Hi, Loco Bill!
Guess what?!  I found a coach car on ebay!  Simply put, it's now on its way!   :-)   I found it being sold by the same seller that I found the later release of the newly colored orange/yellow advertising car.  All I need now is the "red" elephant car and my collection is complete!  I'm so thrilled!  Now if only I owned a house & garage to REALLY set stuff up like all of you experts and connoisseurs, I'd be set.  My plan at the moment is to set up track around the perimeter of my living room for Christmas along with my complete collection of New Bright animated train pieces and even my Walthers brand of HO scale Christmas Zephyr set that's new in the box, still wrapped in its cellophane.    :-)   Needless to say I probably won't even have room to walk or maybe even my furniture, but I'm sure hoping it will look SO fun.  I live in Eugene, OR and I'm headed to my first ever model railroad swap meet, the 28th. Annual Willamette Cascade Model Railroad!  Are you familiar with it?  It's described as "One of the largest model railroad swap meets between San Francisco and the Canadian border. 22,000 square feet, including 250 vendor tables from nine different states."  I'm already in trouble because today was payday.  LOL!  I don't even know how a train swap meet works because I have several residual EKJ pieces I want to sell as well as some Lionel, LGB, and Bachmann track pieces and one or two of the New Bright animated train collection.  I guess I'll find out!  Who knows!  Maybe we'll run into each other!    :-)   I hope we stay in touch!!!......Ron

Thank you so much, Loco Bill!  I truly appreciate it!   :-)
I guess I still have a few questions for you and anyone else that may see this...unless you feel it might be better if I post somewhere else or create a new one for others to offer input.

1) I guess I'm still new enough at this I'm not sure the difference between what a coach and observations cars are and how the 2 differed in the EKJ series besides the 97271 missing the lit "drum head" photo of EKJ.
2) What is a "Road #"?
3) Any suggestions as to a good source(s) to keep searching for a 97271?
4) Also, any suggestions as to a good source(s) to keep searching for the later elephant car that went to mainly red with yellow trim?

Again, a huge THANK YOU!

ChooChooRon    :-)

Hello, everyone!  I just joined the Bachmann Discussion Boards and so glad I found this conversation.  I can't believe it's over 4 years old.  Nevertheless, it's been very helpful.  Since around mid-2015 until now I've been collecting every piece I can find on the EKJ sets.  Though there may not yet be a major collecting value, they're beautiful and fun.    :-)   However, I believe I'm only down to needing 2 pieces to complete everything.  Loco Bill and Wade, your inventory lists have helped a lot.  THANK YOU!  What I need help with distinguishing is from Loco Bill's information regarding this:

97271   EKJX   4   1994   P-Coach   Emmett Kelly Performer's Car #1   P      C   Battery Lights   $70.00
97371   EKJX   1   1994   P-Obs   Emmett Kelly Jr. Performer's Car #2   P      C   Battery Lights   $80.00

After reading and re-reading everything, these are the only 2 pieces I don't see a distinction as to when/where they appeared as well as any possible identifying differences (i.e., color, design, etc.)  From my research on eBay and elsewhere, I now know that I have the 2nd one listed, the 97371 Obs Car #2.  It seems to be readily available everywhere I look.  So, my question is just what is 97271?  It references "Coach" instead of "Observation"; the price was lower; and I noticed that the "Jr." in Emmett Kelly's name is missing in the description, but maybe that's just a typo?

Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.  If it is definitely a different kind of car worth searching for, then I lack that one as well as the later model of the elephant car when they went from yellow with red trim to the newer red with yellow trim.  If anyone also happens to know how/where I may be able to obtain either or both, I would be much obliged.   :-)

Thank you in advance!

ChooChooRon