Piko 21779 Expert DBAG BR114 Electric Locomotive VI HO Gauge

Expert DBAG BR114 Electric Locomotive VI 1:87 scale model produced by Piko. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection. Features: Analogue DC Model Best suited to Epoch VI Model Railways This model mainly operates in Germany This model is decorated in DBAG company markings This model is best suited to 358mm radius curves Details The DB Class 114 represents a unique and relatively short chapter in the long history of Deutsche Bundesbahn’s Einheits-Elektrolokomotive programme. The class was formed from 20 locomotives re-designated from the third production series of Class 112, machines originally approved for 160 km/h operation. These locomotives ran on modified bogies derived from the standard Class 110 design, allowing higher speeds on express passenger services. By the mid-1980s, however, significant bogie wear became evident. As a result, from 1985 the maximum speed of locomotives 112 485–504 was reduced to 140 km/h. To distinguish these restricted locomotives from the remaining Class 112 units still authorised for 160 km/h running, they were officially reclassified as Class 114 in 1988. Ongoing mechanical issues around the bogies led to further speed reductions to 120 km/h, and the class was soon withdrawn from front-line service. From 1993, all 20 Class 114 locomotives were rebuilt as standard Class 110.3 units, receiving bogies from earlier Class 110 locomotives and re-entering service as 110 485–504. In a remarkable demonstration of the flexibility of the Einheitslokomotive concept, displaced Class 110 units were themselves rebuilt using bogies from retired Class 140 locomotives and reclassified as Class 139. For model railway enthusiasts, the Class 114 offers a fascinating example of Deutsche Bundesbahn’s pragmatic engineering and fleet management during the later Era IV period.