anyone model this train, I saw one in Germany in the train station and it was AWESOME! I hope to model this train but not alot of information in the US about them TIA
Hi Rafferty,
maybe I can fill in some information on the ICE 3 trains in Germany.
Deutsche Bahn (German Railway) operates 67 of them, mainly in the southern German Region and on the link to Paris. First year of operation was 2000. Top speed when operated in AC is 330 km/h (205 mph), when operated on DC it is only 220 km/h (140 mph). Max power is 10,800 hp, overall length about 200 m, seating capacity is 450 (100 in 1st class, 350 in 2nd class).
HO scale models are available from Marklin (AC 3-rail) and Trix (DC) as well as Piko (DC also). The Piko version is competitively priced, but not as detailed as the Trix model. The Marklin/Trix model sells for about 750 $ , Piko is around 300 $.
Hello! This popular train is made by few manufacturers, Fleischmann, Piko, Mehano.
Try to Google it, you will find them without problem.
IF you want an ICE, but don’t want catenary, there was actually a diesel version, the ICE-TD. Roco make an HO model, model No. 63032
any ideas of where one might find a review of the Fleischmann vs. Piko vs. Marklin ICE3
I am a member of the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club (CGL reporting marks) in Portland, OR and a couple of years ago, another member had a Friend who had an ICE model (Marklin, I believe) that let the club run it during our annual Open.
House in November. That thing was FAST, I had never seen anything move like that on a model railroad. It was unbelieveable that it could hold the track at the speed it was moving. It would have been very popular, if people could have seen it, if you weren’t watching specifically for it, it would be there and gone faster than you could turn your head to look at it.
Someone did manage to put it on the ground once, thank goodness for ground foam scenery material, it was even scrathed[:-^].
Doug
Rafferty,
to my knowledge, the Marklin/Trix train is certainly a good buy, but also quite expensive. As with all Marklin products, the built quality is excellent and there is nothing you can do wrong in buying one - if you want to spend those $ 750 + for a new one.
Piko´s level of quality may not be as high as Marklin´s, but it costs a lot les $$$ and is also a good “runner”. The lesser degree of detail is hardly noticable. The pantograph and some of the wiring on the roof may look a little crude, but a little paint or a replacement pantograph from Sommerfeldt for little $$$ can do magic.
Actually, Marklin sued Piko for copying their ICE 3 train, but to my knowledge the case was settled outside the courts.
Our local train from Limburg ran late. We were supposed to connect with the ICE train in Frankfurt. When we arrived, the ICE was still there. After rushing on the platforms, I pushed the green button to open the car door of the train, and immediately thereafter the ICE proceeded to Dresden (without us.) OK, I suppose that doesn’t count as running an ICE, and it surely wasn’t HO scale.
Mark
Mark,
I am sorry to hear that the ICE left you behind. As soon as the trains are ok to leave the station, the doors are locked, so nobody can open it and fall out - that´s why the doors would not open anymore in your case. Happened to me a number of times…[:(]
I hope you still enjoyed ridin´ the trains in Germany…[:)]
It turned out OK. We got as far as Leipzig that day, and the railroad paid for our hotel there. We spent most of the following day walking around Leipzig before proceeding to Dresden.
That trip we went on 23 train trips, from Doodlebugs to ICE. The ICE trains are comfortable but make it difficult to enjoy the scenery flying by.
Mark
European high speed train travel is such a joy after experiencing a close to 9 hour trip from St. Louis to Chicago on Amtrak! We rode the TGV from Paris to Lyon a few years ago. The impression of flying at ground level was amazing.
A local N scale modular club here in the St. Louis area often runs an ICE on their display layout. It always seems to draw a lot of attention because it is so fast and smooth. My oldest boy will run a model of Euro-star on my layout. It makes a mockery of selective compression and only seems to take about 15 seconds to get around the entire layout. No way anything else can be on the tracks at the same time!!
I have a couple HO TGVs and an Acela on my Layout. I was hoping to get a ICE Train Someday. ROCO make a DC generation 2 & 3 ICE train. Amtrak had a ICE train on the Northeast corridor about 10 years ago for Testing and it was awesome
are the Marklin and Piko both the Marklin system 3 rail? which I presume is incompatible with regular US DC?
I think Piko is DC … I know Definately that ROCO makes a DC version and its not that expensive
Piko is definitely DC. So are Fleischmann, Trix and Roco. I have one of the Piko trains and really enjoy watching move across my layout.
Mike
does the piko have sound or lights?