Garden Railway Electric Train "Glass Train" #37330 / #37331

03.12.2021 Garden Railway Electric Train "Glass Train" #37330 / #37331

The glass train is coming! The 491 001- 4 panoramic railcar as a G Scale model from PIKO

37330 Electric Train "Glass Train" DB era IV UVP 1.200,00 €
37331 Electric Train/Sound "Glass Train" DB era IV, inkl. PIKO SmartDecoder XP 5.1 S UVP 1.350,00 €

The advantages of the model in key points

• Complete new construction
• Digitally switchable interior lighting ex works
• Driver's desk lighting
• Filigree bogie covers
• Highly detailed roof design
• Excellent price-performance ratio

Some information about the prototype and the model

For the 100th anniversary of the German Railway in 1935, the Heidelberg Waggonfabrik Fuchs was commissioned to manufacture two observation railcars. The Deutsche Reichsbahn added the trains to its fleet as elT in 1998 and 1999. The beautifully shaped vehicles were designed exclusively for tourist trips on scenic routes. In order to provide passengers with a good all-round view, as many areas as possible were glazed in accordance with the state of the art at the time. This gave the vehicles, now operated as ET 91, the nickname "glass train". The total length of the railcars was just over 20 m, the maximum speed was 120 km/h, but was later reduced to 110 km/h in the course of changes in the drive section. During the war, one railcar was destroyed. The remaining ET 91 01 was put back into service with the Deutsche Bundesbahn in 1949. In 1953, the train, which was always based in Munich, was given a new colour scheme in red and ivory. Until 1995, the colour scheme changed twice more. The history of the "glass one" ended tragically: after 60 years of service, a serious accident occurred in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1995. The train was not repaired and is now in the Augsburg railway park.

Like hardly any other rail vehicle, the "Glass Train" embodies the feeling of wanderlust. With the new PIKO model, it is possible to bring a touch of this to your own garden railway. The large glass surfaces allow a free view, the interior is completely represented and the drive is practically invisible. As with the prototype, the engine is housed in the drive bogie and acts here on both axles. The bogie panels of the train create a great optical depth, the running gear is filigree open-worked. The body of the 491 is convincing due to the precisely manufactured window panes, which are inserted flush into the window bars and thus shape the character of the model. They also allow a view of the passengers in the interior. The roof garden was represented prototypically and in high detail. It is crowned by the two pantographs of different designs.

The train offers numerous options to diversify the operation. For example, the front skirts can be exchanged for model couplings to represent prototypical towing operation by steam or diesel vehicles. Vehicles with item number 37330 can easily be retrofitted with sound. The digital sound version 37331 has lifting and lowering pantographs ex works that are moved by miniature servo motors. The switchable interior and instrument lighting allows atmospheric operation in the dark.

Sophisticated and solidly manufactured technology ensures a high level of operational safety and guarantees maximum driving pleasure even under demanding outdoor conditions. The extensive lighting has been designed in contemporary and maintenance-free LED technology. The digital version is fully compatible with the widely used track contacts for sound control.

With the Glass Train, PIKO has created a traction unit with enormous recognition value in G scale. The extremely appealing overall realisation makes the model an eye-catcher and thus creates a small memorial to this likeable vehicle.

01.12.2021 Produktmanagement