Model Train Guides
Bachmann HO Warren Petroleum #5030 Tank Car: Item 17806 Guide
Bachmann’s HO scale 40-foot single-dome tank car, Warren Petroleum #5030 is a specific freight-car release for modelers building a railroad roster, an industrial scene, or a mixed freight consist. This guide identifies the exact Bachmann item, explains what the maker documents, and gives practical checks for placing a tank car on a layout. It avoids assigning a real-world cargo or owner history to car #5030 where a source for that exact prototype has not been confirmed.
Identify the exact Bachmann model
- Manufacturer: Bachmann
- Scale: HO, 1:87
- Car type: 40-foot single-dome tank car
- Lettering and number: Warren Petroleum #5030
- Bachmann item number: 17806
- UPC: 022899178066
- Muncle Mikes SKU: BAC17806
Use the item number or UPC when comparing listings. Tank cars in the same scale can look similar at a glance, while lettering, road name, and number distinguish one release from another. Check that the package and model match Warren Petroleum #5030 rather than relying on a broad description such as “HO tank car.”
What Bachmann documents
Bachmann identifies item 17806 as an HO 1:87 single-dome tank car. Its product information lists a detailed painted body with precision graphics, an open underframe, separately applied ladders and brake wheel, metal handrails, added weight, detailed trucks with see-through sideframes, and blackened metal wheels with RP25 contours. The car is fitted with magnetically operated E-Z Mate Mark II couplers.
These details are useful for both display and operation. The ladders, handrails, and brake wheel add visible equipment around the tank and ends. The open underframe exposes more of the area below the car than a solid-bottom design. The coupler and wheel specifications tell you what Bachmann supplies; they do not by themselves guarantee compatibility with every track, coupler height, or operating setup. Test the model against your own layout standards.
Understanding the single-dome tank-car context
A tank car is a specialized freight car built to carry liquid commodities. Bachmann’s general tank-car description explains that single-dome cars with riveted tank construction represent a type delivered from the late 1920s into the early 1940s, before welded construction became more common. The maker also describes tank cars as serving private owners during their working lives, with some older cars later used in maintenance-of-way service to supply water.
That is useful context for choosing a scene, but it is general background for the model family. It does not establish that Warren Petroleum #5030 carried a particular commodity, ran on a named railroad, or entered service in a specific year. The company name and car lettering are not enough evidence to make those claims. If your layout models a specific date or location, check a primary roster, photograph, or other dependable historical record before assigning this individual number a precise prototype story.
Where it can fit on a layout
The Warren Petroleum lettering gives this car an identifiable private-company appearance within a freight roster. A tank car can help suggest movement between a shipper, interchange, refinery, dealer, or industrial customer, but the exact route and load for this car should remain a modeling choice unless supported by prototype research. For a fictional or broadly representative layout, you can use the car as one element in a varied freight consist without presenting an invented history as fact.
Before operating it, compare the model with the locomotives, curves, turnouts, and couplers on your layout. Bachmann specifies the HO scale and supplied E-Z Mate Mark II couplers, while curve performance and coupler compatibility depend on the complete equipment and track combination. Check coupler height with your usual gauge, roll the car through the tightest curve and turnout, and confirm that the wheels stay on the rails. These simple checks are more reliable than inferring a minimum radius from the car’s name.
Inspect and handle the visible details
The separately applied ladders and metal handrails are small details worth protecting when taking the car from its packaging. Lift it by the body rather than pulling on a ladder, brake wheel, or coupler. After unpacking, look for parts that shifted in transit and verify that the wheels turn freely. If a detail appears loose or a wheelset is out of position, consult the current Bachmann instructions or service information before attempting a repair.
For a display shelf or a layout roster, keep the item number with the model’s record. A quick note with the Bachmann number, Warren Petroleum lettering, and a photo of the car makes it easier to identify later, especially if you collect several releases of the same car type.
Quick buying and roster checklist
- Match the manufacturer item number 17806 or UPC 022899178066.
- Verify the Warren Petroleum name and #5030 lettering on the product and packaging.
- Confirm that HO scale (1:87) fits the layout or collection you are building.
- Review the supplied couplers and wheel details against your operating standards.
- Use a sourced prototype record before assigning a specific cargo, route, or service date.
Catalog links
Explore Bachmann model trains, HO scale model trains, and model trains and train sets for related layout equipment.
Frequently asked questions
What scale is Bachmann item 17806?
Bachmann lists this model as HO scale, 1:87.
What couplers and wheels are documented?
Bachmann lists magnetically operated E-Z Mate Mark II couplers and blackened metal wheels with RP25 contours. Check the current manufacturer instructions for any maintenance or replacement guidance.
Does the Warren Petroleum name prove what #5030 carried?
No. The product name identifies the model’s lettering, but it does not establish an exact historical cargo, route, or service date for the prototype. Use a reliable roster or photograph if that detail matters to your scene.
In short: Bachmann 17806 is an HO scale, single-dome tank car lettered Warren Petroleum #5030. Match the item number, confirm the fit on your own layout, and distinguish the manufacturer’s general tank-car history from facts verified for this exact road number.
View the Bachmann HO Warren Petroleum #5030 tank car product listing
Product identity and features checked against Bachmann’s item 17806 product page and catalog on October 18, 2026. Consult the live product listing for current options and availability.
