CNJ RDC

CNJ RDC

Budd RDC - After several less than stellar attempts at creating a self-propelled railcar, in 1950 The Budd Co. struck paydirt. They sold their first 90 seat coach RDC-1 to the New York Central on April 19th, and eventually sold 397 more after that. In an era where most railroads were looking to either drop passenger service completely, or at least reduce costs on lesser travelled routes, The Budd RDC was exactly what the doctor ordered. Capable of a top speed of 85 mph from its 275-300 hp engines, it could go from 0-60 in two minutes, start on grades as steep as 3%, and only needed a crew of 2. Its two engines were mounted beneath the car body, and could be changed in an hour if necessary. Eventually delivered in 5 versions (RDC-1 90 seat coach, RDC-2 coach & baggage, RDC-3 coach, baggage & RPO, RDC-4 baggage-RPO and the cabless RDC-9, which has only one engine and had to be operated with one of the other units). Budd delivered the last 12 RDC's to the Reading Company in 1962. Over 50 years from its debut, you can still find Budd RDC's working on Class 1, commuter and tourist railroads, and in several different countries.
The Jersey Central purchased several RDC's, both from Budd and also from other railroads such as the NYSW and PRSL. There's quite an active dispute as to whether the roofs were painted black, or just never cleaned. Several photos seem to back either assertion.

Author: Jeff Barr

CNJ RDC
cnj_rdc_alpha_numbers
alphanumber_0a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_0b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_1a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_1b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_2a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_2b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_3a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_3b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_4a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_4b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_5a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_5b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_6a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_6b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_7a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_7b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_8a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_8b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_9a.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_9b.tga 4.04KB
cnj_rdc_art
art_512.tga 1.00MB
art_icon.tga 32.04KB
cnj_rdc_art_512.texture.txt 63 bytes
cnj_rdc_art_icon.texture.txt 63 bytes
cnj_rdc_body
board.texture.txt 28 bytes
board.tga 48.04KB
box1.texture.txt 27 bytes
box1.tga 24.04KB
brownmetal.texture.txt 33 bytes
brownmetal.tga 12.04KB
cnj_rdc_body.im 606.06KB
coupler.bmp 3.05KB
coupler.texture.txt 30 bytes
digit_4a.texture.txt 31 bytes
digit_4a.tga 1.04KB
digit_4b.texture.txt 31 bytes
digit_4b.tga 3.04KB
digit_5a.texture.txt 31 bytes
digit_5a.tga 1.04KB
digit_5b.texture.txt 31 bytes
digit_5b.tga 3.04KB
digit_6a.texture.txt 31 bytes
digit_6a.tga 1.04KB
digit_6b.texture.txt 31 bytes
digit_6b.tga 3.04KB
door_left.im 14.64KB
door_left.kin 3.19KB
door_open.wav 22.53KB
door_right.im 14.66KB
door_right.kin 3.19KB
doors.evt 112 bytes
doors.texture.txt 28 bytes
doors.tga 24.04KB
engine.texture.txt 29 bytes
engine.tga 6.04KB
env_metal.bmp 192.05KB
env_metal.texture.txt 32 bytes
legs-legs.texture.txt 43 bytes
legs.tga 2.04KB
light.texture.txt 28 bytes
light.tga 3.04KB
main.texture.txt 27 bytes
main.tga 768.04KB
night
env_metal.bmp 192.05KB
env_metal.texture.txt 32 bytes
main.texture.txt 27 bytes
main.tga 768.04KB
night.im 1.29KB
windows-windows.texture.txt 49 bytes
windows.tga 8.04KB
redlight.texture.txt 31 bytes
redlight.tga 12.04KB
roof vent.texture.txt 32 bytes
roof vent.tga 6.04KB
roof1.texture.txt 28 bytes
roof1.tga 12.04KB
sidenumber.texture.txt 33 bytes
sidenumber.tga 6.04KB
steel.texture.txt 28 bytes
steel.tga 6.04KB
steel2.texture.txt 29 bytes
steel2.tga 6.04KB
vent.texture.txt 27 bytes
vent.tga 12.04KB
windows.texture.txt 30 bytes
windows.tga 6.02KB
• config.txt 9.42KB
• lights.gs 10.66KB