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Model Train Guides

Bachmann 15553 N Scale Union Pacific 503 Water Tank Car

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Bachmann 15553 N scale Union Pacific 503 water tank car, shown from an additional angle

Bachmann 15553 is an N scale old-time water tank car lettered for Union Pacific and numbered 503. Its three open tanks ride on a compact red flatcar. This item-specific guide helps distinguish it from similar tank-car releases, confirms the details Bachmann lists, and gives practical checks for a layout and roster.

Side view of Bachmann N scale Union Pacific 503 three-tank water car, item 15553
The railroad name and car number distinguish this Union Pacific release from other old-time water tank cars.

Identify the exact Bachmann 15553 release

The fastest roster check is the combination of item number 15553 and the Union Pacific 503 lettering. The three-tank profile and red flatcar provide additional visual clues. Bachmann lists UPC 022899155531 and specifies N scale 1:160. The Muncle Mikes item record identifies it as one water tank car, not a multi-car set.

Several Bachmann old-time water tank cars share the same basic arrangement but carry different roads and numbers. Do not substitute a similar car based on shape alone. The nearby Central Pacific 213 guide for item 15552 covers a different release.

What the coupler listing tells you

Bachmann lists body-mounted E-Z Mate Mark II couplers for item 15553. This names the fitted coupler type; it does not promise that every N scale car will couple at the correct height or negotiate every curve with it. If the car will run in a mixed fleet, compare coupler height, knuckle operation, and adjacent car clearance before assembling a longer consist.

Additional product detail view of Bachmann 15553 Union Pacific 503 water tank car
A second exact-item view helps with visual comparison; check the item number and lettering as well as the shape.

N scale and layout fit

N scale is nominally 1:160. Match the scale to the equipment, track, and scenery you intend to use. This is unpowered rolling stock, so it does not require a motor, decoder, or locomotive electrical pickup. Its compact tank-car form can add variety to a freight consist, switching scene, or display roster.

Before regular operation, check free rolling and test the car on the tightest curve and through the closest tunnel or platform clearance on your layout. Bachmann’s item page does not provide a minimum curve radius for 15553, so use the model and your own track as the check rather than borrowing a radius from another car.

Quick checks for your roster

  • Manufacturer item: Bachmann 15553.
  • Railroad and number: Union Pacific 503.
  • UPC: 022899155531.
  • Scale: N, 1:160.
  • Visible configuration: three open tanks on a red flatcar.
  • Pack contents stated on the listing: one water tank car.
  • Couplers Bachmann lists: body-mounted E-Z Mate Mark II.

Keep factory-listed information separate from what you observe after delivery. The listing does not establish this model’s minimum curve radius or compatibility with every coupler system, so record those only after checking the car on your layout.

Questions about Bachmann 15553

Is item 15553 N scale?

Yes. Bachmann specifies N scale 1:160.

How is the Union Pacific version different from item 15552?

Item 15553 is lettered Union Pacific 503. Item 15552 is lettered Central Pacific 213. Match the road name, number, and item code to choose the intended release.

Does the listing describe a multi-car pack?

No. The Muncle Mikes product record states one water tank car.

See the Bachmann 15553 Union Pacific 503 listing, or browse N scale model trains, model railroad freight cars, and Bachmann model trains.