PIKO G Manuel D'utilisation page 4

Dear PIKO garden railway
friend,
We are pleased that you have chosen
a G scale locomotive from PIKO. Like
all PIKO models, this locomotive has
been designed by our employees with
great attention to detail, carefully
assembled and intensively tested
during development to guarantee you
maximum driving pleasure and a lot of
fun with the locomotive.
To match your locomotive, we offer a
whole range of car and building models
as well as attractive accessories for
your garden railway layout. For more
information, simply take a look at our
detailed PIKO G catalog, the PIKO web
shop at www.piko-shop.de, or visit your
local dealer and convince yourself of
our extensive range.
If you have any suggestions for
improvement or positive criticism about
your PIKO models, you can send us your
feedback by e-mail to hotline@piko.de,
by fax +49 3675/8972-50 or by mail to
PIKO Spielwaren GmbH,
Lutherstraße 30,
96515 Sonneberg/Thuringia, or use the
social networks to get in touch with us.
Thank you for your purchase and have
fun with your PIKO G scale ET 91.
Your PIKO Team
4
The Prototype
To mark the 100th anniversary of the
German railroad, the Fuchs wagon
factory in Heidelberg was commissioned
in 1935 to manufacture 2 observation
railcars. Under the German Reichsbahn,
the trains were operated as ET 91 and
used exclusively for panoramic trips. As
many surfaces as possible at the time
were therefore kept in glass, including
parts of the roof. This is how the ET
91 got its nickname "glass train". In
the vernacular, the railcar with its all-
glass roof was often referred to as the
"rolling glass box" or "the glass one.
The total length of the railcar was about
20m. The maximum speed was 120
km/h in the beginning. Later, this was
lowered to 110 km/h. A maximum of
72 passengers could be accommodated
in one car. During the war, one railcar
was completely destroyed. The second
one was repainted again and put into
service for the Deutsche Bundesbahn.
Originally designed in light blue, the ET
91 was later painted dark blue. In 1953,
henceforth operated as the class 491,
the train was given a red/ivory exterior.
The train was painted Olympic blue for
the 1971 Olympic Games. The glass
train completed its last years of service
in the dark gentian blue again. The
story of the remaining "glass one" ends
tragically during a panoramic trip. After
60 years of service, as one of the oldest
DB rail vehicles at the time, an accident
occurred in 1995, resulting in a total
loss of the train.
The Model
With our new "glass train," PIKO is
bringing another piece of railroad
history to G scale. The glass car body
allows for a full view of the detailed
interior, which includes factory installed
figures and interior lighting.
Technical Features
• One powerful ball-bearing 7-pole
motor, protected from moisture
• Gearing on 2 axles through a
powerful motor
• 8 wheels are equipped with wheel
wipers for electrical pickup.
• 2 additional sliding pickup shoes
ride directly on the rails for reliable
electrical pickup
• Illuminated LED three-light signal
alternating white/red with the
direction of travel
• switchable interior lighting
• Switchable cab lighting
• Prepared for retrofitting a digital and
sound system
• Loudspeaker compartment
• Pantograph made of metal
• Length: 762 mm
• weight: approx. 2,750 g
Details
• Feature different and accurate
individual engravings
• Separately applied front windshield
and front and side windows
• Separately installed interior with
locomotive driver and passengers
• UV- and weather-resistant materials
for years of outdoor garden railway
service
• Authentic color schem
• Authentic and comprehensive
lettering and decoration
Precautions and Recommendations
Minimum Radius
The locomotive can run on track with
a minimum recommended radius of
600 mm (23.62''). Naturally, extended
operation on small radius curves
leads to greatly increased wear of the
locomotive and track.
Additional equipment
• Digital system included
• Reed contact to sound through track
magnet
• movable current collectors by means
of digitally controllable servo motors