Good review! Very nicely made model too, Piko is really starting to venture to the non EU market as they are doing a Chinese locomotive as well. But even for a German style layout the model is great because these locomotives were tested in the south of Germany, they ran without sun visors, horns and handrails fitted to stay within the German loading gauge. I bet on a hood body style version in the future as well, like the preserved version on the Niles Canyon Railway in California, the did a great job on restoring theirs to operational condition, although on one of the two engines only. Piko has a really great team and the director of the company is as much an enthusiast as a business man, I had several chats with him on exhibitions in Germany where he always is in the stand all day, this interaction with the consumers is what makes their products so well executed.
@@Mariazellerbahn Nice to know, I just watched a video of 2 br52 locomotives pulling a coal train on the Semmeringbahn, that was quite awesome. Also a surprise that the ML4000 fitted trough the tunnels.
Got to see set of 3 them run on the San Diego musium layout in February run . The preformed perfectly. Can't wait to get some soon. Tge guy from Poko said there is 80 hand details on them. Just beautiful 😮
Thank you for the review. Just another great piko product (I also collect Euro engines) should Piko keep releasing American material it has a great future ahead.
Only issue with that is they use a European standard decoder style (22PLuX) as opposed to a USA standard (21NEM/MTC.) some of us like the DCC ready models to use our preferred brand and these models are set up for Piko and ESU decoders.
I grew up with the SP in northern California and saw mainly SD45's and tunnel motores in the 1970's as a teen. Now I model the D&RGW 1976-1983 primarily. The KM's are out of my time frame for both railroads but these sure look perty!
preordered one, it showed up at my brick & mortar hobby shop in February - front lighting failed after one minute of running, fortunately at the dealers test track. Of course I refused to accept it, dealer sent it back to Piko. As of August 3 it is still at Piko, status unknown. So much for quality and customer service.
Mine is currently on its way between China and my dealer... I'm looking forward to it. Let's see if my dealer has a second one that hasn't been ordered and is for sale... I wish I'd ordered two when I placed the order...
The cab chatter being fairly low volume is probably more prototypical than, say, the Lionel engines where everyone in the yard can hear it. And even w/ two files, you'd probably be a little tired of them after a few listens. Looked as if the portholes had detail of the prime movers in them.
Just like most factory passenger car interior lighting, the interior lighting in this seems vastly too bright. On some HO BLI SP Daylight passenger cars, I added resistors here and there to make the LED interior lighting much dimmer. When you see prototype equipment at night with interior lights on, you don't see a zillion candle power screaming out but instead more of a warm soft glow. I found that an added benefit was that in normal room lighting you could only scarcely tell if the light were on which is as it should be. So, if you do this, you never have to turn the interior lights off (unless you specifically want them off). So, if you darken the room, it is as if you were turning the lights on (as with older schemes using physical switches or magnetic reed switches) except you don't have to do anything.
Like that Loco, first modeled by Rivarossi , Piko has done it beautifully. Why is there a need to explain how to extract the model from the box, who's buying these models.?
Man. Just to reiterate. That model has shown up how poor some of the US manufacturers are, And as for that slow speed....OMG.That is what sorts the men from the boys. Why cant other manufacturers make a model that runs like this? Any model can run well at speed but at ss 1, some models are scratching to do as slow a speed as 3mph. I saw a review a few months ago about a model that was similar to a GE 44tonner. Think it was a whicomb. Made by Piko & that thing ran as slow as this model, so Piko, you have set the bar for other manufacturers to step up.Hope it continues releasing other models.
Great modell, too bad all, 6 wheel drive from Piko is for US only :( If this locomotive was for EU market it wold have only 4 of 6 wheel drive, with one pair, close to the middle, equipped with traction tyres and slave center wheels in bogeys.
A very impressive model! It has it all. I hope a D&RGW version will be made too.
We all hope Piko will make many more US locomotives.
That slow speed control is incredible. Best I've ever seen in a model
the lighting effects alone make it worth the price !!!! NICE !!!!!
After watching this I got a hold of Factory Direct hobbies and ordered one I already got an email that it shipped can't wait thank you
Good review! Very nicely made model too, Piko is really starting to venture to the non EU market as they are doing a Chinese locomotive as well.
But even for a German style layout the model is great because these locomotives were tested in the south of Germany, they ran without sun visors, horns and handrails fitted to stay within the German loading gauge.
I bet on a hood body style version in the future as well, like the preserved version on the Niles Canyon Railway in California, the did a great job on restoring theirs to operational condition, although on one of the two engines only.
Piko has a really great team and the director of the company is as much an enthusiast as a business man, I had several chats with him on exhibitions in Germany where he always is in the stand all day, this interaction with the consumers is what makes their products so well executed.
They were tested on the Semmeringbahn in Austria.
@@Mariazellerbahn Nice to know, I just watched a video of 2 br52 locomotives pulling a coal train on the Semmeringbahn, that was quite awesome. Also a surprise that the ML4000 fitted trough the tunnels.
Got to see set of 3 them run on the San Diego musium layout in February run . The preformed perfectly. Can't wait to get some soon. Tge guy from Poko said there is 80 hand details on them. Just beautiful 😮
Thank you for the review. Just another great piko product (I also collect Euro engines) should Piko keep releasing American material it has a great future ahead.
