| DB Class ETA/ESA 150 DB Class 515/815 | |
|---|---|
 Three 515/815 railcars at Betriebswerk Hildesheim | |
| In service | 1955–1995 |
| Manufacturer | |
| Constructed | 1954-1965 |
| Number built |
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| Fleet numbers |
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| Specifications | |
| Car length |
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| Width | 2,920 mm (9 ft 7 in) |
| Height | 3,513 or 3,534 mm (11 ft 6+5⁄16 in or 11 ft 7+1⁄8 in) |
| Wheel diameter | 0.950 m (37+3⁄8 in) |
| Maximum speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
| Weight | ETA (empty): 49.0–56.0 t (48.2–55.1 long tons; 54.0–61.7 short tons) |
| Power output | 2× 150 kW (200 hp) = 300 kW (400 hp) |
| Power supply | Batteries: 352–548 kWh (1,270–1,970 MJ) |
| UIC classification | Bo'2'(ETA) and 2'2'(ESA) |
| Braking system(s) | Knorr |
| Seating |
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| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
The accumulator cars of Class ETA 150 (Class 515 from 1968) were German railcars used extensively by Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) for 40 years. They ran on both main and branch lines. By comparison with the Uerdingen railbus, the railcars were quieter (despite the typical whine of their DC motors), rode more smoothly on the rails owing to the weight of the batteries, and were pollution-free (no smoke or fumes).
They were very popular with passengers, who nicknamed them Akkublitz (Battery Lightning), Säurebomber (Acid Bombers), Steckdosen-InterCity (Socket InterCitys), Taschenlampen-Express (Pocket Torch Express), or Biene Maja (Maya the Bee – because of the sound they made when under way).