PIKO 51617 H0 - Electric locomotive 3E/1, PMP-PW, ep.IV, DCC with sound

PIKO 51617 H0 – Electric Locomotive 3E/1, PMP-PW, Era IV, DCC with Sound

This highly detailed H0 scale digital model represents the 3E/1 industrial electric locomotive used by PMP-PW (Enterprise for Backfilling Materials of the Coal Industry) in Era IV. Part of the PIKO Expert series, it comes ready to run with a factory-installed PluX22 sound decoder and offers full lighting and sound functionality for realistic operation.

• The model is factory-painted and ready to run
• LED lighting: white and red directional lights depending on travel direction
• Driver’s cab lighting activated digitally
• Authentic sound effects: engine, horn, compressor, relay clicks, and more
• Livery represents a locomotive used by PMP-PW – Polish industrial operator in the mining sector
• Detailed bodywork and shape true to the industrial 3E/1 variant
• Decoder socket: NEM 658 PluX22 (sound decoder included)
• Model length: 193 mm
• Scale: H0 (1:87)
• Manufacturer: PIKO
• Era: IV

Analog or digital control – what to choose?

The main advantage of digital systems is the ability to control multiple locomotives independently on the same track. In analog mode, all locomotives on a shared section respond simultaneously to voltage changes. Digital systems, in contrast, use constant track voltage and control each locomotive via individual digital commands.

This allows precise and flexible operation of several trains even in small layouts, without the need for complex wiring or isolated sections.

About the 3E/1 locomotive:

The 3E/1 is an industrial version of the ET21 electric freight locomotive, which was the first mass-produced heavy electric engine in postwar Poland. Built by PAFAWAG in Wrocław during the 1960s and 1970s, the 3E/1 variant was adapted for private industry, especially coal mines and heavy industry plants.

Compared to PKP's ET21, the 3E/1 had a simplified design, reduced onboard equipment, and was optimized for demanding shunting and industrial duties. Many of these locomotives were used by PMP-PW – the Enterprise for Backfilling Materials of the Coal Industry – to haul gravel, backfill, and coal on dedicated industrial lines and sidings.

Although less well-known than their mainline counterparts, 3E/1 locomotives were essential for maintaining internal logistics and raw material flow within mining regions. Today, a few examples have been preserved in museums and collections as valuable relics of Polish industrial rail transport.

About the manufacturer – PIKO:

PIKO is a renowned German manufacturer of model trains and accessories, established in 1949. The company offers products in H0, TT, N, and G scales, combining precision engineering with competitive pricing. The Expert series is aimed at advanced hobbyists looking for highly detailed and functionally rich models.