Piko 51424 Expert DRG E32 Electric Locomotive II (DCC-Sound) HO Gauge

Expert DRG E32 Electric Locomotive II (DCC-Sound) 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: DCC Sound Model Best suited to Epoch II Model Railways This model mainly operates in Germany This model is decorated in DRG company markings This model is best suited to 358mm radius curves Details The Bavarian EP 2 was an early German electric locomotive designed for passenger service on the electrified routes of the Royal Bavarian State Railways (Königlich Bayerische Staatsbahn) in the early 20th century. Developed at a time when mainline electrification was still experimental, the EP 2 demonstrated the potential of electric traction for reliable, efficient passenger haulage on steep and challenging terrain. Introduced in 1912, the EP 2 featured a B'2' wheel arrangement, unusual for its era, combining powered driving axles with a separate trailing bogie for stability at speed. Its electrical equipment was designed to operate under the 15 kV AC system that would later become standard in much of Germany and neighbouring countries. Though only a small number were built, the EP 2 served in regular passenger operations on some of Bavaria’s early electrified lines, including routes with significant gradients where steam locomotives struggled. Its success helped build confidence in electric traction and influenced later, larger classes such as the DRG E 16 and E 18 family. After the First World War, the surviving locomotives passed to the Deutsche Reichsbahn, where they continued in secondary passenger and light express roles until retirement in the 1930s. For model railway enthusiasts, the Bavarian EP 2 is a fascinating prototype for pre-1930 electrified layouts, capturing the pioneering spirit of early electric traction and making a striking addition to historic German scenes.