We have a short tourist line that wants to move a couple of cars a year for a customer. Can we use our Budd car to pull a boxcar or a Plastic Pellets Car?
Railroad Forums
Can a Budd car pull 1 or 2 freight cars?
- Forum for the discussion of the Budd Company and Budd-Thyssen through bankruptcy. Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budd_Company
Moderator: John_Perkowski
I'm pretty sure that I read in a Conrail 1983 employee timetable that pulling freights with an RDC was something to be avoided. I'll double check the ETT later, though.
I understand that when Budd sold them, they strongly recommended against pulling any non-powered car with an RDC, and that doing so would void the warrenty. I assume the issue is with the torque converters overheating.
Peter Schmidt
With no replacement transmission/torq converter on market or available for trade, I would strongly advise against it.
If Conductors are in charge, why are they promoted to be Engineer???
Retired Triebfahrzeugführer. I am not a moderator.
Retired Triebfahrzeugführer. I am not a moderator.
I really can't find an example of a RDC being used successfully and reliably as an impromptu locomotive. Again, I think the problem is the use of hydraulic drive that is similar in concept to an automotive torque converter. They'll pull themselves, but even the RDC-9 trailers were half powered.
Ironically, the earlier gas-electric cars, or "doodlebugs," were often used to pull unpowered trailer coaches, and once passenger service had ended, some were even used as switchers. However, it's worth noting that some of those cars were very similar in concept to early diesel electric locomotives. Electromotive build gas-electric cars before GM bought the company and went into the locomotive business.
Budd cars are different beasts and won't stand that sort of abuse. The Quebec North Shore & Labrador tried to pull a dome coach between a couple of RDCs, but it's worth noting that was just about the time they ceased RDC operations. So, did they have problems? All I can say for sure is that today they run a conventional locomotive hauled mixed train. No more RDCs.
Ironically, the earlier gas-electric cars, or "doodlebugs," were often used to pull unpowered trailer coaches, and once passenger service had ended, some were even used as switchers. However, it's worth noting that some of those cars were very similar in concept to early diesel electric locomotives. Electromotive build gas-electric cars before GM bought the company and went into the locomotive business.
Budd cars are different beasts and won't stand that sort of abuse. The Quebec North Shore & Labrador tried to pull a dome coach between a couple of RDCs, but it's worth noting that was just about the time they ceased RDC operations. So, did they have problems? All I can say for sure is that today they run a conventional locomotive hauled mixed train. No more RDCs.
Asked and answered.
Thank you gentlemen for your inputs.
Thank you gentlemen for your inputs.