what year is this car?

[dmolavi]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230202016901

the product locator here can't find anything with the listed part number.  Mr Bach-mann, can you enlighten me, please?

[the Bach-man]

Dear dmolavi,
I believe it was the 2004 car- I'll have to find the catalog...
Have fun!
the Bach-man

[Ned]

I think it MIGHT be from 2001.

I have one and it has a marking "blt 12-01"

I believe the '04 car was a gondola.

Ned

[dmolavi]

i bought a car a few months back (brand new, not via ebay), box said '04, car said '05.

it was a gondola...let the confusion continue

[Ned]

I just checked mine and both the box and the car ( the gon) are dated 2004.

Ned

[the Bach-man]

Dear All,
Man, you'd think that dopey Bach-man would know...Oh- that's me...
I'll see if I can find and date all the original artwork sheets.
Have fun!
the Bach-man

[dmolavi]

a ha...it appears that this person noticed the same thing i did (my box has P/N 27242 and "Christmas 2004"):
http://item.express.ebay.com/_Model-RR-Trains__Bachmann-27242-On30-2-Gondola-Christmas-2005_W0QQitemZ250193756099QQihZ015QQadnZModelQ20RRQ2cQ20TrainsQQptdiZ2554QQcmdZExpressItem

"Collector's Note: This car comes in a box indicates Christmas 2004, but as the photos show, it is lettered for 2005. It appears that Bachmann changed the road number on the car, without creating a new item number or packaging. "