What is the difference between these 2 Bachmann ET&WNC Full Baggage Cars? 
models 89293 and 97420
97420 upc = 022899974200
89293 upc = 02289982931

I don't know this for a fact, but suspect the difference might be between battery powered lighting and plastic handrails and track powered lighting and metal handrails?

Bachmann catalogs from 2002 on, show 89293 for the ET&WNC Full Baggage car # 21 but I've see pictures of the box/label/car of the same thing showing 97420. 
The 89293 does not have a battery compartment but it also do not have any electrical contacts...thinking the baggage cars did not have lights inside. 

Yep, I think you're right about that full baggage lack of lighting.

HI Guys,

Stokerman has nailed it, so I can confirm the story. ET&WNC was and is very popular and was included when Bachmann reissued them in a "new and improved" model.  No baggage cars had lights.

the 97xxx series ET&WNC passenger cars were first in the catalog in 1993. Back then they had the plastic handrails, they also had battery powered lighting and the battery box was under the car.  The full baggage was not lighted.  Many modelers loved the battery powered lighting because they stayed lighted when stopped, some hated them because it was a pain to turn the lights on or off and batteries depleted quickly and had to be changed too often. 

The ET&WNC 89xxx series were introduced in 2002.  Bachmann listened and eliminated the battery powered lighting and equipped the cars with track powered lighting. The metal wheels were improved and the cars had metal handrails which was a great improvement over the flimsy plastic ones.  The baggage cars were not lighted. When the train stopped the lights went out.

I remember the unhappiness of some modelers over the track powered lighting. They loved the new handrails but wished the battery lights had been retained.  Some like me installed batteries in my locomotives and did not have any kind of power to the tracks,so if I wanted lights in my passenger cars, I had to use the 97xxx series. Some  modified the cars and installed batteries in the 89xxx series cars. Others added metal handrails on the 97xxx series cars. 

What you get is up to you.  In my case I got lazy and went with the 89xxx series when I could and never did add batteries,because 99% of the time I ran in daylight anyway.  I had a mix of the passenger cars from both series.

Well that's the story and I'm sticking to it!!!!   

Cheers and Beers,
Bill

Thank you for the detailed explanation! 
I only have the 2002-current Bachmann catalogs that are available online.  I was in the dark about the info prior to 2002.


 

You are most welcome. Always willing to help on historical questions!!  Bill