Piko 37020 G - Tarpaulin-covered freight car, DB Railion, Era V

Sliding tarpaulin freight wagon model in DB Railion colours for the garden railway

A model of the sliding tarpaulin freight wagon in DB Railion colours, era V, intended for the garden railway in G scale. Railion was the brand under which Deutsche Bahn ran its freight business in the first decade of the twenty-first century — its red colours are among the most characteristic schemes of that period.

The model stands out for its robust construction designed for outdoor use and for authentic era V markings. Materials resistant to ultraviolet light and moisture allow the wagon to run on a garden layout throughout the season. A minimum radius of 600 mm means it also fits smaller track plans.

Model specifications:

• Scale: G (garden railway, 45 mm track gauge)
• Catalogue number: 37020
• Manufacturer: PIKO
• Model length: 486 mm
• Era: V
• Minimum radius: 600 mm
• The model is painted and ready to run
• Recommended age: 14 years and over

Please note: this model is not a starter set — a locomotive and powered track are required.

The wagon model does not include track, a locomotive or a controller. To put it into service you need powered track and a locomotive — analogue or digital. The wagon itself has no drive or electronics, so it behaves the same way on analogue DC track as in a digitally controlled DCC layout.

Model railways – digital or analogue control?

The digital DCC control system allows several locomotives to run independently on the same track. Each vehicle receives individual commands while the rail voltage stays constant, which makes realistic operation possible and allows the lights and sound effects of every locomotive to be controlled separately. In an analogue system all vehicles on a given circuit are controlled at once by varying the supply voltage. PIKO model 37020 is an unpowered wagon without electronics, so it can be marshalled into trains hauled in either analogue or digital operation.

About the Railion brand and sliding tarpaulin wagons:

The sliding tarpaulin wagon combines the advantages of a flat wagon and a covered van. The tarpaulin stretched over a frame slides along the wagon, giving full access to the load space from the side and from above — the load can be handled by crane or forklift, and once the tarpaulin is closed it is protected from rain. Typical loads are paper, steel products, building materials and palletised goods.

Railion was the brand under which Deutsche Bahn ran its freight business between 2000 and 2009. It was created after DB Cargo merged with the freight operations of the Dutch NS, and following the acquisition of the Stinnes and Schenker groups in 2003 the German company was named Railion Deutschland. In 2009 the brand was replaced by DB Schenker Rail, and from the start of 2016 by DB Cargo once again.

The Railion colours — DB traffic red with a white logotype — are among the most characteristic schemes of era V. In garden railway scale such a wagon builds a convincing modern German freight formation and pairs well with heavy diesel locomotives.

Prototype data:

• Freight brand: Railion (Deutsche Bahn), 2000–2009
• Livery: DB traffic red with white logotype
• Wagon type: sliding tarpaulin freight wagon
• Typical loads: paper, steel products, building materials, palletised goods
• Era: V

About the manufacturer – PIKO:

PIKO is a German manufacturer of model railways with more than seventy years of tradition, founded in 1949 in Sonneberg. Today it is one of the most popular model railway brands in Europe and a leading producer of Polish prototype models, including locomotives and coaches in PKP, PKP Intercity and PKP Cargo colours. The range covers H0, TT, N and G scales, from individual wagons to comprehensive starter sets and digital control systems. The PIKO Expert range combines a high level of detail with modern digital technology — with factory-fitted DCC and sound decoders in selected models. PIKO products are valued by modellers and collectors worldwide.