The ÖBB Class 1044 was a class of universal electric locomotives operated by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). The class was capable of hauling either heavy passenger traffic or goods trains on both lowland and mountainous routes.At the time of its entry into service, the Class 1044 was the most powerful class of four-axle locomotives in the world. Until the introduction of the Class 1016 (Taurus) locomotives, it was the showpiece class of the ÖBB.