SUMMARY:
Siemens designed the Vectron series as a successor to the EuroSprinter series of locomotives. The Vectron is made both in electric and diesel powered versions.

This review is for the electrically powered Vectrons for PKP Cargo (Piko #59984) and CD Cargo (Piko #59182). I recently acquired both for my yet-to-be-built Central European layout.

COMMON ITEMS:
Both locomotives are from the Piko Expert series of locomotives and are very well detailed. Paint schemes are crisply executed with multiple small markings visible to the naked eye (or for those of us in the 50+ category, easily viewed under magnification ). The locomotives are solid, although some of the details on the wheel sets or underside could be knocked off with rough handling. Handrails are separately applied and not too over scale in appearance. The window handrails on the PKP Cargo locomotive disappear as they are also painted red like the window area, but they are indeed present!


The four pantographs make the the roof a busy place! The wiring is nicely done although over scale, it's not distracting. Other details are present like various antenna and vents. Good detail is present on the lower chassis, and there is plenty of opportunity to "detail" the chassis and make it pop with some color by adding the red and yellow on the ends - see the Railcolor.net photos more more details, and some judicious weathering on the sides and bottom.

Both locomotives are DC with a PluX22 DCC socket (I'm all DC these days - Marklin makes very little in PKP livery...). Here's an important tip - when removing the body shell, the instructions show 4 small screws need to be removed. Don't remove the first 4 screws you see underneath the loco! You need to remove the screws located to either side of the wheel sets (rotate the wheel set to expose the screw hole). I spent almost an hour until I realized this - very frustrated and I also broke off a small detail part from the wheel set (re-attached with CA). With the body shell off, remove the DC plug. I installed the LokPilot ESU decoder - sound will have to wait for the budget to catch up. Re-attach th body shell and the 4 retaining screws.

PKP CARGO:
Also labeled EU46 within Poland. The paint scheme is an eye catching gray and red with white lettering - very different from the overall blue of the other PKP Cargo locomotives. I'll probably have it pulling an intermodal train.
Railcolor.net: http://www.railcolor.net...p?nav=1412128&lang=1

CD CARGO:
Sharp looking two tone blue with white letters. I like the European map paint scheme.

Railcolor.net: http://www.railcolor.net...p?nav=1412391&lang=1

CLOSING:
Would I buy more of these? Yes, certainly! I'm looking forward to seeing both in action!

3 RAIL VERSIONS:
Yes - both locos are digital ready and available in 3 rail as well as the 2 rail versions reviewed here.

Edited by user 27 June 2017 18:03:11(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi, Gene,

Thanks for the review.
Amongst the Fall New Items, Piko announced new pantographs and new wheels for the Vectron.
Future models will look better - and spare parts are available for those who want to improve the Vectrons that were already shipped.

Thanks for the review.

I agree - great looking!

Based on Youtube videos and pics, I'm putting together a container train for mine to pull.

Thanks for sharing pics of your loco - I'm assuming it's 3 rail from the Marklin track it's sitting on?

Gene

I'll be purchasing the Vectron later in the year (BLS version),

John

I feel like buying some of these as well. They look really awesome!

Are those handrails by the doors separately applied or just molded? Thanks