PIKO announced the German standard gauge type BR 221 diesel locomotive as a new item for 2025.

The BR 221 comes in a DB era IV paint scheme. Previously designated as the BR V 200.1, it is the more powerful successor to the V 200. Despite being an evolution, there are distinct visual differences between the two generations. The V 200 was produced by LGB in the past.

PIKO’s BR 221 comes in an analog version (#37460 – € 699,00 MSRP) and a digital version with sound and pulsed smoke (#37461 – € 850,00 MSRP).

Image Source: PIKO

Some highlights include:

• 2 Bühler motors
• 4 geared axles
• Power pick-up via wheel brushes
• Directional lighting white+red
• 3 smoke units (2 pulsed units, 1 standard unit)
• Driver’s cab door & cab window can be opened
• Engine room detail
• Minimum Radius: 600 mm (recommended: 920 mm)

Source: PIKO

PIKO first introduced the G scale “Ludmilla” in 2016. The German standard gauge diesel locomotive was widely used in the post war era of the “Deutsche Reichsbahn” (DR), and later the Deutsche Bahn (DB AG). The Ludmilla was a nickname for the BR 132 that was mass produced in the seventies, with the earlier BR 130 and BR 131 versions built in smaller numbers.

The initial G scale model was released by PIKO under article number 37580 in a DR era IV paint scheme. Over the years, additional variants have been produced in Deutsche Reichsbahn, Deutsche Bahn paint schemes as well as private operators. The Ludmilla is scaled around 1:26, with its length around 1:28 scale.

All Ludmilla’s produced:

37580 BR 132 DR IV, Dark Red (# 132 478-9 / # 132 217-1)

37581 BR 232 DB Cargo, Red (# 232 208-9)

37582 BR 131 DR IV, Dark Red (# 131 014-3)

37583 BR 132 DR IV, Red (# 132 089-4) [DCC with Sound]

37584 BR 232 EBS VI (# 232 592-6)

37585 BR 131 “PIKO Jubiläum” (# 131 949-0)

37586 BR 130 DR IV, Dark Red (# 130 073-0)

37587 BR 130 DR IV, Dark Red (# 130 ???-?) [DCC with Sound]