Bachmann HO Delaware & Hudson #13400 Gondola: Item 17221 Guide

Bachmann HO Scale 40-Foot Gondola – Delaware & Hudson #13400 is Bachmann model 17221, store SKU BAC17221, and UPC 022899172217. This guide helps identify the exact Delaware & Hudson-marked release and plan how to roster, inspect, and operate it on an HO layout. It separates the road number #13400 shown in the product name from the manufacturer’s item number 17221, so similar gondolas are less likely to be confused.

What the exact product record confirms

The current item record identifies a Bachmann HO model at 1:87 scale, marked Delaware & Hudson #13400. It lists a separately fitted brake wheel, E-Z Mate Mark II couplers for magnetic uncoupling, and metal wheels with a blackened finish and RP25 contours. The manufacturer item number is 17221; the store SKU is BAC17221; the UPC is 022899172217. Use these together when matching the model to a collection entry, package, or saved listing.

The record does not establish a model measurement, minimum curve radius, included load, production date, or exact prototype assignment. Those details should be checked against current manufacturer instructions or the physical item if they matter to a particular build. This keeps the identification useful without turning a similar release’s specifications into claims about this one.

Identify the correct Delaware & Hudson release

A railroad name and road number can be the most visible difference between two otherwise similar freight cars. The number #13400 is part of this model’s named marking; 17221 is the catalog item that distinguishes the Bachmann version. When comparing listings, check both along with the scale and images. UPC 022899172217 and SKU BAC17221 provide additional identifiers if a title is abbreviated or formatted differently.

For a collection roster, store the full title and identifiers instead of a generic note such as “gondola.” Include the date you acquired it and any condition observations after arrival. If you later add weathering, a load, or another modification, record that separately so the starting appearance remains clear.

Plan HO track use with a hands-on check

HO scale is 1:87. Confirm that the track and accessories on your layout are intended for HO, then test the car on the route where you plan to run it. Start on straight, level track. Roll it slowly through the tightest curve and turnout in that route and look for binding, wheel lift, or contact with nearby structures and cars. If a siding is closely spaced, check the car’s coupler swing against the adjacent track before using the siding in an operating session.

The product record identifies E-Z Mate Mark II magnetic couplers. If you use a magnetic uncoupling ramp or trackside magnet, test the car over that device at low speed, in both directions. Confirm the height and alignment on the actual model; the named coupler type alone cannot tell you how it will behave with a particular installation. Do not force the car through a sticking turnout or over a misaligned uncoupler.

RP25 contours and metal wheels are useful identifying features for the roster. Before regular operation, check that each wheel turns freely and sits securely in its truck. Observe the car as it passes through curves and turnouts. If it wobbles or binds, isolate the issue before coupling it into a longer train. Handle the car by its body or underframe and avoid pulling on the separately fitted brake wheel.

Use the gondola in a scene or operating plan

A gondola’s open top and raised sides make it suitable for modeling freight that can be loaded from above or does not require a roof. The car can appear empty, carry an optional load, or be moved through a switching scene to represent a delivery or pickup. The Shopify product record does not say that a load is included, so inspect the live offer and package rather than treating a photographed or modeled load as part of the sale.

If you add a load, make it stable and removable if you want to change the scene later. Keep it clear of wheels, couplers, and any trackside magnet. Check the total height against bridges, tunnels, overhead scenery, and storage covers. If the layout portrays a particular railroad era, research the road number and service context before placing the car in a dated train; its product name identifies the decoration but does not prove a specific historical assignment.

Build an item-specific roster entry

A useful record can read: “Bachmann 17221 / BAC17221; Delaware & Hudson #13400; HO 1:87; E-Z Mate Mark II magnetic couplers; blackened metal RP25 wheels; separately fitted brake wheel.” Then add what you observe: package contents, condition, test date, curve and turnout results, and any adjustment. Mark unverified dimensions or prototype notes as questions until you confirm them from a primary source or the physical model.

Compare nearby Bachmann gondolas

Several published Bachmann gondolas differ by road name, road number, or item number. Compare this model with the New York Central #605699 guide for item 17219 and the MONON #3301 guide for item 17218. For a broader explanation of open cars and other freight-car types, see HO scale freight cars explained.

Check before buying or operating

• Match Delaware & Hudson #13400 with Bachmann 17221, SKU BAC17221, or UPC 022899172217.
• Confirm HO scale (1:87) matches the layout.
• Check the live listing for current price, availability, and package contents.
• Test coupler alignment, magnetic uncoupling, and free wheel movement on your own track.
• Confirm any required dimensions or historical details from current source documentation.

In short: Bachmann 17221 is the HO gondola release identified as Delaware & Hudson #13400. Its current product record confirms the scale, item identifiers, separately fitted brake wheel, magnetic E-Z Mate Mark II couplers, and blackened metal RP25 wheels. Verify layout fit and any unstated details against your actual model and current documentation.

See Bachmann HO Scale 40-Foot Gondola – Delaware & Hudson #13400, item 17221

Exact-item facts checked against the current Shopify product record on October 18, 2026. Price and availability are controlled by the live product listing.