The PIKO brand will celebrate a 75th anniversary in 2024. Interesting novelties are also announced for scale N. Also with PIKO, it is wise to reserve desired models in advance at your favorite (web) store. Models are often sold out from the factory.
The first notable novelty is the MRCE’s BR 185 electric locomotive in Era VI. The black design gives a contemporary look to the locomotive. Mitsui Rail Capital Europe (MRCE) focuses mainly on locomotive leasing. The designation “dispolok” still refers to the origin of this locomotive, namely Siemens. Which also leased locomotives until 2006. With a rental or lease locomotive, possibilities are almost endless. Although deployment for a freight train is the most obvious.
The model will be equipped with various fine details such as handles and sand spreaders. The digital version will be equipped with an XP sound decoder. The recommended retail price for the latter model is 299 euros. Delivery time is not yet known.
Also in black, is Captrain’s self-unloader. The FALNS wagons can actually carry 90 m3 of goods. That ranges from coal, iron ore and other bulk commodities. No photos of the model are available yet. The different color scheme combined with the distinctive logo, make this an attractive variant that could become part of a long train of self-unloaders. For nearly 50 euros each, they pass over the counter. A missed opportunity by PIKO to make sets of these in pairs. Indeed, it is rare to find such wagons “only” included in a train.
Finally, a nice series based on the “silberingen” was released for TRI. Includes a control car with the distinctive Wittenberg head. Germany’s TRI is a railroad company that specializes in preserving historic vehicles. The model is without interior lighting, which can be added later. The recommended retail price for the wagons is 50 euros. The control car at 132. It seems likely that this includes decoder for digital driving.
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