[:)] I recently puchased a brand new Proto New Haven RDC (HO scale) at a model train show for only $45. My expectations were at [%-)]best “mediocre”. I was very surprised at how heavy it is, beautifully detailed, and how smoothly it runs. Originally I purchased this unit to "cannibalize[dinner] the truck motor" in order to repower one of my Bachmann Metroliner cars (no longer made) which I’m repainting into Penn Central along with 3 other Metroliner cars. [^] I’ve decided to keep the RDC intact and just purchase a NWSL truck motor instead for the Metroliner.[8D]
Often times when we see pictures of RDC trains they’re run either as single units or in multiple units.
Question: Do any of you know if any railroads that ran or still run RDCs had them pull non-dieselized passenger cars? While horsepower was not very high, it would seem reasonable that one or two RDCs could pull a couple of cars if passenger demand put the railroad in a pinch.
There probably are examples of RDC’s pulling trailers or other cars, but RDC’s used a drive which wasn’t designed for the stresses of moving tonnage, so it would be pretty rare.
[:)][:D]Very helpful, Amigos! I’ve never seen pictures of RDCs pulling the regular Budd or Pullman standard 85ft. long passenger cars, but I was curious.
I will purchase another New Haven RDC (non-powered) and make a 2 car set as the New Haven ran short RDC trains in Northern Connecticut. Got to admit, again that the Proto RDCs are good looking units that run smoothly. The only modifications I wi***o make to my current RDC is to add lighting to the interior and intall a TCS DCC decoder. It will be in conjunction with a DSX sound decoder from Soundtraxx(horn only).
If I am not mistaken the original RDC’s used a GM Buick Dynaflow transmission and were never intended to pull trailers. I recall some stories of railroads burning them up very quickly. The PRSL did run 10-12 car all RDC trains but trailers were never intended to be pulled by them.
I remember hearing somewhere that Budd actually had a clause in its sales contracts for the RDCs stipulating that the warranty was void if the cars were used to haul trailers.
Conversely, though, it was not unknown for RDCs to be included in the consist of a locomotive-hauled train. I remember seeing a photo in Trains some years ago of Canadian Pacific RDC in a train pulled by a CP 4-4-4! I grew up on Vancouver Island, and from time to time the Budd cars would make their daily round trip behind one or two of the line’s freight units, on account of either bad weather or, more often, mechanical failure. So, you could run your RDC as part of a larger train–just remember to put something on the head end!
Glad you’re not going to cannibalize your RDC–as you can tell from my handle, I love 'em!
[;)]Thanks for the encouragement Dayliner. And yes, I’ve decided not to cannabilize the motor as I think it would be a “crime” on such an attractive unit. When I was looking at motoring options for my HO Metroliner, an LHS rep pointed out that “pricewise” it was cheaper to buy the RDC and gut it rather than get an NWSL set up. Glad, I changed my mind!
It’s funny that even though I saw a few as a kid, [:o)] I never was a big RDC fan until I purchased this proto unit. It’s amazing what an effect a high quality model can have on a modeler! [:D] Your input has given me another use for the RDCs now, as I plan on having New Haven passenger trains on my future layout. I can get away occasionaly with putting an RDC or two on a locomotive hauled local passenger or commuter train, to keep things interesting. [C):-)]
I don’t know if you could still find one but PFM had a device called a SPUD for self propelled under car device that I used to power my Metroliners. It is a truck with a motor built in and is self contained. It worked great
Thanks. [:)] I check into right away. BTW: When did you get your Metroliner cars? Do you have them in the Amtrak Phase 1 colors or did you repaint them into Penn Central? I think that the stainless steel look really made them stand out. [^] While Penn Central was a financial disaster, the Metroliner trains were the company’s “bright spot” before Amtrak took over the service.
It’s funny that up until Amtrak retired them, many of the prototype Metroliner cars were still in their Penn Central livery. I have fond memories of these 110 mph “wind slicers”
zipping along the Northeast Corrider.
Along with a “decent” truck motor, I also plan on upgrading the 4 car set with clear window glazing, weights in the car floor underneath the passenger section, lighting kit, and DCC/Sound (horn only). I plan on using the new “Gold White” LED lights for the overhead headlights on the lead car.
The paint job: strip to primer. spray jet black followed by Alclad Chrome which will give the cars that “stainless steel” look that so many of us would like to see on model passenger cars. (See June 2003 model railroader)
[:D][:)][8D]I plan on submitting photos to Model Railroader once I finish
(may take a year as my modeling fun time is limited!)[;)]
Thanks again! God Bless!
