Explore the power of rail with the diesel locomotive G 1206 "FRET"of reference Piko 97801, reproduced with minutiae at HO 1/87 scale.
The features of the Piko 97801 scale model:
- Scale: HO 1/87.
- Rail company: SNCF.
- Era: VI.
- Technology: Analog.
- Operating system: DC / 2 Rails / Direct Current.
- Energy: Diesel.
- Registration number: G 1206.
- Delivery: FRET / Cap Logo / Green / Grey.
- Minimum curve radius: 360 mm.
- Hitch: NEM. Hooks: Loops.
- Digitisable: Yes.
- Lighting: White / Inverted.
A little touch of history:
The G 1206 BB diesel locomotive, also known as the BB 61000 in France, was manufactured from 1997 by MaK. With a maximum power of 1,500 kW and a top speed of 100 km/h, it represents a milestone in the railway sector.
Initially designed by Maschinenbau Kiel (MaK) to meet the needs of the coal mining company RAG, the G 1206 succeeded the G 1205 produced from 1991. In 1998, the Kiel plant was acquired by Vossloh.
This locomotive, measuring 14.7 metres in length and weighing 87.3 tonnes, is powered by a twelve-cylinder Caterpillar diesel engine. Tractive effort is transmitted via a Voith hydraulic gearbox, a relatively rare feature in France. The braking system comprises wheel-mounted discs and brake blocks.
The BB 61000 is unusual in that it has a single cab and a driving position on the right-hand side in the direction of travel, which can pose challenges for the visibility of low-type signals positioned on the left, especially given the length of the bonnet. These locomotives are mainly deployed in Alsace and Moselle (right-hand traffic regions) around Strasbourg.
Prior to their assignment to the Hausbergen depot, the locomotives underwent various additions to enhance their safety on the French network, such as the KVB, the Atess recorder, the DAAT, the repetition of signals in the cab, the ground-train radio, etc. To operate in Germany, the BB 61000s were also fitted with the PZB device.
