Thus the RE3612's regular 10-minute wait time at the station was lengthened to 13 minutes that day to let the tourist train pass.

The 491 tourist train, however, had a much weaker structure due in large part to its panoramic viewing windows.

It was also over a half-century older; while the 1044 locomotive had been completed at the SGP workshops in 1992, the 491 001, built by Waggonfabrik Fuchs, had been in service since 1935.

The guard ran back into the train, whistled for departure, and closed the automatic doors.

The driver forgot to look at the signal, which indicated Hp 0 (Stop) as scheduled to allow the Glass Train time to pass through the station.