AntonioFP45,
Not sure if this is helpful, but the response from Ndbprr reminded me that in their HO and HOn3 Steam Locomotive Super-Detailing Part and Kits Catalog No. 3, Precision Scale Co. Inc. lists a 4-wheel drive under-the-floor power truck with a wheelbase adjustable from 7’ c-t-c to 9’ 3." It’s their item HO31930. I have not seen it, much less used it, but their catalog has line drawings of it.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
You missed one variation. Mine are in PRR dress as originally intended. Stainless steel sides with a red stripe above and below the windows connected at the cab end and a PRR keystone on that end and the front. Since the merger occurred prior to them being accepted pictures were a bear to find.
AntonioFP45,
Judging by the photo at the site that Railroading Brit provided, the unit in the line drawings in the Precision Scale catalog appears to be identical, although not identified as Tenshodo. Did a “Google” search for Tenshodo, and found a site that advertises the Tenshodo SPUDs. The “Budb” author of the site is the proprietor of the Aero-Train Hobby House. The URL is: http://www.geocities.com/budb3/arts/xmpl/spud.html
Hope this helps, since I don’t know what the customs duties and S&H would be from the UK.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
You’re correct! I just remembered that on my home computer’s picture slide show I have a picture of Metroliner #800 (I think) wearing the red Pennsylvania Keystone on the front end early in 1968, just before the merger! The red stripes stayed in the Penn Central scheme according to the pictures that I have.
Thank you for mentioning this! I’ll modify one of the cars as number 800.
JBarney and Railroading Brit, thank you too. Guys like you make this hobby enjoyable![:)][8)][;)][8D][:D][:)]
Thanks AntonioFP45 for your positive feedback–it’s nice to have that kind of response to my first post!
I’ve always been surprised that modelers haven’t taken to the RDC more than they have. It’s ideally suited to the kind of operating conditions most of us face on our layouts, with limited room for long trains. They enable even the smallest layout to run a decent passenger service. I don’t know what it was like in the States, but up here in Canada the Budds could show up just about anywhere–corridor service, inter-city runs, branchline service, commute trips–anything except the transcontinental glam trains.
Perhaps part of the problem was a lack of decent models, but that’s changed now in both HO and N.
I think Nigel is mistaken about non-powered RDCs. The B&M had some RDC9, which CN bought, which were powered but without driving cabs. They were used to fill out the middle of trains.
The last time I saw this discussed, the end conclusion was that pulling cars might void the warranty, but somebody probably did it.
I’m a little puzzled why the RDCs couldn’t haul trailer cars - their British equivelents could. It’s not a problem with the type of transmission - we have both diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic railcars over here that can handle trailers. I guess they just weren’t powerful enough. Interestingly, the newer “second generation” diesel railcars over here are all powered units - presumably to help with acceleration from stops.
But it was the transmission that was the weak link. I suspect that Budd wanted to maximize RDC sales to some degree and trailers don’t do that. Don’t forget they were also big in city mass transit like subways and elevated cars where all are powered. Could they have beefed up the transmission? Sure but at what cost. Acceleration from a standing stop was one of the selling features minimizing times between stations. The RDC was never designed to replace backwoods doodlebugs on leisurely schedules. It was designed to be a mainline or commuter line replacement with performance guarantees and cost savings. Dragging trailers severly limits that performance
Hadn’t thought about the commercial considerations, you’re probably right there. Not sure about trailers slowing them down though - power-trailer combos over here can hit 65MPH without much trouble. Guess as US cars are heavier the effect of the trailer would be more marked.
[;)][:)] If I can add one more to the RDC topic. In the early 1980s, Budd’s replacement for the RDC was known as the “SPV 2000”. A group of enthusiastic Amtrak fleet maintenance employees wanted them officially nicknamed “Spiffy” or “Spiffies” because of their neat and clean looks but Amtrak president Alan S. Boyd was more “matter of factly” (o.k, unimaginative) and didn’t officially adopt the nickname.
(some executives are just too “hard boiled”, even with good intentions)
The SPV 2000 was basically an Metroliner/Amfleet coach with a metroliner cab end and Detroit Diesel engines for power. The car was 85ft in length but lighter in weight and more fuel efficient than RDCs. Don’t know about the horsepower, but I did read that they were not as roomy or comfortable as the RDCs and locomotive engineers [|(] did not like the vibration that these cars exhibited. Do any of you know if Amtrak is still running SPV 2000s?
Ironically I’ve seen pictures of “non-Amtrak” RDCs “still running” in Canada. In the U.S some survive in tourist service. LIke an old Chevy these old girls were truly built to last!