My club owns one. Hands down, the most powerful engine you could ever hope for. It is smooth as feathers on glass and the weight helps keep it firmly on the rails. Never seen it derail. Pulling or pushing, this engine will handle whatever you need. It is truly a terrific asset. Get one, you deserve this quality!
Quite a high quality loco you have there! The look, sounds and, most of all, the smooth mechanism are tops. I know of another British UA-cam model railroad man(Sam's Trains) would relish that smooth running crawl!
WOW,man that is sooo smooth& slow.Exactly what determines a good model.Shame some other manufacturers couldnt do the same with their locos,especially steamers.Perfection drive system
It’s great to finally hear the locomotive’s sounds after seeing so many pictures of it. I really like the die cast body. I plan on getting one of these!
As a european modeler, I've been waiting for this engine. :) I really hope Piko expands to more US locomotives, but they are right now focused on the european market. They make many good quality models, for very competitive prices. As a note: they have two main quality lines: Hobby and Expert. This locomotive is made in the Expert line, which is the high-end spectrum. Yes, the price is the regular price for a diesel locomotive in the Expert series. As noted, very competitive. Hobby is their cheaper line. Less detail, and sometimes very obvious shortcuts have been taken. But.. the price is accordingly, and they still look very decent.
Hey James thanks for the review on the Piko i was going to ask about the nuckle but you took care of that so thank for sharing you always do good reviews look forward to your next one Robert Guzman
James... Gotchya! I thought you could talk your way out of anything! I appreciate your honesty and integrity in admitting you do not know x-y-z. So many others BS in overdrive to drown out the narrative and stifle questions. Many thanks for your honesty and thoroughness, the quality shows. Kind regards from Sydney, Australia.
Hello. What a beautiful loco. And I agree, if Piko starting manufacturing American product, they would be very successful. Thanks for a great review. And interesting history. See ya.
Peco and Piko are not the same manufacturer. Peco is a UK firm that mainly makes track and accessories, while Piko are a German company that make very nice train models with about the same degree of quality as eg. Roco, Trix etc.
They used to have one of these in Mason City, Iowa until it was shipped off to the Netherlands and restored to its army paint a few years back, likely to get one of these guys
We have one of these still operating in our small town of Kenton, Oh. 43326 It is owned and operated by Precision Strip who custom cuts coil steel for it's customers.
As already Mentioned, Peco ( Pritchard Patent Products) is a British firm specializing in track work ( British, Euro and US style) whilst PIKO, is a former East German model maker from the 1950s, which survived Re-unification in 1990 ( many DDR companies simply disappeared) and modernised with a more general European model line ( before the concentrated on Eastern European Models.) The USTC Withcombe was used throughout 1943-45 in Europe, and many were bought out at war's end. Some countries ( Netherlands) bought extra units 1946-48 under the Marshall Plan.
I tried to nab one of these in Brass a few months ago, I gave up and it sold for over $700. Maybe I can get one of these in plastic. So excited to see this model. Cheers Rob
I got my sound equipped version a week ago. I love it. Glad mine didn't have the knuckles on it though so I can change to what we use in the UK easily. I own a few HO USATC models but hate that the coupling is always a problem. I change them to magnetic couplings. My USATC Whitcomb will be used on a WWII military training exhibition layout that used Whitcombs. The American and Canadian engineers were trained there too, before moving to mainland Europe after the invasion..
James, those boxcar styles you described might be the armored version of the Whitcombs. Not far from where I live there used to be the Camp Claiborne Military Railroad. There were two armored versions of the 65 tonner there. I have seen photos of one of those. I did lot of research looking into that railroad and posted a lot info about the railroad on Model Railroad Hobbyist. Camp Claiborne was the location of the Army's training facilities for servicemen who would run the railroads as Europe was liberated. They also had battalions there that were training to repair bombed out railroads. It is a very interesting history. There is now a museum dedicated to the railroad camp in Longleaf, Louisiana. At one time I seriously considered modeling it. You should look it up.
