Last of VIA Rail Budd RDC's Endangered

Where: Trains

Last chance to ride VIA’s Budd RDCs

The days of the five serviceable Budd RDCs (Rail Diesel Cars) remaining on VIA Rail Canada’s roster may be numbered. As Siemens Venture equipment displaces the stainless and LRC coaches (and F40s and P42 locomotives) on the Windsor-Quebec City corridor, the aging RDC fleet assigned to train Nos. 185 and 186 between Sudbury and White River, Ontario, will likely become surplus.

If you want to experience the last of VIA’s Budd cars, now is the time to act.

RDC-equipped train Nos. 185 and 186 are lifelines for people living year-round in Ontario’s Algoma District and are supply lines for remote private camps, cottages, and fishing lodges. In the summer months, Nos. 185 and 186 transport as many as 80 to 100 passengers destined for northern adventures with up to 18 canoes loaded aboard the RDC4 along with packs and provisions. The Sudbury RDC fleet is composed of RDC2s Nos. 6217 and 6219, RDC1 No. 6105, and RDC4 No. 6250.
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Does VIA's press department not take calls from Trains? It seems odd that this piece is constructed solely from the Venture replacement, without mention of a request for comment. Is it possible? Sure. There was even a rumour on UrbanToronto about it a while back. But the wye in White River is short - maybe not long enough for a summer length HEP consist plus power.

I had the same thoughts. I read the article twice and never found any hints of Via's input. Where did the magazine hear this? If there is a source, credit the source or note that the source works for Via but wants to remain unnamed. this is just rumor mongering otherwise.

So I rode this train tues/weds last week. The crew has heard the same rumors but nobody has heard anything firm. Trains has unfortunately turned into the rumor mill we all derided at Railpace, hopefully the new owners can instill some journalistic integrity.

That said, this was my first RDC ride. 9 hours each way, so I feel like I have a pretty good picture of the RDC experience. It wasn't bad, the seats were very comfy. But it feels like riding in a mini Budd streamliner with General Motors bus engines below you, which is exacty what it is. While quieter than a British Sprinter DMU, it's not a memorable experience. This was the bottom of the low season, so there were three passengers, including another buff from Grand Rapids. We gathered that the replacement for the RDC would be an F40 and a couple of Budd ex-CP coaches and baggage car. I would honestly prefer such, as hearing that bus motor throttle up and down all day is not really that great.

That said, this was a very interesting and scenic route. After 30 minutes out of Sudbury, there were lakes and rivers every 100yards or so all day long, and stunning fall colors. Gold aspens everywhere. It would be a very cool route for Via to run a special once a month, maybe June to September or October, with a park car and a diner and extra fares for more involved service. Maybe a two-day Toronto-Subury (overnight) Sudbury-White River (overnight) and return.

I assume this was posted before but in case not - a 3 hour documentary film by Ontario’s public broadcaster (no audio narration, just ambient sounds) following Train 185 from Sudbury to White River at various times of the year.
https://youtu.be/tztis9fKMiI?si=wIUWVjmcbpvzYrqB


As to the replacements by locohaul, the trickiest parts would be
1. Availability of the wye - VIA has no cab cars or cabbages at this time, although perhaps an F40 or two could be converted rather than rebuilt
2. Availability of a baggage car as VIA’s legacy baggage car fleet is heavily committed.

Is there a way to get this documentary outside Canada? It wont let us view.

There is a wye in White River but I think its used to store stuff and perhaps not in the best of shape. It would probably be cheaper to lease/buy a geep for the other end of the train, even a de-engined one to use as a NPCU. This train rarely got over 60mph so gearing shouldn't be an issue. As for baggage cars, I assume a box car would suffice if equipped with heat, lights, etc.. and perhaps pass-through doors.

One thing this train is not is a glamorous streamliner. Anything they do should be extremely functional as a utility train operating under 60mph. Even vending machines in the new cars would be great. Currently there are a few items such as candy bars, chips, coffee available. Card is accepted if there is service, which is rare. A token or credits system might be nice - swipe your card at Sudbury or buy online in advance, the vending machines are notified, and you can buy your snacks and drinks wherever without carrying loonies.

Tadman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 8:25 am Is there a way to get this documentary outside Canada? It wont let us view.

Had no idea it was geoblocked. According to this geoblock checker it’s Canada only. Pretty bizarre decision given it could double as a tourist film.
https://polsy.org.uk/stuff/ytrestrict.c ... 1O2kFckLuV

could double as a tourist film.

I notice there are a lot of trains to remote areas that could bring in tourists and they almost try to keep it a secret. The White River train is one of those. There were 3-5 passengers aboard last week. In other words probably not enough to pay the conductor salary let alone fuel, capital costs, etc...

Can you imagine what 5-8 tourists per week would do for White River? We don't need Disney-levels of tourists, not even Muskoka levels. Just 5-10 people, maybe 20 per trip during the summer. Would be a boon for the two hotels, restaurants, guides and fishing lodges, etc..

This is how you create a more vibrant economy up north.

Tadman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 8:38 am

could double as a tourist film.

I notice there are a lot of trains to remote areas that could bring in tourists and they almost try to keep it a secret. The White River train is one of those. There were 3-5 passengers aboard last week. In other words probably not enough to pay the conductor salary let alone fuel, capital costs, etc...

Can you imagine what 5-8 tourists per week would do for White River? We don't need Disney-levels of tourists, not even Muskoka levels. Just 5-10 people, maybe 20 per trip during the summer. Would be a boon for the two hotels, restaurants, guides and fishing lodges, etc..

This is how you create a more vibrant economy up north.

I think Ontario Northland / ON MTO should be making an agreement with the feds to take over White River. Not only is their main base relatively close at North Bay (passage over OVR permitting) but the company bus network services both Sudbury and White River.

This would allow VIA to stand down the RDCs or send them to the Gaspé - ONR have two F40 APCUs and could acquire more to have a double ended trainset, and they also have two stored coaches which were acquired for rebuild as baggage cars. They could also build another canoe car like 4507 and keep the baggage car space for bags and deliveries.

This is a good idea. Having a national carrier run a niche service like this doesn't always make sense, its better in local hands. Leadership can focus on ridership needs and trends and work to match equipment and schedules. Contrast that with some big bosses in a far off big city that don't really care and are only willing to send hand-me-down equipment.