph)
Power output440 hp (330 kW)
Tractive effort135 kN (30,000 lbf)1
Career
OperatorsDSB

The class MH was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives of the Danish State Railways (DSB), built by Danish manufacturer Frichs. A total of 120 units, numbered 301–420, were delivered between 1960 and 1965. They were primarily used for shunting and light freight traffic.

Their design was strongly based on that of the slightly earlier MH 201–203 built by Henschel, using the same MAN diesel engine and Voith hydraulic transmission.5

Apart from a few units damaged in accidents, the locomotives were mostly retired between the late 1980s and 2000.6

Notes

Notes

  1. Løvborg & Mogensen 2000, p. 11.
  2. Christensen & Poulsen 2009, p. 207.
  3. Lauritsen 1997, p. 27.
  4. Olesen 2005, pp. 161–164.
  5. Poulsen 2013, p. 93.
  6. Christensen & Poulsen 2009, pp. 208–209.
Bibliography

Bibliography

  • Christensen, Peter; Poulsen, John (2009). MotorMateriel 7: Motormateriellet fra Frichs og Scandia 1932-1978 (in Danish). Bane Bøger. ISBN 978-87-91434-23-5.
  • Lauritsen, Tom (1997). Danske lokomotiver og motorvogne 1997 (in Danish). Frank Stenvalls Förlag. ISBN 91-7266-141-0.
  • Løvborg, Eilert; Mogensen, Peter, eds. (2000). DSB materiel i drift (in Danish) (2nd ed.). DSB drift. ISBN 87-7025-011-1.
  • Olesen, Thomas Nørgaard (2005). Lokomotivfabrikken Frichs (in Danish). Dansk Jernbane-Klub. ISBN 87-87050-52-8.
  • Poulsen, John (2013). MotorMateriel 8: Motormateriellet fra tyske fabrikker efter 1945 (in Danish). Bane Bøger. ISBN 978-87-91434-37-2.
External links