Bachmann HO Boston & Maine #9738 Gondola: Model 17223 Guide

Bachmann HO Scale 40-Foot Gondola – Boston & Maine #9738 is Bachmann model 17223, store SKU BAC17223, UPC 022899172231. This guide shows how to identify this exact release and use its published dimensions and hardware details when planning an HO layout, display, or freight consist. Boston & Maine #9738 is the railroad marking in the product name; 17223 is the Bachmann item number.

Published model specifications

Bachmann lists the car as HO scale, 1:87, with model measurements of 6 inches long, 1.5 inches wide, and 1.5 inches high. The manufacturer also lists a detailed painted body with precision graphics, a detailed underframe, a separately applied brake wheel, magnetically operated E-Z Mate Mark II couplers, detailed trucks with see-through sideframes, and blackened metal wheels with RP25 contours. These model features are specific to the listing for item 17223.

The manufacturer’s item number, store SKU, UPC, and road number each help identify the release: Bachmann 17223, BAC17223, 022899172231, Boston & Maine #9738. Save them as a group when you create a roster entry or compare another listing. A shortened title or a generic “HO gondola” label can omit the details that distinguish one release from another.

Use the dimensions to plan display and track space

The 6 × 1.5 × 1.5-inch model measurement gives a useful starting point for a display shelf, case, or siding. A close clearance should still be checked on the assembled model. The listed length may not include the full coupler-to-coupler span, and an added load can increase the total height. Measure the car where the available space is tight, especially near bumpers, platforms, adjacent tracks, tunnel portals, and case lids.

HO scale is 1:87. Confirm that your layout and accessories are designed for HO, then test the car along the route you intend to use. Start on level, straight track. Roll it slowly through the sharpest curve and turnout on the route and check for binding, wheel lift, or contact with structures and nearby cars. This physical check catches tight spots that the scale label alone cannot rule out.

Gondola role and optional loads

A gondola’s open top and sides make it appropriate for freight that can be loaded from above or does not require a roof. Bachmann’s description for this model line gives examples such as steel plates and coils, ballast, scrap metal, and oversized items including track segments. These examples describe gondola service generally; they do not say that a load is included with model 17223. Check the live listing and package for contents.

For a model scene, the Boston & Maine #9738 car may run empty, carry a stable removable load, or appear in a switching sequence. A removable load lets the same car represent different stages of a trip. Keep any added material away from wheels, couplers, and uncoupling magnets. Recheck clearances after loading since the stated 1.5-inch height applies to the model itself.

The product marking identifies a Boston & Maine release, but the product listing does not establish a specific prototype assignment or operating date. If you are building a period-specific train, verify the road-number and service context from a railroad-history source before assigning the model to a dated scene.

Test the couplers and wheelsets

Bachmann specifies magnetically operated E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. Test them with the uncoupling ramp or trackside magnet installed on your layout, moving slowly in both directions. Check trip-pin clearance, coupler height, and swing on the individual model before relying on it during an operating session. A named coupler type is helpful but cannot certify the setup of every layout magnet.

The model’s blackened metal wheels have RP25 contours, and the trucks have see-through sideframes. Before regular use, make sure the wheels turn freely and sit properly in their trucks. Watch the car pass through curves and turnouts, and resolve any wobble or binding before adding it to a longer consist. Handle the body or underframe rather than the separately applied brake wheel or other small details.

Keep a useful collection record

A roster entry can read: “Bachmann 17223 / BAC17223; Boston & Maine #9738; HO 1:87; 6 × 1.5 × 1.5 in.; E-Z Mate Mark II couplers; blackened metal RP25 wheels.” Add your purchase date, packaging notes, observed condition, and the results of track and uncoupling tests. Note any adjustments on this individual car instead of treating them as factory specifications for every release.

Compare other Bachmann gondolas

Other Bachmann 40-foot gondolas have their own road names and item numbers. Compare this model with the Seaboard #90255 guide for item 17222, or the Great Northern #75733 guide for item 17211. For the broader distinction between freight-car types, see HO scale freight cars explained.

Before purchase or first operation

• Match Boston & Maine #9738 with Bachmann item 17223, SKU BAC17223, or UPC 022899172231.
• Confirm HO scale (1:87) fits your layout.
• Use the 6 × 1.5 × 1.5-inch measurements for planning and check tight clearances on the physical model.
• Test coupler alignment, magnetic uncoupling, truck movement, and wheel operation on your own track.
• Check current price, availability, and exact package contents on the live product listing.

In short: Bachmann 17223 is the HO gondola marked Boston & Maine #9738. Its published dimensions and specified coupler and wheel features make it straightforward to identify and plan for; a track test confirms its fit and operation on your layout.

See Bachmann HO Scale 40-Foot Gondola – Boston & Maine #9738, model 17223

Exact-item facts checked against the current Shopify product record and Bachmann’s listing for model 17223 on October 18, 2026. Price and availability are controlled by the live product page.