Piko G Trains - Any Good?

[eyost]

Hi all,

I stumbled upon a Piko G Gauge Train Kit (Loco, Caboose, box car, track, and power pack) for $100.00. I'm thinking about setting a train in the backyard but am not familiar with this brand.

What are your thoughts regarding this brand? Is the track compatible with other G Gauge out there?

Thanks for any information.

Ed

[kstrong]

Pretty good quality, actually. If you're a subscriber to GR, you can search the product reviews for "Piko" and find a review of their starter set. (Same loco, same caboose, but with a hopper car instead of a box car. $100 is a good price.

Later,

K

[eyost]

K,

Thanks for the reply. I figured at $100 it would be a good starter set since most of the others weigh in at around 349. 

I'm hoping that if I want to upgrade to something better along with adding more track I could do so. 

Is the Piko track compatible with other tracks out there or do I have to stick with their track.

Ed

[cacole]

Piko track is solid (code 332?) brass rail, the same as AristoCraft and some other brands.  About the only one it would not be compatible with is Bachmann hollow steel track.

[eyost]

Thanks for the information. I think I'll pick one up - heck for $100 if it doesn't work out I can always donate it to a charity.

Ed

[Greg Elmassian]

"good" is relative. The Piko loco does not have the same rugged drivetrain as the Aristo or USAT starter sets. This is a relatively new product on the scene, and now, since people have had some time to use them, drivetrain failures and premature wear has been reported by some. You can read posts by people who own them on Large Scale Central and Mylargescale.

So, if you just use the cars that come with the set and run on relatively flat track, you will probably be happy, but if you want to add more and heavier cars or run heavy grades, then you will realize why the Piko is cheaper than the starter sets from the other manufacturers.

Regards, Greg

[vsmith]

They are as good or better than Bachmann starter level engines, so go for it.

I had the 0-6-0T, sold it and now kinda regret it. One thing ...the engine only has one real flaw and that is that Piko painted to wheels black leaving only the skates to pick up power, eventually the paint wears off the flanges or you can do what I and alot of others have done, use a sanding block with fine grit paper to remove the paint from the flanges, doing so gives you 6 power pick up points instead of just two and the power pickup isthen much better.

The Piko starter track is almost identical to LGB starter set track and is interchangable with LGB Aristo USA track, just have to use a little effort with the joiners between some brands but they do work together.

[eyost]

Thanks Greg. I understand that only so much quality can go into a starter set to keep the price at a certain point. My main concern is the track as I didn't want to get a set of track that wasn't compatible with anyone else.

Ed

[eyost]

Thanks so much for the info!