The need for heavy freight locomotives prompted the DB to build a total of 43 locomotives from the E 94 series in the years 1954 to 1956. This also included the E 94 178, which was listed as 194 178 after the DB series scheme was changed in 1968. During the main inspection on January 8, 1976, the locomotive was painted in the colors ocean blue and ivory, which were valid on the DB from 1974. However, the distribution of the colors with a bright contrasting area on the front was not convincing due to the susceptibility to protection in this area. As the only locomotive in its series with this livery, it also bore the nickname “Blue Mauritius”. PIKO transferred this special locomotive to the scale 1:87, taking into account all the special features of the prototype.