They were trained when they got to England, shown the European signal system, how to blow up lines, repair them and build bridges. Canadians were also trained by the Royal Engineers. After the invasion, they moved to mainland Europe. Whitcombs were used at No1 training centre (Longmoor) and No 2 (Melbourne Military Railway). I bought my Whitcomb for an exhibition layout. I have several books showing American engineers and locomotives.
Getting closer, been waiting for a US style 80 ton so I can make the diesel they use on the Virginia and Truckee Line. After watching: Wow that thing is impressive… ✅ So smooth!
Many European manufacturers use NEM coupling boxes so that you just pull out and swap with one of the Kadee that also have the fishtail on the coupler.
Hello James how are you doing? Good to see more reviews again! Little extra information about this locomotive: After the war the Netherlands bought 20 of these in 1946 as the class 2000 for de NS (Dutch Railways). So you can buy this type from Piko in that fashion as well (really populair in the Netherlands at this moment). Good luck with your new home and YTchannel! Jasper
I have one also, however you do not mention what control system you are using. I am using Digitraxx and the NMRA standard is that function 8 is engine start. On this engine function 1 and 2 is engine start. The big problem is that function 2 is momentary so the second motor does not stay on. Another item is that an engine that heavy shouldn't need traction tires, but this one has them and that cuts down on the electrical contact so it stalls on crossings. Otherwise, it is a great looking locomotive for my industrial switching railroad.
I wish there wasn't Peco, Piko and Pico (they make some DCC stuff), it's immensely confusing for customers. Should probably include North American couplers with an American locomotive at that price. The lights and sounds seem nice.
When you see the detailing and more over the performance it leaves you speechless! The US manufacturers need to watch out as PIKO is a threat to US models and they could easily take over instantly!
That's going to be an interesting model to watch out for, especially since they're advertising it to have functioning radiator fans. To my knowledge that would be a first in HO scale.
I apologize if I missed it, but what about the wheel flanges? They don't appear to be NMRA compliant. I'd buy one of these great locos in a heartbeat, but not if it won't operate on my code 70 and code 55 track.
@Rocky Ridge Shops ... The model has slightly smaller flanges than European NEM standard and will run fine on Code 83 and 100. We don't recommend it on Code 70 or 55 without modifications.
@@danpikoamerica7314 Thank you for the response. That's a shame - those wheels are going to be a deal-killer for many modelers. This is a perfect branchline locomotive, but it can only run on huge mainline-type rail. Are the wheelsets hard to remove? I could turn them down myself - it would be worth the effort for an otherwise outstanding model.
These were diesel locos, however they paid specials attention to reducing exhaust and camouflaging locos as it was easy to spot and a target during wartime. This site gives you some more simple background if you want... industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2015/09/whitcomb-locomotives.html
BEWARE!!! As an Italian railfan, I have to say something for the USA railfans thinking to buy Piko’s locomotive with Piko’s DCC: If you are using NCE Powercab, like me, and the locomotive has Piko’s Smartdecoder and a big capacitor (stay alive/keep alive/energy reservoir/ ecc ecc), the Powercab can run it, but you can’t program it. If you try to program with the program track , nothing happens, when you exit the decoder becomes mad and the locomotove start moving and sounding without control. Also POM seems not to work. This is what happened to me with the Piko’s FS D.141, a beautiful made italian road switcher.
James, how did you get this locomotive to review it? Piko says December! I digress... I want one! Love it! Auto engine load sounds... fantastic! Thank you for the review. Piko site says they will be available in September. John BC, Canada Real loco video: ua-cam.com/video/HRALPzxOGfk/v-deo.html Piko Factory Video and the Whitcomb 65-Ton Diesel Locomotive production: ua-cam.com/video/0igyNJSz3uM/v-deo.html
This version, and road number, ran in Europe. I don't believe it came back to the States, but stayed in Europe. It should still be on display there as well. So it's more an American-made, European-style loco paint scheme. The official North American style locos, without buffers and with knuckles, are coming later. (MMID is the first one they announced.)
