English: 241 803-6; a fairly rare beast on Cottbus Depot, 26.10.14.

The 241.8 series is a small sub-class developed from the Class 232 (BR 132 DR). 709 Class 232 locomotives were built in Woroschilowgrad - USSR in the period from 1973 to 1982. The 241.8 series was converted on behalf of DB Cargo, which required more powerful machines for fast, heavy container trains to Rotterdam. In total ten locomotives of the class 232 engine were rebuilt as Class 241, so that after the completion of the work now they produced an output of 2940 kW (previously 2200 kW). After the conversion operation undertaken at Db Werk Cottbus these machines were renumbered in the series 241, respectively. To increase the traction heavy freight trains top speed was reduced to 100 km / h.

The final series locomotives 241.8 were numbered as 241 801-0 to 241 805-1. Basically, they correspond to the normal vehicles of the series 241, but have specific changes only seen on the 241.8 subclass. For use in the area of Aachen to Montzen (Belgium), these five machines were adapted to the Belgian loading gauge. For this, the locomotive body was slightly lowered by reducing the suspension springs and the roof fans relocated.