Model Train Guides
Bachmann HO Great Northern #171304 Hopper: Item 17509 Guide
The Bachmann HO 56-foot ACF Center-Flow Hopper, Great Northern #171304 in Glacier Green (item 17509) is an HO scale covered hopper identified by its Great Northern road number and Bachmann catalog number. Bachmann lists the model at 1:87 scale, with an assembled size of 8.25 inches long, 1.5 inches wide, and 2.2 inches high. The item number is 17509 and the UPC is 022899175096. This guide uses the item-specific manufacturer data and separates it from general facts about the Center-Flow hopper design.
Check the exact release
The identifying details are Great Northern #171304, the Glacier Green finish named on Bachmann’s item page, and item 17509. Muncle Mikes catalogs it as item number BAC17509. Several Bachmann hoppers share the same general ACF body and differ by railroad, road number, paint, or scale. Match the full identifier and product image before adding a car to a roster, especially when a search result shows only a generic Center-Flow hopper.
- Manufacturer: Bachmann
- Scale: HO, 1:87
- Car type: 56-foot, four-bay ACF Center-Flow covered hopper
- Railroad and number: Great Northern #171304
- Finish: Glacier Green
- Bachmann item: 17509
- UPC: 022899175096
- Model size: 8.25 × 1.5 × 2.2 inches
- Store SKU: BAC17509
Bachmann describes the ACF 56-foot Center-Flow design as developed in the mid-1960s and intended for fine granular materials such as plastic pellets and animal feed. Its four discharge bays support unloading from beneath the car. These details explain the prototype type; they do not establish the service history of Great Northern road number 171304 or a commodity carried by this individual model.
Features for an HO operating roster
Bachmann lists detailed painted bodies with precision graphics, a separately applied brake wheel, detailed trucks with see-through sideframes, blackened metal wheels with RP25 contours, and added weight for tracking. The couplers are magnetically operated E-Z Mate Mark II. Those specifications matter when matching the car to a fleet: compare coupler height and operation, check wheel and track compatibility, and make sure your uncoupling method works with magnetic couplers.
The model’s 8.25-inch length is useful for siding capacity and switching plans. Add coupler spacing and locomotive length when estimating track needs. The 2.2-inch height and 1.5-inch width help with bridge, tunnel, overhead-wire, and adjacent-track checks. Measure any load or clearance structure in the same position the car will occupy, since a modeled commodity or layout scenery can create new conflicts.
How a covered hopper fits a train
A covered hopper’s body protects cargo from weather, while the bays underneath let compatible facilities unload granular freight. On a layout, it can represent bulk material moving between a supplier and an industry with unloading equipment. A single car may run in a mixed freight consist or in a group of similar cars, depending on the scene. The product listing does not describe an included cargo load, so do not assume a load comes with item 17509.
The Great Northern markings make this release useful for a GN roster or a mixed train where those reporting marks fit. The product page does not provide individual historical records for #171304. If your scene is set in a specific year or location, verify the road number using dated railroad photographs or roster sources. A general prototype design date cannot prove the service era of one numbered car.
Quick checklist before use
- Confirm Great Northern #171304, Glacier Green, and item 17509 on the listing and image.
- Match HO scale, 1:87, and the 8.25 × 1.5 × 2.2-inch dimensions to your layout.
- Check E-Z Mate Mark II magnetic coupler compatibility and uncoupling operation.
- Confirm wheel and track compatibility on turnouts and curves used by the train.
- Plan bulk-freight scenery around the four-bay prototype design without assuming a model load is included.
- Use period-specific sources if exact history for #171304 matters.
These checks link the model’s verified dimensions and operating details to everyday layout decisions. They also keep prototype capability, item-specific history, and package contents clearly distinct.
Explore Bachmann model trains
Visit the Bachmann Great Northern #171304 product page for current listing information. Browse the Bachmann model train collection for other HO freight cars and layout equipment.
Think through the unloading scene
The four discharge bays are a prototype clue for planning the destination of the freight, not just a detail on the model. A bulk customer with a pit or unloading track can make the car’s role easier to read, while a simple siding can suggest delivery without modeling the complete facility. Keep the rail alignment and structure clearances practical for the 8.25-inch model. If you add a cargo or build a loading scene, remember the source page describes the real car’s capability; it does not say the model arrives loaded. A separate load should be secured and scaled to the opening and height you have available.
Keep records specific to the road number
When cataloging the model, save the Great Northern identity, road number 171304, item number 17509, and image together. This helps distinguish the Glacier Green release from other four-bay hoppers with similar bodies or different road markings. Record current offer details separately from the stable model identifiers so later roster updates do not accidentally carry forward stale price or availability information.
