Piko 27510 H0 - Steam locomotive G7.1 Rh7000 SNCB, Era III, DCC with sound

Digital model of the G 7.1 goods steam locomotive (class 7000) in the livery of the Belgian State Railways

A digital model of the historic G 7.1 goods steam locomotive, known in Belgium as class 7000, in the livery of the Belgian State Railways (SNCB) in Era III. In H0 scale PIKO has taken into account the country-specific colour features of the Belgian prototype and carefully reproduced the locomotive's paintwork.

The model is supplied as a direct-current (DC) version with a factory-fitted PSD XP sound decoder in PluX22 standard. The decoder reproduces numerous authentic steam locomotive sounds, considerably increasing the realism of operation and allowing the locomotive's sound effects to be controlled independently.

Model technical data:

• Scale: H0 (1:87)
• Item number: 27510
• Manufacturer: PIKO
• Railway: SNCB
• Era: III (1945–1970)
• Model length: 193 mm
• Power system: direct current (DC)
• Decoder interface: NEM 658 – PluX22
• Decoder: factory-fitted PSD XP sound decoder
• Number of traction tyres: 4
• Directional lighting: white / white
• Sound effects: numerous authentic steam locomotive sounds
• Minimum radius: 358 mm
• The model is painted and ready to run
• Recommended age: 14 years and over

Note: a DCC digital command station and a powered track are required to run the model.

The model is not a starter set and does not include track or a controller. To use all the digital functions – sound, lighting control and the remaining effects – a DCC command station (e.g. PIKO SmartControl or any other DCC-compatible controller) connected to a powered track is required. The model can also be run on a conventional analogue layout powered by direct current (DC), but only provided that the decoder has its alternative power source function (analogue operation – governed by bit 2 of register CV29 in the DCC standard) switched on. It is active by default, but if it has previously been disabled, supplying the track with DC may damage the decoder. In analogue mode only basic running is available – without sound or digital functions.

Model railways – digital or analogue control?

The DCC digital control system allows several vehicles to run independently on the same track. Each vehicle receives individual commands at a constant track voltage, enabling a realistic representation of movement and separate control of the lights and sound effects of each model. In an analogue system all vehicles on a given circuit are controlled simultaneously by changing the supply voltage. The PIKO 27510 model has a factory-fitted DCC decoder with sound and is intended primarily for digital control.

About the Prussian G 7.1 steam locomotive (Belgian class 7000):

The Prussian G 7.1 is one of the most numerous and successful goods steam locomotives of the Prussian state railways. The design, with a D (0-8-0, four coupled driving axles and no carrying axles) wheel arrangement, was first built in 1893 by Stettiner Maschinenbau AG Vulcan and later by other works as well. By 1917 more than 1,200 examples had been built. These locomotives were intended for heavy goods duties, especially on routes with steeper gradients.

After the First World War a considerable number of Prussian goods locomotives, including the G 7.1, passed to Belgium as war reparations, where the state railways (later SNCB) grouped them into class 7000. In this livery the engines worked in goods service into Era III. The locomotive reached a top speed of 45 km/h, developed an indicated power of about 485 kW and had a boiler pressure of 12 bar, making it a reliable and unpretentious workhorse on the network.

Original technical data (Prussian G 7.1):

• Builder: Stettiner Maschinenbau AG Vulcan and other works
• Years of production: 1893–1917 (over 1,200 examples)
• Wheel arrangement: D (0-8-0, four coupled driving axles)
• Driving wheel diameter: 1,250 mm
• Length: approx. 16.6 m (over beams)
• Service weight: approx. 52.6 t
• Boiler pressure: 12 bar
• Number of cylinders: 2
• Indicated power: approx. 485 kW
• Maximum speed: 45 km/h
• Purpose: heavy goods trains

About the manufacturer – PIKO:

PIKO is a German model railway manufacturer with over seventy years of tradition, founded in 1949 in Sonneberg, Thuringia. Today it is one of the most popular model railway brands in Europe and a notable producer of European rolling stock, including Polish prototypes in PKP, PKP Intercity and PKP Cargo liveries. Its range covers locomotives, wagons and complete trains from N up to G scale, with selected models equipped at the factory with DCC and sound decoders. PIKO products are valued by modellers and collectors worldwide for their fidelity, functionality and modern digital technology.