RDC

[alloboard]

What is the wheel drive of a typical RDC say e.g CNJ How many wheels are powered.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

RDC's were built with a torque-converter drive with no traction motors. The wheel arrangement is 1A-A1, meaning only that the inner axle on each truck is powered.

[ndbprr]

All RDC's had a drive shaft to the trucks with all eight wheels powered. My understanding is that the original ones used the Buick slushbox turbine transmission due to its smoothness in shifting.

[PBenham]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

RDC's were built with a torque-converter drive with no traction motors. The wheel arrangement is 1A-A1, meaning only that the inner axle on each truck is powered.

Paul, sir, you are correct. Not only have I read both major books on the RDC, I have had experience feeling the torque converter shifting when an RDC was accelerating. They sounded like most older GM busses having the same Detroit engine. But, that tranny was somthing else,espically if you sat right above it! One had to be careful where one sat in an RDC,to avoid the THUNK of the torque converter, or the vibration of the engines or the wheel sets on bad track.

[nssr9169]

QUOTE: Originally posted by PBenham

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

RDC's were built with a torque-converter drive with no traction motors. The wheel arrangement is 1A-A1, meaning only that the inner axle on each truck is powered.

Paul, sir, you are correct. Not only have I read both major books on the RDC, I have had experience feeling the torque converter shifting when an RDC was accelerating. They sounded like most older GM busses having the same Detroit engine. But, that tranny was somthing else,espically if you sat right above it! One had to be careful where one sat in an RDC,to avoid the THUNK of the torque converter, or the vibration of the engines or the wheel sets on bad track.

Wonderful to see RDC fans out there........The Lake Superior Railroad Museam has the oldest known running RDC.....NSSR 9169.....with it's orriginal engines......they cost allot to operate(or to keep operating).....I see that RDC1 every day in the summer.....becuse I work at the LSRM.[:D]