Because it was made by the USA to support their troops around the world, the units going into the european teather must had it, like the S160 and S100 steam locomotives. These units are capable of MU I think, they arrived also in my country, Italy, but not stayed here for so much time because MU was an advanced tecnology and Italy an enemy nation. Only not capable MU Whitcombs remained in Italy, made in H0 by the Italian brand Acme.
My club owns one. Hands down, the most powerful engine you could ever hope for. It is smooth as feathers on glass and the weight helps keep it firmly on the rails. Never seen it derail. Pulling or pushing, this engine will handle whatever you need. It is truly a terrific asset. Get one, you deserve this quality!
Now that has to be one of the best quality looking locomotives I have ever seen for HO scale!
Flawless work by PIKO just absolutely stunning!😉👍🏻
Quite a high quality loco you have there! The look, sounds and, most of all, the smooth mechanism are tops. I know of another British UA-cam model railroad man(Sam's Trains) would relish that smooth running crawl!
WOW,man that is sooo smooth& slow.Exactly what determines a good model.Shame some other manufacturers couldnt do the same with their locos,especially steamers.Perfection drive system
It’s great to finally hear the locomotive’s sounds after seeing so many pictures of it. I really like the die cast body. I plan on getting one of these!
Honestly something very different and original for the North American market and they've done a killer job at executing it too
Awesome!!!! There are two Whitcomb switchers on display at the Rochelle train park in Rochelle Illinois.
Love different locos that aren’t modeled frequently. Wayyyy too many gevos and 70aces, sd40-2/3’s.
As a european modeler, I've been waiting for this engine. :)
I really hope Piko expands to more US locomotives, but they are right now focused on the european market. They make many good quality models, for very competitive prices.
As a note: they have two main quality lines: Hobby and Expert.
This locomotive is made in the Expert line, which is the high-end spectrum. Yes, the price is the regular price for a diesel locomotive in the Expert series. As noted, very competitive.
Hobby is their cheaper line. Less detail, and sometimes very obvious shortcuts have been taken. But.. the price is accordingly, and they still look very decent.
Looks really nice! Wheel flanges look huge...
Hey James thanks for the review on the Piko i was going to ask about the nuckle but you took care of that so thank for sharing you always do good reviews look forward to your next one Robert Guzman
Thanks Jim! Looking forward to the Atlantic Coast Line version.
That was super cool... fun to see something truly new. One is now on my wish list. Hill AFB in Utah had/has a couple of these. No it seem I do too.
I've been waiting for this model for a year. They also served on British military railways to train crews, including US and Canadian engineers.
James... Gotchya! I thought you could talk your way out of anything! I appreciate your honesty and integrity in admitting you do not know x-y-z. So many others BS in overdrive to drown out the narrative and stifle questions. Many thanks for your honesty and thoroughness, the quality shows. Kind regards from Sydney, Australia.
Hello. What a beautiful loco. And I agree, if Piko starting manufacturing American product, they would be very successful. Thanks for a great review. And interesting history. See ya.
Peco and Piko are not the same manufacturer. Peco is a UK firm that mainly makes track and accessories, while Piko are a German company that make very nice train models with about the same degree of quality as eg. Roco, Trix etc.
@@COPPAS70, my bad. I listened but didn’t read.
you have to love these odd locos so nice to see something different 👍
Definitely getting one of these at some point.
Really impressed with this little beast, Thnx for the review...
They used to have one of these in Mason City, Iowa until it was shipped off to the Netherlands and restored to its army paint a few years back, likely to get one of these guys
Thanks for the great review. Can't wait for the dutch version to come out.
We have one of these still operating in our small town of Kenton, Oh. 43326
It is owned and operated by Precision Strip who custom cuts coil steel for it's customers.
Growing up a large quarry near mt home operated one in orange in the 60's
As already Mentioned, Peco ( Pritchard Patent Products) is a British firm specializing in track work ( British, Euro and US style) whilst PIKO, is a former East German model maker from the 1950s, which survived Re-unification in 1990 ( many DDR companies simply disappeared) and modernised with a more general European model line ( before the concentrated on Eastern European Models.)
