Just wondered if anyone was running Budd RDC cars on their layout. I'm modelling NYC/Pennsy/Jersey Central and I have passenger trains set up for the first two. But the Jersey Central uses what, to me, is an ugly/weird color for a passenger train...the "Blue Comet". They also use a green color, which isn't too bad, but those passenger cars are relatively difficult to obtain. I thought it might be neat to use a Budd RDC setup for Jersey Central, just to be different . Especially since MTH has a Proto 2 version that looks pretty neat (Jersey Central RDC Budd Set Proto 2.0 - 30-2695-1 $259.95). They also have a 2-car expansion pack for $134.95. Not sure if I'd go with that, though. Anyway, just curious if anyone else is using a Budd consist.
Dep
Virginian Railroad
I don't have the MTH RDC but have an RMT Budd RDC and it runs good and will pull an extra unpowered passenger car with it.
Williams has a four car set of Metro RDC cars in; Amtrac, Pennsylvania and Penn Central for $400.00. No DCS or TMCC in the Williams, need to add that yourself.
The Budd RDC cars were used more on rural routes or between two cities, like Reading PA and Philadelphia. After a few years Amtrac dropped the run to Reading from Philadelphia claiming it wasn't making money.
Lee F.
RDCs are still running on the OnTrack commuter rail line in Syracuse, NY, on the Trinity Railway Express between Dallas and Fort Worth, TX, and on the Alaska Railroad.
Bob Nelson
Dep:
I run a couple of Budd RDC consists on my layout - a Williams New Haven RDC-1 / RDC-1 set and a Lionel CN (theoretically under lease to the NH) RDC-4 / RDC-1 set.
I spent a few years commuting in to New York on the Jersey Central (then Conrail, then NJ Transit) and checked a book I have (Commuter Railroads by Pat Dorin). The CNJ Budd cars were mostly left stainless with the CNJ "Liberty" logo under the engineers window at either end of the car. Eventually, I think they ended up using safety stripes on the cab ends. FYI - the CNJ sometimes ran a standard coach between two RDC's to accomodate more passengers but I don't think that Budd recommended that approach (Budd offered a cheaper RDC, the RDC-9, that had only one engine and no control cabs for that type of operation).
The MTH Budds are pretty interesting since they offer a RDC-3 (49 passenger, baggage / RPO / coach combine) which is different than Lionel and Williams.
In the 60's and early 70's the CNJ didn't seem to field many (any?) cars in the Blue Comet livery. The older equipment was painted pullman green or olive with yellow lettering and rebuilt coaches were painted dark blue with a yellow letterboard, black roof, and yellow CNJ "Liberty" and NJ DOT logos below the windows at either end. If you can find a 15" heavyweight coach on e-bay you could repaint it and use decals from Champ to add a coach to your RDC consist.
I run an RMT RDC. It serves as the "commuter" on a section of the inside loop. The station siding for it can fit a maximum of three RMT RDCs. The commuters in town wanted something other than a trolley.
I think the RDCs makes a nice visual contrast to rest of the passenger fleets.
Chris
Thanks for the great replies guys!!! Wasn't sure anyone even knew about Budd cars. I don't think they are all that popular with toy train folks. I started to go with the Williams Budd cars, but my layout is mainly DCS, so being able to get Proto 2 is pretty neat. Not sure what they'll sound like, but I like the remote control option.
Steinmike: MTH has the green coaches for JC. Also a green loco for it. Again...not a very attractrive color scheme. Think I will go with the Budds. JC is not really a major part of my layout, so the Budds will fit in well and add a little variety. Thanks a ton to everyone for the feedback. Good to see Budd isn't completely forgotten
Chris: I agree 100%!!! Variety is cool!!!
Go ahead and use 'em - you'd be prototypical, since they used to run on the Matawan -> Atlantic Highlands leg of the North Jersey Coast Line.
corton wrote: Dep:Go ahead and use 'em - you'd be prototypical, since they used to run on the Matawan -> Atlantic Highlands leg of the North Jersey Coast Line.
Cool! Thanks for that info!!!
WOW!!! Was saying this AM to myself, "Self, I have not seen Dep post lately." "Wonder what he is up to?"
Did you see the article in CTT on directional lighting in MTH Budd cars?
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Hi Chief!!! Nope...haven't seen that article. Do you remember what issue it was in? I have a subscription to it.
John: I ordered the MTH Budd cars tonight in a Jersey Central 2-car powered set. I didn't order the 2 unpowered cars, though. I was a bit confused with the Williams RDC cars. One place said they were sold as 2-car sets (BC-108) and had dual motors (they were out of stock of JC). Another place showed the current part numbers (BC18) and it was only a single motor/single car set. I couldn't find ANYTHING on the Williams website about Budd cars at all. But I did find them in their newest catalog and they are shown as single-car units with a single motor (BC18).
I also got a really neat-looking MOW car made by Weaver.
ChiefEagles wrote:Sorry Dep, it is Subway cars but should work on any non-lighted. Feb 07 page 70. Good luck.
Thanks Chief! I'll check it out.
phillyreading wrote:Dep,I got the Williams catalog out and the BC18 is the Jersey Central single RDC for $149.95, have not found the BC-108 two pack/please double check the number for that one/not in catalog, there is the Metroliner four car electric set MET-200, MET-201, MET-202 for $399.95.Lee F.
Lee: Check this website. They are listed as pairs. ..
http://yorktrains.com/WilliamsTrains/locos/BuddRDC.htm
Dep,
I checked the website and from what I can tell the units may be leftovers from a few years back, as the website lists copyright date 2004 and last updated 2005.
The current catalog don't list RDC pairs and the guy I normally order Williams from says they are out of production!
So apperently good luck finding the RDC pair by Williams!!
Lee: Makes sense to me. Wonder why the Budd cars aren't shown on the Williams website???
Don't know what's up Dep, but the Williams website seems to be a few months behind on any updates, Feb. 07 as last update, so current production items don't show up on the website. I have the catalog that Williams mailed out and it has the RDC Budd cars in it and the website don't list RDC cars at all.
Yep...I have the catalog too. Main thing that won me over to the MTH version was the Proto 2 and 2-car consist. I am REAL curious about what a Budd car sounds like. I think they used old Army diesel tank engines for power. So it SHOULDN'T sound like a "normal" diesel. I sucked up enough diesel smoke following behind tanks to know what they sound and smell like.
Bob: Exactly right. They also used a driveshaft and tork converter. The two engines almost guaranteed that the train would have very little downtime and always make it's schedule.
An updtae on my order. The place I ordered the JC Budd cars from was OUT OF STOCK!!! Yikes! Luckily I found another place and was able to get an order put in.
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