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Legendary BR 119 Celebrates Its Premiere – PIKO Brings Railway History to Life at the DB Museum Koblenz
Koblenz/Sonneberg. A historic original meets state-of-the-art model railway technology: With the premiere of the new H0 electric locomotive BR 119, PIKO Spielwaren GmbH continued its successful series of customer events. At the DB Museum Koblenz, directly in front of the historic prototype locomotive, the Sonneberg-based model railway manufacturer presented one of the most significant new tooling releases of 2026, creating an extraordinary meeting point for model railway enthusiasts, specialist retailers, and representatives of the trade and regional media.
The Class E 19, later designated Class 119 by the German Federal Railway, made railway history. As the fastest electric locomotive of its era, it remains a symbol of technical excellence and continues to fascinate generations of railway enthusiasts. This fascination was also at the heart of the event, where visitors not only had the opportunity to experience the new model for the very first time but also to exchange ideas directly with the developers and decision-makers behind it.
“Model railroading thrives on enthusiasm and personal interaction. That is why we do not simply want to present our new products, but to experience them together with our customers. Receiving direct feedback and sharing the joy of our models creates exactly those moments that define PIKO. At the same time, we are delighted that we were able to hold this premiere together with our long-standing partner, the DB Museum Koblenz, in such an authentic setting,” said Rainer Landwehr, CEO of PIKO Spielwaren GmbH.
The choice of the DB Museum Koblenz as the venue for the premiere was no coincidence. PIKO and the DB Museum have enjoyed a close and trusting partnership for many years. The opportunity to present the new electric locomotive directly alongside its historic prototype provided an exceptionally authentic setting and brought railway history vividly to life for visitors.
The focus of the presentation was the new Expert locomotive, introduced by PIKO Product Manager Matthias Fröhlich. Using the development history of the model, he explained the journey from the initial concept to the finished production model and provided guests with insights into the design challenges and technical solutions behind this new tooling project.
“With the Class 119, we succeeded in transferring the distinctive appearance of the prototype down to the finest detail into 1:87 scale. Our goal was not only to create a technically outstanding model, but also to authentically capture the unique character of this exceptional locomotive,” emphasized Matthias Fröhlich.
The presentation quickly developed into an engaging dialogue between model railway enthusiasts, media representatives, and PIKO experts. Numerous questions regarding the history of the prototype, its technical implementation, and the special features of the model highlighted the strong interest in this new tooling release. Following the presentation, Museum Director Wolfgang Ihrlich guided guests to one of the last remaining original locomotives and shared fascinating insights into its history and significance within German railway heritage.
The event concluded with a signing session hosted by Rainer Landwehr in the driver's cab of the E 19. In a relaxed and personal atmosphere, many visitors took the opportunity to speak directly with the PIKO team. As a souvenir of the premiere, every guest received an exclusive H0 special-edition wagon produced specifically for the event.
PIKO would like to express its sincere thanks to the DB Museum Koblenz for the many years of trusted cooperation and warm hospitality. The opportunity to present one of the most important new tooling releases of 2026 in such a unique environment made the event a truly memorable experience for everyone involved.