Introduced in 1950, these gleaming stainless steel self-propelled cars were designed to provide economical passenger service on lightly patronized runs. This model is an RDC-2 baggage-coach combine, but Budd also made the RDC-1 coach, the RDC-3 RPO (Railway Post Office)-baggage-coach combine, and an RDC-4 RPO-baggage.
According to the book Budd Car, The RDC Story, by Chuck Crouse (The Weekend Chief Publishing Co.), Budd built a total of 398 RDCs through 1962. Top original RDC-2 owners included Canadian Pacific (23), Baltimore & Ohio (14), and Boston & Maine (15); top secondary owners included VIA Rail Canada (26), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA, 22), and Amtrak (6).
This Proto 1000-series model closely follows the dimensions and details shown in prototype drawings published in the September 1953 issue of Model Railroader. It has a scale 85-foot length, 17-foot-long baggage section, and seating for 70 passengers.
The RDC comes with four pages of printed instructions including information on disassembly, an exploded isometric drawing of the car with the parts number-keyed to the parts list, and tips for cleaning and lubrication.
The model has a nicely detailed plastic body that neatly reproduces the fluted stainless steel construction of the Budd prototype. It’s made up of a large casting with added air horns, doors, radiators, and clear plastic window glazing. Four screws attach the body to the frame.
One truck is powered by a five-pole skew-wound motor mounted on the floor. A machined brass flywheel and acetal plastic universals carry the power to the truck, and a heavy zinc-alloy floor provides plenty of weight for traction. The interior is molded to fit around and conceal the motor.
A well-designed printed-circuit board is mounted above the interior. It has traces along each side that can be used to add interior lighting. This board also has provisions for the addition of a Digital Command Control decoder. Although there’s no receptacle, the traces are marked where insulating cuts need to be made, and labeled soldering pads are provided to connect the leads from a DCC decoder.
The RDC trucks have excellent detail and all wheels pick up current. The RP25 contour nickel-silver wheelsets match the National Model Railroad Association standards gauge.
Life-Like Proto 2000 knuckle couplers are mounted in plastic coupler boxes which slip through the pilots and are secured with small screws. The coupler height is correct according to a Kadee coupler height gauge.
Model Railroader’s sample RDC started and operated smoothly and quietly throughout its speed range. However, the starting voltage is quite high and the top speed is only about half of the prototype’s 85 mph.
Even though the prototypes seldom pulled anything other than a trailer coach or two, the model RDC’s drawbar pull is equivalent to 20 free-rolling freight cars on straight and level track.
Our sample came decorated in Amtrak’s early paint scheme, but the silver paint was a bit rough. The printed stripes and herald are clear and sharp and it’s correctly numbered.
Life-Like has done a nice job of creating an interesting new passenger car for secondary runs on diesel-era layouts.
Price: $60
Manufacturer:
Life-Like Products Co.
1600 Union Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21211-1998
www.lifelikeproducts.com
Description:
Plastic and metal ready-to-run model
Features:
DCC ready
Directional headlights
Drawbar pull: 1.4 ounces
Weight: 22 ounces
Minimum radius: 18″
Road names:
Amtrak
Baltimore & Ohio
Boston & Maine
New York, New Haven & Hartford
Northern Pacific
Western Pacific
Great Locomotev. It runs Smothly!
Nice article review. I have 2 of these cars which I converted to DCC.
Very attractive smooth running car reminds me of its use for many years on the Naugatuck Valley branch of the New Haven. Cars and New Haven are gone but Metro North still runs the line.
Have to of these and fitted with MRC DCC decoder, Works very nice.
THIS IA A NICE CAR. AS SAID ABOVE TOP SPEED IS SLOW. IM STILL HAPPY TO HAVE IT IN MY COLLECTION.