The reason for this question to Railfans is that it is Model Railroad sound related.
As many of you know, prototype sounds are available in DCC decoders for modelers to install in their locomotives. However, there are none currently none available for model Budd RDCs. Some modelers are assuming that the Budds used EMD 567s, which was not the case as the 567 was huge in comparison. RDCs utilized Detroit Diesel Truck/Bus engines (forgot what series–but I think the last version was the 8V-71, though please correct me if I’m wrong.)
I was a kid when RDCs ran through areas I visited in Connecticut, but I think they sounded just like GMC city buses.
With the new programmable sound decoders coming available there are modelers interested in traveling to areas or facilities where they can record actual RDCs. While RDCs like the TRE units may have been re-engined, the ones in museum or tourist service, hopefully, still have the old Detroits in them.
Would appreciate info on where operating RDC’s are currently located so that I may pass the info on to modelers and interested DCC vendors that want to record the prime mover sounds.
Via Rail operates them here on Vancouver Island (a bit north of Seattle) every morning from Victoria to Courtenay (140 miles) and then back in the afternoon. (Later on Sundays.) Via RDC-1s 6133, 6135 and 6148 are here, all former CPR.
Via operates RDC-2s 6205 and 6215 and RDC-4 6250 between Sudbury and White River, Ontario.
Dallas has a number of former Via RDCs.
Several Via RDCs were sold to Cuba in 1998.
I don’t know how many the Alaska Railroad has.
There are some former BC Rail RDCs around Portland, Oregon.
The Danbury Railway Museum has an operational New Haven RDC you can ride, not to mention another NH RDC on display and the NH Roger Williams - and I think now a B&O diner RDC.
At my shore house in Avalon, NJ, there is a scenic railway in Cape May. The have about 6, all of them are Pennsylvania, Reading and Seashore Lines. They run regularly, and they have quite a collection of other stuff as well.
The Lewis & Clark Budd cars operation from Lintonville, OR to Astoria, OR ended in October this year. The three Budds are state owned and are still in the area.
MRL never had any Budd cars. Where did that idea come from?
Yes, the AKRR still operates a daily passenger service (at least in summer months, not sure about winter months) from Talkeetna north to Hurricane Gulch usually with just a single RDC.