Did Budd RDC pull coaches in regular service?

minesweeper Feb 4, 2020

  1. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Hallo
    I have a few RDC for my layout and it would be convenient sometimes to add one coach to a single or double unit to add passenger capacity without the need for more motive power.
    In Italy sometimes unpowered DMU (built as trailers) were used, especially where no or little grades were present.
    I did not see any trailer attached to RDC pictures i searched, hence the question.
     
  2. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    I don't recall ever seeing live or photos of an RDC pulling an unpowered car, though I suppose it could have happened. The RDC was powered by a pair of 275 HP (205 kW) diesels, so really didn't have excess power for pulling.
     
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  3. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    A couple of railroads did in later years, particularly the Rock Island. If Budd caught them at it, their warranties got voided.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2020
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  4. mmi16

    mmi16 TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like it is hauling Budd built equipment.
     
  5. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    They used one, SP10, at the Galveston Railroad Museum for switching for a while. They could haul several cars for short distances on flat track.
    [​IMG]
     
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  6. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Ok, thank you (acptulsa I cant see your picture), I see RDC were not designed to pull trailers. In Italy we have the same power to our comparable railcars (668 series, you can find more here https://www.trainboard.com/highball...-railways-regional-motive-power.111062/page-2 ) but these could pull a similar built trailer (25/30 tons) also on decent grades (up to 1%). I imagine the US coaches are way much heavier.
    In any case the latest image is very good to weather my cars..... so thank you again.
     
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  7. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Now I see the picture, that is what I had in mind...
    So, possible, but not probable

    Inviato dal mio BLN-L21 utilizzando Tapatalk
     
  8. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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    Long Island RR:

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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  10. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    If I remember correctly, these had a different type of motive power, not like a normal locomotive.

    Wasn't there a type of transmission similar to an automobile? Maybe that's why they weren't able to pull much?
    :cautious:
     
  11. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, RDCs had a hydraulic torque converter transmission, similar to an automatic transmission in cars, but without the ability to change gears.

    Here's the Wikipedia article.
     
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  12. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Then I will put it like this:
    Freelance RR put upgraded engines amid a comprehensive overhaul....
    I will use an old (and cheap) Rivarossi lightweight tail car I have on hand to increase capacity on a RDC3, and work also as a cab car to avoid switching...
    Thank you again, will post pictures when I am done.
     
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  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway had two Budd RDC's. They were known to have pulled an express/mail box car. Which did not work well, so they traded both away.
     
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  14. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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  15. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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  16. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Wow, lots of "flexibility...."
     
  17. mmi16

    mmi16 TrainBoard Member

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    A drawback to having RDC's haul passenger occupied cars in revenue service would be that RDC's were not able to generate steam for the heating of said occupied passenger cars.
     
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  18. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    On italian trailers they used a small oil burner to provide hot air.
     
  19. mmi16

    mmi16 TrainBoard Member

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    Prior to Amtrak - all American passenger cars were steam heated. After Amtrak in 1971 the move was started to HEP power for both heating and cooling needs.
     
  20. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Yeah, by the time Amtrak took over all the old coal stove headed cars were long gone. This car was typical of those used on mixed freights where steam lines were not an option. Built by Barney & Smith in 1886 for the SA&AP. It was quipped with gas lighting most of its service life. It was off the roster in 1953. It was 50'-2'' over end sills (over the wood ends of the carbody itself). It had a 14'-10'' baggage compartment, a 15'-0'' ''Jim Crow'' compartment (15 person seating capacity with one toilet), and a 19'-0'' white passenger compartment (20 person seating capacity with one toilet and a coal stove), separated from each other by two 2'' wood partitions.

    [​IMG]
     
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