Piko 28347 H0 - Set of 2 PKP tank cars, Era V

Set of two two-axle tank wagons in Polish State Railways livery

A set of two two-axle tank wagons of the Polish State Railways in era V. Wagons of this kind served smaller depots, chemical plant sidings and scattered deliveries for decades, until four-axle designs replaced them.

The models stand out for sharp printing and careful rendering of the barrel fittings. Coupler pockets with close coupling kinematics allow small gaps between wagons, and good running qualities mean the set works well both in pick-up trains and in longer formations on a contemporary layout.

Model specifications:

• Scale: H0 (1:87)
• Catalogue number: 28347
• Manufacturer: PIKO
• Model length: 206 mm (length of the complete set)
• Era: V
• Coupling: NEM 362 coupler pocket with close coupling kinematics
• Minimum radius: 358 mm
• Two-wagon set
• Wheelsets for AC operation, available separately: no. 56060
• 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 28347 is an unpowered wagon without electronics, so it can be marshalled into trains hauled in either analogue or digital operation.

About two-axle tank wagons:

Two-axle tank wagons were for decades the backbone of the Polish tank fleet serving smaller depots, chemical plant sidings and scattered deliveries. Their advantages were low tare weight and the ability to work short, tight sidings; their drawback was low individual capacity, which is why from the 1990s they were systematically replaced by four-axle tanks.

The main Polish manufacturer was the Świdnica wagon works, which built whole families of tank wagons differing in barrel material and equipment according to the product carried — from petroleum products through acids and alkalis to speciality chemicals. Barrels were made of carbon or stainless steel, and discharge took place through a bottom valve, side valves or from the top under compressed air pressure.

In successive coding systems these wagons appeared as Rh, Uhs and, in eras V and VI, as series Zces and Zes. In era V freight traffic, single tanks and short groups attached to pick-up trains are exactly the detail that lends a layout credibility — they show the everyday, dispersed servicing of sidings rather than only large block train flows.

Prototype specifications (example: FWŚ 32Rb tank wagon):

• Manufacturer: Świdnica wagon works
• Built: 1965–1971
• Axles: 2
• Length over buffers: 10,100 mm
• Axle spacing: 5,400 mm
• Barrel capacity: 19.1 m³
• Load limit: 27.5 t
• Tare weight: 12,000 kg
• Top speed: 100 km/h
• Role: transport of industrial liquids

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.