Model Train Guides
Bachmann HO Clark #9485 Tank Car: Item 17809 Guide
Bachmann’s HO scale 40-foot single-dome tank car lettered Clark #9485 is a distinct release within a group of similar tank cars. This guide identifies the exact Bachmann item, points out the specifications the manufacturer lists, and explains how to evaluate it for display or operation. The Clark name and car number make the model easy to recognize, but claims about a real car’s cargo, route, or service date need evidence tied to prototype #9485.
Match the exact model
- Manufacturer: Bachmann
- Scale: HO, 1:87
- Car type: 40-foot single-dome tank car
- Markings: Clark #9485
- Bachmann item number: 17809
- UPC: 022899178097
- Muncle Mikes SKU: BAC17809
Use item 17809 or its UPC to distinguish this model from other HO single-dome cars. Road name and number matter too: Bachmann’s product family includes multiple tank cars with the same general shape and different lettering. When checking a package, online listing, or collection note, confirm that the markings read Clark #9485 and the item number is 17809. This avoids confusing it with Shell, Quaker State, or another release.
Manufacturer-listed construction and operating details
Bachmann’s item page identifies the model as HO scale, 1:87, and describes the tank-car family with a detailed painted body and precision graphics, open underframe, separately applied ladders, brake wheel and metal handrails, added weight, detailed trucks with see-through sideframes, and blackened metal wheels with RP25 contours. The supplied couplers are magnetically operated E-Z Mate Mark II couplers.
These details can guide a closer inspection. The ladders and handrails are applied parts, so lift the car by its body or underframe instead of gripping those features. The open underframe and see-through truck sideframes make the lower portion of the car visible from trackside. The coupler and wheel descriptions tell you what Bachmann lists; they do not establish that the model will couple or track perfectly on every layout without testing.
Clark lettering and prototype questions
The Clark markings identify the appearance of the model release. They do not establish the exact prototype car’s history by themselves. A product title is enough to match the model but not to prove whether car #9485 carried a particular liquid, worked for a specific customer, or appeared in a particular year. Tank cars were used for many liquid commodities, and their service could change over time.
Bachmann’s general description of the single-dome tank-car family places riveted tank designs among cars delivered from the late 1920s into the early 1940s, before welded construction became more common. The maker also describes private-owner use and the later use of some surviving cars for water supply in maintenance-of-way work. This family-level context can help you choose a broad modeling era. It should not be presented as a verified build date or later assignment for Clark #9485 specifically.
For a historically specific scene, look for a railroad roster, dated photograph, company document, or other primary record that connects #9485 to the period you plan to model. If you do not have that evidence, treat the car as an accurately identified Bachmann model and choose its placement as part of your own operating plan.
Choosing a role in a freight consist
A tank car breaks up a train of boxcars and hoppers and gives an industrial scene a recognizable liquid-transport car. The white tank and orange dome described in the current product listing help distinguish this Clark release visually in a lineup. Use the lettering as a roster cue, then decide whether the car is part of a general freight, an interchange movement, or a scene-specific train based on the railroad and date you are modeling.
For a display shelf, turn the car so the Clark markings and #9485 are legible. For operations, note its item number and intended era in the roster. That record helps you distinguish the model from similarly shaped releases and keeps a layout choice from being mistaken for documented prototype history.
Test the car on your layout
Before placing it in a longer consist, check the wheelsets and couplers. The car should roll freely and pass through the tightest curve and turnout in your layout. Use your usual coupler-height gauge and test magnetic uncoupling if that is part of your operating method. HO scale alone does not guarantee a fit with every track plan, locomotive, or coupler standard.
If the car derails or binds, isolate the problem by testing it alone, then with a locomotive, and then in a short consist. Look for a wheelset that is not seated evenly, a coupler that catches, or a turnout that needs adjustment. Follow Bachmann’s current instructions and service guidance before modifying the model.
Clark #9485 checklist
- Confirm Bachmann item 17809 or UPC 022899178097.
- Check that the lettering and road number read Clark #9485.
- Verify HO scale (1:87) is right for the layout or collection.
- Inspect the ladders, handrails, brake wheel, trucks, wheels, and couplers.
- Test rolling, turnout clearance, and coupler height on your track.
- Use a prototype source before assigning an exact cargo or service date.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Bachmann number for Clark #9485?
The manufacturer lists item 17809 and UPC 022899178097.
Which couplers come on the model?
Bachmann lists magnetically operated E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. Test them against the standards and equipment on your layout.
Does the Clark name prove what this car carried?
No. It identifies the model’s markings. Verify the exact prototype’s cargo and service history with a source tied to car #9485.
In short: Bachmann 17809 is the HO single-dome tank car decorated as Clark #9485. Confirm the item number and lettering, inspect its small details, and test it on your track before adding it to a longer train.
View the Bachmann HO Clark #9485 tank car product listing
Model identity and listed features checked against Bachmann’s item 17809 page and catalog on October 18, 2026. Check the live product listing for current options and availability.
