Piko 28340 H0 - Set of 2 Fals-type self-unloading cars, PKP, Era V

Set of two type Fals self-discharging wagons in Polish State Railways livery

A set of two type Fals self-discharging wagons — the standard stock for coal and aggregate traffic on the Polish railways. The version reproduced by PIKO represents an era V setting. These wagons ran in long, uniform rakes from Silesia to power stations and construction sites across the country.

The models stand out for prototypical markings, correct proportions and fine body detail. Precise printing and careful underframe construction ensure reliable running, including in long formations. The wagons carry running numbers different from set 58340, allowing longer and more varied trains to be assembled.

Model specifications:

• Scale: H0 (1:87)
• Catalogue number: 28340
• Manufacturer: PIKO
• Model length: 306 mm (length of the complete set)
• Era: V
• Coupling: NEM 362 coupler pocket with close coupling kinematics
• Minimum radius: 358 mm
• Two-wagon set
• Running numbers differ from those of set 58340
• Wheelsets for AC operation, available separately: no. 56061
• 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 28340 is an unpowered wagon without electronics, so it can be marshalled into trains hauled in either analogue or digital operation.

About the Fals self-discharging wagons:

The Fals is a four-axle Talbot-type self-discharging wagon for coal, aggregates, ores and other bulk materials. Its distinctive feature is the hopper-shaped interior and the flaps in the lower part of the side walls — when opened, the load falls by gravity either outside the track or between the rails, allowing a whole train to be discharged without a tippler and without manual work.

The UIC letters are self-explanatory: F denotes a bogie self-discharging wagon, a four axles, l no metered discharge and s clearance for 100 km/h. Several types of this family run in the PKP and PKP Cargo fleets, among them 452V and 419V.

These are the standard wagons for hauling coal to power stations and aggregates for construction, used on a large scale in eras V and VI. Long, uniform Fals rakes running from Silesia to the power plants are among the most characteristic images of Polish freight traffic in recent decades — and they make just as strong an impression on a layout as they do in reality.

Prototype specifications (Fals, type 452V):

• Axles: 4 (two bogies)
• Length over buffers: 13,500 mm
• Load volume: 75 m³
• Tare weight: 27,500 kg
• Load limit: 52.5 t
• Top speed: 100 km/h loaded
• Role: transport of coal, aggregates and other bulk materials

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.