DB Bahnbau BR232 Diesel Locomotive VI (DCC-Sound)

DB Bahnbau BR232 Diesel Locomotive VI (DCC-Sound)

1:22.5 scale model produced by Piko. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection.

Features:

• DCC Sound Model
• Best suited to Epoch VI Model Railways
• This model mainly operates in Germany
• This model is decorated in DB company markings
• This model is best suited to 600mm radius curves

Details

The DR Class 130 family was a series of heavy diesel-electric locomotives imported into the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) of East Germany beginning in the early 1970s to modernise non-electrified mainline operations. Built in the Soviet Union at the Voroshilovgrad/Luhansk Locomotive Works, these powerful machines were developed to handle heavy freight and mixed traffic. Nicknamed “Ludmilla” by crews, the family became one of the most numerous and recognisable diesels in German service.

The first subtype, Class 130, entered service in 1970 with gearing for 140 km/h, but most were later limited to 100 km/h due to operational needs. A related version with a lower top speed and higher tractive effort was designated Class 131 for freight duty. The main production variant was the Class 132, featuring electric train heating and a top speed of 120 km/h, making it suitable for heavy freight and occasional passenger trains. Around 700 units of Class 132 were built, forming the backbone of DR diesel services through the 1970s and 1980s.

After German reunification, surviving locomotives passed to Deutsche Bahn AG and were renumbered as Class 230/231/232 and later variants such as 233 and 234 following upgrades. Many continued in heavy freight service across Germany and neighbouring countries into the 21st century. For model railway enthusiasts, the Ludmilla family offers a dramatic and versatile prototype for Era IV German freight layouts, with powerful performance and a distinctive Eastern Bloc aesthetic.