Just thought I'd pass on a few things to this forum from Oregon:
TriMet last week signed a contract with Colorado Railcar for a total of five cars - three powered DMUs and two trailer cars. I believe from all that I've heard that the cars will be single-level, but no word on the actual specifications. I'm praying that the wrap-around windows will NOT be on the cars. Operations are expected to begin in 2007 or 2008 on a 15 mile run southwest of Portland, between Beaverton and Wilsonville - serving Tigard and Tualatin, as well as the Washington Square shopping mall (on the Tigard/Beaverton city boundary) for a total of five stations. This line will not connect with Amtrak at Portland Union Station, but will connect with TriMet's existing light rail system (MAX) at Beaverton (which comes within a few blocks of Union Station, and directly serves Portland International Airport).
Right now, there are a total of SEVEN Budd RDCs in Oregon, which from a historical perspective means there are more RDCs today than ever before. Here's a rundown of what they are and what they're doing:
ODOT: Two RDC-1s and one RDC-3, all of BC Rail heritage. The Lewis & Clark Excursion Train has finished its three year run, and the cars are for sale. At least one group out of Astoria is trying to restart the train, and may buy the cars but nothing official and no further information to elaborate. The RDCs in this service have had numerous mechanical problems; often times only two or three of the six engines were functioning on a trip, and at least once the Portland & Western Railroad had to provide a freight locomotive (GP39-2, former Santa Fe) to pull the train. Since the route is owned by the P&W, it may be likely that any future excursion trains may use regular passenger cars pulled by a locomotive... Currently the three RDCs are stored in Linnton (North Portland).
In addition, a local concern trying to start a railroad museum has expressed interest in the RDC-3 as it was the only RDC owned by the Great Northern Railroad; however it has been substantially modified by later owners (including a food service galley, completely new seats, and the cab controls appear to have been removed making it sort of a RDC-9 like car).
Port of Tillamook bay RR: Two RDC-1s, CNJ heritage. One car is running but this year has been typically pulled behind a Heisler steam locomotive that began operations out of Garibaldi. The second RDC has been kept in storage at the Tillamook Industrial Park (former U.S. Navy blimp base) in Tillamook, non-operating.
Pacific Northwest Chapter of the NRHS: Two RDC-9s, B&M heritage. Both cars are used on sporadic excursion trains, I do not believe either has operated this year. The engines and/or driveshafts have been removed from both cars. These cars have been stored in various places around Portland.
TriMet last week signed a contract with Colorado Railcar for a total of five cars - three powered DMUs and two trailer cars. I believe from all that I've heard that the cars will be single-level, but no word on the actual specifications. I'm praying that the wrap-around windows will NOT be on the cars. Operations are expected to begin in 2007 or 2008 on a 15 mile run southwest of Portland, between Beaverton and Wilsonville - serving Tigard and Tualatin, as well as the Washington Square shopping mall (on the Tigard/Beaverton city boundary) for a total of five stations. This line will not connect with Amtrak at Portland Union Station, but will connect with TriMet's existing light rail system (MAX) at Beaverton (which comes within a few blocks of Union Station, and directly serves Portland International Airport).
Right now, there are a total of SEVEN Budd RDCs in Oregon, which from a historical perspective means there are more RDCs today than ever before. Here's a rundown of what they are and what they're doing:
ODOT: Two RDC-1s and one RDC-3, all of BC Rail heritage. The Lewis & Clark Excursion Train has finished its three year run, and the cars are for sale. At least one group out of Astoria is trying to restart the train, and may buy the cars but nothing official and no further information to elaborate. The RDCs in this service have had numerous mechanical problems; often times only two or three of the six engines were functioning on a trip, and at least once the Portland & Western Railroad had to provide a freight locomotive (GP39-2, former Santa Fe) to pull the train. Since the route is owned by the P&W, it may be likely that any future excursion trains may use regular passenger cars pulled by a locomotive... Currently the three RDCs are stored in Linnton (North Portland).
In addition, a local concern trying to start a railroad museum has expressed interest in the RDC-3 as it was the only RDC owned by the Great Northern Railroad; however it has been substantially modified by later owners (including a food service galley, completely new seats, and the cab controls appear to have been removed making it sort of a RDC-9 like car).
Port of Tillamook bay RR: Two RDC-1s, CNJ heritage. One car is running but this year has been typically pulled behind a Heisler steam locomotive that began operations out of Garibaldi. The second RDC has been kept in storage at the Tillamook Industrial Park (former U.S. Navy blimp base) in Tillamook, non-operating.
Pacific Northwest Chapter of the NRHS: Two RDC-9s, B&M heritage. Both cars are used on sporadic excursion trains, I do not believe either has operated this year. The engines and/or driveshafts have been removed from both cars. These cars have been stored in various places around Portland.
