Brawa 50697 H0 Bulk Car Fads 176, DB, Era IV

Brawa 50697 H0 Bulk Freight Car Fads 176, DB, Era IV – Heavy-Duty Workhorse for Ore, Coal, and Coke

Are you looking for a sturdy self-unloading car for authentic freight train formations from the 1970s and 1980s? The Brawa 50697 Fads 176 from the Deutsche Bundesbahn is a typical vehicle for bulk cargo transport—ideal for use in block trains with a total weight of up to 4,000 metric tons.

Technically sophisticated and true to the prototype

With a length over buffers of 137 mm and NEM-compliant close-coupling kinematics, this car is ideally suited for use in long, continuous train sets. Equipped with fine printing and paintwork, a multi-part braking system with brake shoes at wheel level, and separately attached signal brackets, this model offers outstanding attention to detail. Road number: 31 80 696 0 527-3.

The prototype—the standard for bulk freight transport at DB

The Fads 176 were acquired starting in 1969 for the transport of moisture-insensitive bulk cargo such as coal, ore, and coke. As successors to the Fad cars, they featured higher load-carrying capacity and a design compliant with UIC standards. Equipped with BA 664 or, later, Y25 bogies, they were used in block trains—primarily on routes such as Emden–Ruhr region, where the legendary BR 044/043 steam locomotives hauled trains weighing up to 4,000 metric tons.

A car for block trains—powerful and versatile

The Fads 176 were designed for large-scale transport and were mostly used in 25-car units on fixed routes. Thanks to their high load capacity and robust construction, they remained an integral part of the DB’s bulk cargo fleet for decades.

Perfect for creating realistic heavy-haul trains

Use this car in combination with other Fads 176, 175, or 177 models—ideal with locomotives such as the BR 043/044, BR 140, BR 151, or the later BR 232. Also suitable for operational dioramas featuring ore loading or coal mines.

A must-have for authentic Era IV freight operations

With the Brawa 50697, you get a model with a clear purpose: heavy-duty logistics in the bulk cargo sector—true to real-world operations and excellently rendered for realistic everyday model railroading.

Features:

• Scale: H0
• Era: IV
• Railroad Company: DB
• Length over buffers: 137 mm
• Road number: 31 80 696 0 527-3
• Close-coupling mechanism compliant with NEM standards
• Multi-part braking system with brake shoes at wheel level
• Fine printing and paint finish
• Separately attached signal posts

Specs:

• Type: Bulk goods wagon
• Gauge: H0
• Rail Company: DB
• Rail Company: DB
• Era: IV
• Type: Bulk goods wagon
• Era: IV
• Color: Brown
• News: 2026

Further links:

• Print View

CAUTION: Not suitable for children under 3 years. Danger of swallowing! Age recommendation from 14 years.

Achtung! Maßstabs- und originalgetreue Kleinmodelle sowie Elektrozubehör für erwachsene Sammler. Nicht geeignet für Kinder unter 14 Jahren

Zum Betrieb des vorliegenden Produkts darf als Spannungsquelle nur ein nach VDE 0570-2-7/DIN EN 61558-2-7 gefertigter Spielzeug-Transformator verwendet werden.