RailClassics: The last operational Budd RDC

As far as RDC's that run on their own power, you can scratch Cape May Seashore Lines; leaving only OnTrack, TRE, and Bellefonte Historical RR. Plus there's a railroad in Banks, OR that runs 2 ex-CNJ RDC's. There was also an operation in the upper midwest that was running an ex-C&NW RDC that was previously owned by the Blue Mountain & Reading RR in PA (ex-PADOT No. 9169), but I haven't heard anything recently from that or the Banks, OR operation.

RDG484 wrote:As far as RDC's that run on their own power, you can scratch Cape May Seashore Lines; leaving only OnTrack, TRE, and Bellefonte Historical RR. Plus there's a railroad in Banks, OR that runs 2 ex-CNJ RDC's. There was also an operation in the upper midwest that was running an ex-C&NW RDC that was previously owned by the Blue Mountain & Reading RR in PA (ex-PADOT No. 9169), but I haven't heard anything recently from that or the Banks, OR operation.

Why would you sctrach the CMSL? Although the two operational RDCs are sometimes used as part of locomotive hauled trains, they can and do still run under their own power as witnessed here on July 28:

http://www.trainweb.org/phillynrhs/RPOTW060730.html

Put 'em back on the list boys.

I have lots of memories of the RDC's on the Waterbury Branch of the NHRR. I remember in particular one snowy Saturday morning when we left Waterbury for Bridgeport, got about half a mile down the line and died. An hour later they managed to get a CR&L bus to take us to Bridgeport but we'd already missed the GCT connection.

I used to love how the RDC's would rock back and forth on those old tracks. They sat at such an odd angle at the Naugatuck station that you thought you were going to tip over.

Nice to see people dedicated to keeping the RDC's running.

To echo Glenn's response about returning CMSL to the active self-powered RDC list, the photograph that i use for my avatar was taken on April 29, 2006.

http://www.transitspot.com/gallery2/v/u ... -29+19.jpg

W.E.Coyote wrote:And BC Rail was a well-known RDC operator until CN got to it...

The RDC's were gone long before CN started running the BCR.

[quote="glennk419"][quote="RDG484"]As far as RDC's that run on their own power, you can scratch Cape May Seashore Lines; leaving only OnTrack, TRE, and Bellefonte Historical RR. Plus there's a railroad in Banks, OR that runs 2 ex-CNJ RDC's. There was also an operation in the upper midwest that was running an ex-C&NW RDC that was previously owned by the Blue Mountain & Reading RR in PA (ex-PADOT No. 9169), but I haven't heard anything recently from that or the Banks, OR operation.[/quote]

Why would you sctrach the CMSL? Although the two operational RDCs are sometimes used as part of locomotive hauled trains, they can and do still run under their own power as witnessed here on July 28:

[url]http://www.trainweb.org/phillynrhs/RPOTW060730.html[/url]

Put 'em back on the list boys.[/quote]


That is GREAT to know. The only time I would ever ride RDC's is under their OWN power, as God and their builder, Budd, intended them to run. Otherwise it's just nowhere near the same.

Update: I read in another post that the operation in Banks, OR (Port of Tillamook Bay RR) runs one of their two ex-CNJ RDC's usually behind a Heisler locomotive and the other is stored.

I guess we can scratch that from the operational RDC's roster.

RDG484 wrote:Update: I read in another post that the operation in Banks, OR (Port of Tillamook Bay RR) runs one of their two ex-CNJ RDC's usually behind a Heisler locomotive and the other is stored.

My understanding is that the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, which is separate from but operates over the tracks of the Port of Tillamook Bay RR, no longer uses the RDC on their Heisler-powered trains; they now have two passenger cars (flatcars, one with a roof) and a former Rock Island bay-window caboose. However, the POTB appears to run the operable RDC in the consists of their excursions that operate over the Coast Range; and they might also be leasing the two RDC-9s owned by the Pacific Northwest Chapter NRHS.

For the record, the two RDC-1s owned by POTB are:

POTB 552 - originally CNJ 552 (non-operable, stored in Tillamook)
POTB 553 - originally CNJ 553 (operable)

However, the POTB no longer runs the RDC excursion trains between Garibaldi and Wheeler - those trains have essentially been replaced by the OCSR trains, which run only between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach.

The ODOT owned RDCs (former BC Rail) are still for sale, but at least two groups within Oregon are trying to purchase them - a group wanting to start a wine train in the Willamette Valley, and a railroad owned by two counties in northeastern Oregon that wants to replace its existing excursion equipment.

dmk092 wrote:Don't forget the ARR (ALASKA)
They own four RDCs which they operate on the Hurricane Turn flagstop service, and have a fifth they use for parts.

I though I heard someone say once that those RDC's were old Boston and Maine RDC's. Is that true?

ALL of the RDC's operated by ARR are ex New Haven
ARR 701, ex NH 126, RDC-3
ARR 702, ex NH 129, RDC-3 (no baggage area with rebuilding)
ARR 711, ex NH 121, RDC-2 (one of the last two RDC's operated by AMTK)
ARR 712, ex NH 44, RDC-1 (parts donor?)

NHRR WTBY wrote:The Cape Cod Railroad has a Budd RDC, but they operate it as part of a diesel train pulling tourists on day trips. I wonder if it can still operate on its own? Anyone know?

Cape Cod Railroad is no longer.... Their is a Cape Cod Central R.R. if that's what your referring too. I'm not aware that they own a Budd RDC and it's not listed on their website. Least put it this way, I have never seen it on the rail while I'm working.

Bay Colony RR stores one Budd RDC for Seminole Gulf Railway. It's used for parts as far as I know.... every now and then they ship a part down to Florida fo them.

Several cars from the old Cape Cod RR are stored with the Budd car too...

Cape Cod Central does in fact own one... but its not listed on thier website... take a look (in a book reading rainbow)

http://www.capetrain.com/railfanphotos/ ... jpg&page=5

On Saturday Nov 4, 2006, CMSL plans to operate M-407 and M-410 under their own power from Tuckahoe to richland as the regular 10 AM train in conjunction with the celebration of Tuckahoe Tower's 100th birthday.

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31139

P-RSL M-410 came up on the Cape May Branch and stopped at Tuckahoe Tower while M-407 came up on the Ocean City Branch and picked up passengers at Tuckahoe Station.

http://chuchubob.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... ?id=556366
http://chuchubob.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... ?id=556368

The two were coupled at the tower and proceeded to Richland.
http://chuchubob.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... ?id=556377
http://chuchubob.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... ?id=556371

Return from Richland
http://chuchubob.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... ?id=556390
http://chuchubob.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... ?id=556391

Bob

Probably too late to catch them this year running into Cape May but CMSL / PRSL M-407 and M-410 have been running under their own power for the last three weeks. Tomorrow is the last scheduled day and we'll be in the middle of Hurricane Earl.

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 4&start=45

The railroad will also be running from Tuckahoe to Richland in the fall but the consists are unknown at this time.