Tioka, Ikaria and Chemoplast O Gauge

Brno, SE Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic)

Tioka, Ikaria and Chemoplast were effectively all the same company. Tioka, created by Mr L Tioka, began production 1952. The company was nationalised in 1960, becoming Ikaria and in the mid 1960s became a co-operative, with a change of name to Chemoplast, who produced until 1968, with final production being relocated to East Germany.

The Tioka-Ikaria name has been resurrected and a range of new freight wagons launched, early 2017, with buildings to follow. The new range is understood to be an offshoot of well known Czech producer Merkur, and is described as Fine Tinplate Scale 0.

Tioka-Ikaria

The original range were electric AC and had a manual switch. The basic loco of the company was a 2-4-2 steam tender loco, which exists in many different versions, with all three company decals Tioka, Ikaria and Chemoplast. It exists as loco with tender and also as tank locomotive, the latter is rare. Usually the loco is finished in black, but there are very rare versions in blue and beige.

During the Ikaria phase, two additional locos were produced, existing in both Ikaria and Chemoplast versions. A 4-axle electric loco was finished in blue-beige, the 499 of the Czech Railways serving as model for this locomotive. In addition, a tram was produced in red-beige based on the Tatra trams that were used in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s to 1960s. Unfortunately no rolling stock was produced for these items.

All rolling stock was 4 wheel. The coach exists in many versions and is usually finished in red (different colour shades from light red to bordeaux). There is also a blue version that is from early production and very rare. The freight wagons included an open wagon in many different red color shades and a tank wagon that exists in a yellow and a rare silver version. Generally the products of the company are quite common; just some colour variants are very rare.

(a) The tank locomotive