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Piko August Deliveries Flyer (4 pages)

Includes mostly HO and TT. The one item that is “G" is insulated Rail Joiners on the last page.

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Piko Long Length Flyer (1 page ~10" x ~23")

Flyer has two pages of HO and one page of “G". The page of “G" information is the same as the page in the Piko Autumn New Items for 2008 Catalog (6 pages) listing Ore Car, Baggage Car and Accessories.

Piko on the way

Thanks for the latest information. No other LS site, to my knowledge, has provided this breaking information. LSOL out ahead of the pack again. Looks like Piko is making a start with large scale US profile equipment. Look forward to these starter sets hitting the market. JD

JD Miller - 07/22/2008 - 16:34

Scale?

I wonder what scale the G gauge stuff is going to be, are they going to do the ambiguous scales like LGB did (its 1:22.5, or, or, or maybe) or are they going with the de-facto standard of 1:29 or what? Its interesting that they are also doing TT gauge, I thought that gauge died out decades ago. Thanks for keeping us up to date and I am glad that we are getting more choices no matter what scale the G gauge stuff is.

David A. Maynard - 07/22/2008 - 17:13

Continuity?

While I'm pleased to see Piko making new contributions to the "G Scale market", my primary concern remains support to LGB legacy products. Marklin is showing very little concern about repair parts availability and I was hoping maybe Piko would exhibit an interest in picking up the slack. I realize that there are probably patent/copyright issues, but Piko or someone could grow their business tremendously if they could fill this void. With Massoth products, there's some relief, but there's so much that remains to be addressed.

Ed Frey - 07/22/2008 - 17:36

A Question?

who ended up with LGB tooling and molds if we hope to see any of those great looking 1:29 scale Mike's again it will be by the people that own them. Piko is a good company I have been using there suff for many years I hope it stays that way.

Larry Kastriba - 07/22/2008 - 17:48

LGB will never be back to what it once was...

Marklin ended up with all of the tooling and the molds as far as know. I do not think it would be cost effect for anyone else to try to make parts for LGB items. As far as I can tell the hay day of LGB is over. There maybe drabs coming out of Marklin, but in the economy today, Large Scale Trains are last on the list of items to buy.

Jon DeKeles - 07/22/2008 - 17:58

PIKO in Relation to EPL/LGB

Jon is absolutely correct. It's no longer your father's LGB. This year would have been the 40th anniversary of Lehmann's Grosse Bahn as created in 1968. EPL/LGB of Germany is gone but it will eventually live on through use of the tooling it created over the last 40 years. It will require a steep learning curve on the part of the company utilizing the tools. There were a whole lot of variables involved other than the manufacturing process- many parts and sub assemblies were outsourced to other companies. One such company is PIKO. Herr Dr. Wilfer of PIKO has a keen eye for business and a streamlined operation. Research, design and engineering in Germany and North America with manufacturing in Sonneberg Germany plus a recently opened "PIKO" factory in Asia for hobby brand production. The good doctor did major outsourced production and design work for EPL in the old days and has a very good handle on what made LGB trains run as well as they did. So if you think about it PIKO is the best option for German built product retaining the high standards we're used to as well as plenty of spare parts. It's also a good idea to support PIKO in their attempt to bring some new North American prototypes to market. I've been pretty beaten up about the proposed EPL/LGB 0-6-0 since the bankruptcy and it was a shame since we put alot of time and money into the research and design but could not be finished due to litigation surrounding the tooling for the tender. It is however with great pride that I announced the arrival of the new PIKO North American (and European) 0-6-0 tank locos. Silvergate employees have been working fervently with PIKO to produce a model that has numerous versions and variations available for future production- we aren't done yet! PIKO track is also flowing onto dealer shelves with R1 switches and electric switch motors that will fit your old LGB switches. Don't Miss the PIKO train!

Jack Lynch - 07/23/2008 - 08:32

repairs

Jon, I was under the impression that even tho LGB was in trouble that LGBoA was seperate and they would be able to maintain the LGB fleet that is out there.I have only 3 LGB engines but they have all been to S.D. at one time or other. It makes me feel reluctant to run these engines for fear of something else happening. Which leads me to the PIKO situation. Silvergate is selling this brand. Aren't they the past LGBoA? will they continue to service PIKO or will history just repeat itself? I for one will probably not buy a PIKO train set. I have a Sumpter Valley mallet that has been back there twice and it is not rite yet! So I'm reluctant to actually run it. I do run it indoors now and then. Thanks for listening! Jim S.

Jim Sweeney - 07/23/2008 - 08:34

Can't Support if Manufacturer does not Support

LGBofA was just a distributor of LGB in the US and not the maker of LGB product. It would be like Ford going out of business and then you asking the Ford dealer and parts distributor to keep fixing your car. If the company that purchased Ford did not make parts or new product your local dealer would have no way to help you.

Jon DeKeles - 07/23/2008 - 08:52

Silvergate

Silvergate Distributors, Inc. is a new company that has no ties to LGB of America or Marklin/LGB.

Jack Lynch - 07/23/2008 - 10:20

PIKO

Sad to say, my overworked LGB 2-4-0 that has traveled to the west coast once for gear replacement, is again making an ominious noise. With the current prices, when it comes time for a replacement, I will not be able to afford another engine of that price range, which will put me right back where I was when I started in large scale. with an Aristo-Craft engine, but with hope that it will have parts available as I need them, as well a service department to do the repairs if any, as needed. A lesson I hope that will be learned by this company (PIKO) and applied to their products. I wish Silvergate well with their effort to keep quality track and rolling stock available here in North America.

Kirke Fay - 07/26/2008 - 12:15

LGB Repairs

You might try Watts Trains Shop in Indiana. They have done some repairs recently for my brother. Thanks, Noel

Noel Widdifield - 07/26/2008 - 12:37

Good Luck

All I know is I like the fact that Silvergate is coming into the market as a new company. This gives consumers the opportunity to purchase products that may fit the mold they are looking for in their search for items that may not be available elsewhere. Cars are expensive and when and so are trains but I know I will be buying another car when mine starts giving me trouble and if a train gives me to much trouble I will just get a new one or for that matter a used one.

John Perez - 07/28/2008 - 06:29

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