16308 - Rapido Trains HO Budd RDC-1 (Ph 1c) (DC/Silent): CN - Wet Noodle: #6109
Rapido
16808 - Rapido Trains HO Budd RDC-1 (Ph 1c) (DC/DCC/Sound): CN - Wet Noodle: #6109
The Budd RDC-9 was introduced in 1956 for the Boston & Maine as a "powered trailer", designed for use with two regular RDCs in a three car consist. It was a motorized coach powered by a single motor and containing seating for 94 passengers. Lacking control cabs or end windows, it was not designed for independent operation but was controlled by controls in a coupled RDC.
Many Budd RDCs would linger on into commuter services for various commuter agencies in the northeast. Some of these commuter operations would bundle the RDCs in sets of four or more cars, creating good-sized consists. (Or eleven for CP!) Other roads would operate them in pairs or even singles on lighter branchline routes.
Do you run freight operations and question why you would need any RDCs? Well we should mention that MOST of these commuter operations ran over major freight routes. In fact, many of these runs would tie up freight operations daily in the AM and PM rush hours. You too can recreate dispatcher frustrations by running a set of commuter RDCs right out in front of a waiting freight train.
The Rapido Trains HO scale RDC locomotive features: