Bachmann N Scale Great Northern 40-Foot Boxcar #39398 (17059) Guide

Bachmann N Scale AAR 40-Foot Steel Box Car — Great Northern, item 17059, represents Great Northern car 39398 in orange and green. It is an N scale freight car at 1:160, so verify the scale before matching it with track or rolling stock. The exact item number, railroad, and road number distinguish it from other AAR boxcars and similar Great Northern releases.

Great Northern boxcar 17059 at a glance

• Manufacturer: Bachmann
• Model: AAR 40-foot steel boxcar
• Railroad and road number: Great Northern 39398
• Scale: N, 1:160
• Bachmann item: 17059
• UPC: 022899170596
• Store SKU: BAC17059
• Pack contents: One freight car

Bachmann describes the AAR 40-foot boxcar as a common freight-car type for moving dry goods and bulk freight. Its listing for item 17059 identifies an authentic AAR-standard design and gives a model length of 3.5 inches, width of 0.75 inches, and height of 1 inch. The model has an opening corrugated sliding door, a detailed interior floor and underframe, and separately applied brake details, ladders, roofwalk, and brake wheel.

Features for display and operation

The Great Northern 39398 paint scheme gives this car its orange-and-green appearance. Use the exact product photos and packaging to confirm the intended identity; some Bachmann catalog images are illustrative examples and may depict another scale. Check the N scale label and item number rather than relying on a generic freight-car photograph.

Bachmann lists detailed trucks with see-through sideframes, blackened metal wheels with RP25 contours, and body-mounted, magnetically operated E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. These wheel and coupler details make it useful to check the car against the equipment already on an N scale layout. Confirm clearances and actual operation on your track before running it in a longer train, especially through tight curves and turnouts.

Planning a 40-foot boxcar into an N scale scene

A 40-foot boxcar works in many freight-car settings, from a mixed freight to an industrial spur or a yard track. The Great Northern lettering and number 39398 offer a specific railroad identity for a roster or display. Pair the model with locomotives, freight cars, and scenery chosen for the era you want to depict; the manufacturer’s general description of AAR boxcars does not state a particular service history for this individual model.

The stated dimensions are model measurements, not prototype length. For scale-aware spacing, storage, and display, use the 3.5-inch model length and check the measured clearance on your own shelves, structures, and layout. The store lists this item as one car, so do not interpret the product photos as including track, a locomotive, or additional rolling stock.

Identify the exact release

Compare the item number 17059, Great Northern road number 39398, N scale label, and packaging before purchase. Browse N scale model trains, Bachmann model trains, and the full model train collection. For another Bachmann N scale freight car, see the B&O #478554 track-cleaning boxcar guide and compare its separate item and function.

View Bachmann N Scale Great Northern 40-foot steel boxcar (17059)

Manufacturer reference: Bachmann AAR 40' Steel Box Car — Great Northern, item 17059.

Written and checked October 18, 2026 against the exact store listing and Bachmann item page. Check the live product listing for current price and availability.