The USTC Withcombe was used throughout 1943-45 in Europe, and many were bought out at war's end.
Some countries ( Netherlands) bought extra units 1946-48 under the Marshall Plan.
I just pre-ordered one,thanks to your video, they're going quick
I tried to nab one of these in Brass a few months ago, I gave up and it sold for over $700. Maybe I can get one of these in plastic. So excited to see this model. Cheers Rob
Same type of locomotive we use at Trolley Museum of Kingston, Kingston New York.
Hey there. Do you know what kind of motor is in the Whitcomb locomotive you guys have?
@@amtrakey I'll get back to you on that.
I got my sound equipped version a week ago. I love it. Glad mine didn't have the knuckles on it though so I can change to what we use in the UK easily. I own a few HO USATC models but hate that the coupling is always a problem. I change them to magnetic couplings. My USATC Whitcomb will be used on a WWII military training exhibition layout that used Whitcombs. The American and Canadian engineers were trained there too, before moving to mainland Europe after the invasion..
James, those boxcar styles you described might be the armored version of the Whitcombs. Not far from where I live there used to be the Camp Claiborne Military Railroad. There were two armored versions of the 65 tonner there. I have seen photos of one of those. I did lot of research looking into that railroad and posted a lot info about the railroad on Model Railroad Hobbyist. Camp Claiborne was the location of the Army's training facilities for servicemen who would run the railroads as Europe was liberated. They also had battalions there that were training to repair bombed out railroads. It is a very interesting history. There is now a museum dedicated to the railroad camp in Longleaf, Louisiana. At one time I seriously considered modeling it. You should look it up.
They were trained when they got to England, shown the European signal system, how to blow up lines, repair them and build bridges. Canadians were also trained by the Royal Engineers. After the invasion, they moved to mainland Europe. Whitcombs were used at No1 training centre (Longmoor) and No 2 (Melbourne Military Railway). I bought my Whitcomb for an exhibition layout. I have several books showing American engineers and locomotives.
Getting closer, been waiting for a US style 80 ton so I can make the diesel they use on the Virginia and Truckee Line.
After watching:
Wow that thing is impressive… ✅ So smooth!
Many European manufacturers use NEM coupling boxes so that you just pull out and swap with one of the Kadee that also have the fishtail on the coupler.
We steel mill modelers can use these....they were a fairly common steel mill unit
CCMA metals in Calvert City, KY has one.
Yes, a Bachmann wagon had springy bumpers (not sure on locomotives)
Waiting for their MD Midland Version. Excellent review
Hello James how are you doing? Good to see more reviews again!
Little extra information about this locomotive: After the war the Netherlands bought 20 of these in 1946 as the class 2000 for de NS (Dutch Railways). So you can buy this type from Piko in that fashion as well (really populair in the Netherlands at this moment).
Good luck with your new home and YTchannel! Jasper
Super nice, love it!
Great review. Thank you.
There is one on display at The Hocking Valley Scenic RR in Nelsonville, Ohio
Yep o have seen that loco my great great uncle used to operate it when ot worked for the quarries nearby I have pics of it in action
Great video 🚄👍
That’s a nice locomotive
excellent! i might get the ns (netherlands) class 2000 green version.
PIKO. Eastgerman company from Zwickau. Very good Quality und acceptable price.
Super beautiful model,it lacks the reduced wheel edges in code RP 25,to travel on code 70 tracks
Good video like the graphics
James that’s pretty awesome when are you going to set up your layout?
HELLO JAME ITS IS RANDY AND I LIKE U VIDEO IS COOL THANKS JAMES FRIENDS RANDY
I have one also, however you do not mention what control system you are using. I am using Digitraxx and the NMRA standard is that function 8 is engine start. On this engine function 1 and 2 is engine start. The big problem is that function 2 is momentary so the second motor does not stay on. Another item is that an engine that heavy shouldn't need traction tires, but this one has them and that cuts down on the electrical contact so it stalls on crossings. Otherwise, it is a great looking locomotive for my industrial switching railroad.
