In the decades following World War II, the Deutsche Bundesbahn focused on purchasing a large number of standardised electric locomotives.

During the 1950s, plans were made to enhance pre-war Class E 19 locomotives to have a top speed of 180 kilometres per hour (110 mph), but the technical layout was out-dated and the braking system was deemed inefficient.

The plans were revised to demand a top speed of 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph), combined with a Co′Co′ wheel arrangement to limit the axle load to 18 tons.

With a total number of 145 units Class 103.1 became the backbone of German Trans Europ Express and InterCity lines.

An accident furthermore delayed the introduction of regular top speed services, as on 21 July 1971 the AFB on 103 106 was suspected to be responsible for accelerating the train out of control, resulting in a derailment with 23 dead and 121 injured near Rheinweiler.

Governed by a very intense schedule, with one train per hour on every InterCity line in each direction, locomotives would perform well over 1,000 km (620 mi) on a single day.

In the following years, Class 103 was relegated to lesser duties, but the locomotive had not been designed for frequent stops, so wear increased at an even quicker pace.

However, on 19 March 2013, these preserved Class 103 locomotives returned to daily services from Munich, wearing their original Inter City livery.