I totally agree!
Only issue with that is they use a European standard decoder style (22PLuX) as opposed to a USA standard (21NEM/MTC.) some of us like the DCC ready models to use our preferred brand and these models are set up for Piko and ESU decoders.
They seem to program just fine using JMRI.
Just a note f8 is a 4 function control also the lighting function has 4 functions as well. Just picked mine up this past weekend and love the features
Thanks James. Your review helped me solve avproblem I was having with my DCC ready models.
Now that's a quality model.
What sold me was the fans moving when it throttled up as well as the lighting
and at the price they are asking its a steal
I saw that too I think the fans where moving because of the vibration of the wheel’s slide on the rails when he was doing the test.
If you turn the sound up high the horn can make the fan blades slowly turn.
The attention to detail on that locomotive is astonishing
Yes, very well executed.
Good review James the color looks great nice looking detail that a nice looking Piko model thanks for sharing.
Robert
An interesting model and the usual excellent video. As always... thanks for being there!
Beautiful model.
I grew up with the SP in northern California and saw mainly SD45's and tunnel motores in the 1970's as a teen. Now I model the D&RGW 1976-1983 primarily. The KM's are out of my time frame for both railroads but these sure look perty!
Excellent model of the locomotive Piko hit it right on nail
Can we please have a Layout update of your HO Layout? Mike HO from Australia.
Sure coming in early April.
That is a nicely done locomotive!!!!
Now that the D&RGW version has been shipping, I decided to order one of the sound version. Looking forward to receiving one later this week.
The town I grew up in was the SP Cotton Belt line!
got my hands on one...they are fantastic!
Very impressive locomotive !!!!! A lot of very nice feature. Great review !!!
preordered one, it showed up at my brick & mortar hobby shop in February - front lighting failed after one minute of running, fortunately at the dealers test track. Of course I refused to accept it, dealer sent it back to Piko. As of August 3 it is still at Piko, status unknown. So much for quality and customer service.
VERY NICE!
Wow!!!
Cool model!
Wow!!! Impressive
F8 twice to start second motor. F8 once only fires one engine👍😀OperateOnOperator
These guys knew what they were doing by making their function mapping follow ESU standards
hello James & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks James Friends Randy
nice locomotive 👍🙂
Mine is currently on its way between China and my dealer... I'm looking forward to it. Let's see if my dealer has a second one that hasn't been ordered and is for sale... I wish I'd ordered two when I placed the order...
The cab chatter being fairly low volume is probably more prototypical than, say, the Lionel engines where everyone in the yard can hear it. And even w/ two files, you'd probably be a little tired of them after a few listens.
Looked as if the portholes had detail of the prime movers in them.
I like it.
🤩🤩🤩🤩
Just like most factory passenger car interior lighting, the interior lighting in this seems vastly too bright. On some HO BLI SP Daylight passenger cars, I added resistors here and there to make the LED interior lighting much dimmer. When you see prototype equipment at night with interior lights on, you don't see a zillion candle power screaming out but instead more of a warm soft glow. I found that an added benefit was that in normal room lighting you could only scarcely tell if the light were on which is as it should be. So, if you do this, you never have to turn the interior lights off (unless you specifically want them off). So, if you darken the room, it is as if you were turning the lights on (as with older schemes using physical switches or magnetic reed switches) except you don't have to do anything.
hi, how many axles powered 4 or 6? thanks
Do you know which Decoder manufacturer make a decoder that emulate the Krause Maffei sounds?
So pleased for the SP guys! Did you happen to notice, is the 'cab chatter' in German? 😂
Genau. Lol
Do you know how to change the adress on it? I'm having trouble doing it and finding what kind of programmer to use.
Hey,PIKO,we'd,like,a,quality,Alco,RSD12!
What was the MSRP on it?
Don't forget to start the second engine
Just so you know there is one of those running in Niles canyon Fremont California
How does a Diesel Hydraulic have dynamic brakes?
Like that Loco, first modeled by Rivarossi , Piko has done it beautifully. Why is there a need to explain how to extract the model from the box, who's buying these models.?
Man. Just to reiterate. That model has shown up how poor some of the US manufacturers are, And as for that slow speed....OMG.That is what sorts the men from the boys. Why cant other manufacturers make a model that runs like this? Any model can run well at speed but at ss 1, some models are scratching to do as slow a speed as 3mph. I saw a review a few months ago about a model that was similar to a GE 44tonner. Think it was a whicomb. Made by Piko & that thing ran as slow as this model, so Piko, you have set the bar for other manufacturers to step up.Hope it continues releasing other models.
What's the top speed?
Is it plastic or diecast?
Great model. But in real life these locomotives were a failure. Such a shame! American for Americans I guess!!
I bought two of these #9000 and #9001 they have two diesel motors in them and there's two different start up one for each motor pretty cool
Great modell, too bad all, 6 wheel drive from Piko is for US only :( If this locomotive was for EU market it wold have only 4 of 6 wheel drive, with one pair, close to the middle, equipped with traction tyres and slave center wheels in bogeys.
no