I am using the NCE DCC system.
I wish there wasn't Peco, Piko and Pico (they make some DCC stuff), it's immensely confusing for customers. Should probably include North American couplers with an American locomotive at that price. The lights and sounds seem nice.
fun fact: piko was named in the beginning (1950s) pico...
When you see the detailing and more over the performance it leaves you speechless! The US manufacturers need to watch out as PIKO is a threat to US models and they could easily take over instantly!
Hola buenas tardes excelente video abrazo grande
Cant wait for auroa model sd60f
That's going to be an interesting model to watch out for, especially since they're advertising it to have functioning radiator fans. To my knowledge that would be a first in HO scale.
Nice locomotive. Doesn't sound like it has Buda diesels though.
It really just doesn't have the bottom end frequencies. It sounds similar to other recordings.
Hey I was wondering can you touch any model rail while active?
I apologize if I missed it, but what about the wheel flanges? They don't appear to be NMRA compliant. I'd buy one of these great locos in a heartbeat, but not if it won't operate on my code 70 and code 55 track.
@Rocky Ridge Shops ... The model has slightly smaller flanges than European NEM standard and will run fine on Code 83 and 100. We don't recommend it on Code 70 or 55 without modifications.
@@danpikoamerica7314 Thank you for the response. That's a shame - those wheels are going to be a deal-killer for many modelers. This is a perfect branchline locomotive, but it can only run on huge mainline-type rail. Are the wheelsets hard to remove? I could turn them down myself - it would be worth the effort for an otherwise outstanding model.
Hi Lionel just realeased 4-12-2 up 9000 steam locomotive
Will it run on code 70 track?
i wonder was it hydrophilic or electric and were is the exhaust
These were diesel locos, however they paid specials attention to reducing exhaust and camouflaging locos as it was easy to spot and a target during wartime. This site gives you some more simple background if you want... industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2015/09/whitcomb-locomotives.html
BEWARE!!!
As an Italian railfan, I have to say something for the USA railfans thinking to buy Piko’s locomotive with Piko’s DCC:
If you are using NCE Powercab, like me, and the locomotive has Piko’s Smartdecoder and a big capacitor (stay alive/keep alive/energy reservoir/ ecc ecc), the Powercab can run it, but you can’t program it.
If you try to program with the program track , nothing happens, when you exit the decoder becomes mad and the locomotove start moving and sounding without control.
Also POM seems not to work.
This is what happened to me with the Piko’s FS D.141, a beautiful made italian road switcher.
Also JMRI doesn’t have Piko’s decoders at the moment.
@@cektito87 JMRI Version 4.24 was released in July and includes the Piko SmartDecoder 4.1.
@@Mark_W_L thank you! 👍🏻
Putt putt putt Putt putt putt putt
James, how did you get this locomotive to review it? Piko says December! I digress... I want one!
Love it! Auto engine load sounds... fantastic! Thank you for the review. Piko site says they will be available in September. John BC, Canada
Real loco video: ua-cam.com/video/HRALPzxOGfk/v-deo.html
Piko Factory Video and the Whitcomb 65-Ton Diesel Locomotive production: ua-cam.com/video/0igyNJSz3uM/v-deo.html
Pity the pizza-cutter flanges though, as is common with european models
while some variety is good, but those pizza cutter deep flanges sucks
James
Why does it have European couplers when it says US army on it
This version, and road number, ran in Europe. I don't believe it came back to the States, but stayed in Europe. It should still be on display there as well. So it's more an American-made, European-style loco paint scheme. The official North American style locos, without buffers and with knuckles, are coming later. (MMID is the first one they announced.)
Because it was made by the USA to support their troops around the world, the units going into the european teather must had it, like the S160 and S100 steam locomotives.
These units are capable of MU I think, they arrived also in my country, Italy, but not stayed here for so much time because MU was an advanced tecnology and Italy an enemy nation.
Only not capable MU Whitcombs remained in Italy, made in H0 by the Italian brand Acme.