Does anyone haveany info on the RDCs used by the Rock Island and the C&O I think the C&O had RDC4s.
Malcolm.
I’m not absolutely sure but I believe that RI had RDC-3’s with large RPO sections. They were mostly used on the Kansas City-Texas and Memphis-Amarillo lines.
Hi Paul
How long was the distance on this route?
Malcolm.
Per the book “ROCK ISLAND TRACKSIDE 1960-1980” by Greg Stout the RI had five RDC-3s. They were used to replace conventional equipment on a train called the Choctaw, don’t know how long the run was. Anyway in 1964 some if not all of them had their diesel engine removed and were used as RPO-coaches, however they still looked like RDC-3s.
Hi was that part of a train which had a baggage observatin car?
Greetings,
Car #70 (rebuilt 1956), originally 455 parlor/observation (1938-1956), was part of the Kansas City Rocket. Rebuilt it had 28 coach seats in the front and a baggage section in the back. It was one of the Budd observation cars on one of the original rocket sets. If I remember correctly it was dropped at El Reno or Enid, OK and the RDC continued on to Fort Worth/Dallas alone on the southbound trip.
HTH, Bob
The Rock Island did use an observation car it had modified into a baggage-coach car with its RDC-3s in Oaklahoma.
Hello Bob,
I thought that the RDC was unpowered with one engine running to provide the cars lighting and heating as I did see a photo of the RDC and baggage/obsservation car being hauled by an F7 but even if the RDCs motors had a combined rating of 550 hp would this have been enough to pull a coach? as I did read that Budd had asked purchasers of trhe RDC not to use them as a cheap form of locomotive as ther would be drive damage.
Malcolm.
If I’m remembering right, Budd would void warranties on RDCs if they were used to pull unpowered cars.
Greetings,
I’ve got 2 pictures of RDC3 9002 towing coach Bear Lake at Memphis. I found it several months back. I got my previous answer from Route of the Rockets Rock Island in the Streamlined Era by Greg Stout. RI used some FP7’s which resemble F7’s out of Memphis. Later the RDC’s had their motors removed and were used as coaches.
I no longer have the link but my papers say Memphis RI Passenger Trains Pictures at the top. A partial link says www.cbu.edu
I don’t know if the Minneapolis and St. Louis used their RDC’s to tow a single coach or not. I know their doodlebugs did.
Hope this helps,
Bob
Hello Bob,
Thank you for that info it is very helpful,I have a few of the old Athearn RDC 3s both dummy and powered if you could call band drive powered (I dont know why Athearn used this type of drive) and as I have seen a photo of the sreamline obs/baggage I can soon convert my Athearn stock and find a suitable loco and I will have my prefered length of train.
Malcolm.
Yes they did use pull a coach with their RDC, just like they had done with their doodlebug, although GM told them not to do it with the RDC. The RDC failed due to the strain, and M-St.L sold it, so you then had an old Pullman Green doodlebug trundling along pulling a brand new, air-conditioned, modern stainless steel coach until passenger service ended a few years later.
Greetings,
…and when Minneapolis and St. Louis got out of the passenger business Rock Island ended up with M&St.L’s 6 Budd 56 seat passenger cars.
Bob Lipka