Budd Rail Diesel Car

The Budd Rail Diesel Car (often shortened to RDC) is a Diesel Multiple Unit built by the Budd Company in response to a era of low ridership on passenger trains. It was specifically designed to be used on shorter routes, such as commuter runs or runs with low ridership. It is powered by twin Detroit Diesel Series 110 engines, and these were coupled to an automatic or manual transmission, which drives the wheels.
The RDC was a moderate success, but in recent years their use began to dwindle; almost all RDCs running today are operated by tourist railroads. The only exceptions are VIA Rail Canada, which uses 6 RDCs of various types on its Budd Car service between Sudbury and White River, ON, and WES commuter rail, which uses RDCs as backup trains for its Colorado Railcar DMUs.
Some RDCs have since been de-motored and used as regular passenger cars, mainly in commuter service. Few of these cars survive.
==Variants==
===RDC 1===
These were the basic RDC cars; a diesel powered coach car with controls at both ends. They are also the most numerous of all types; most railroads still operating the RDC operates the RDC-1.
===RDC 2===
These were essentially RDC 1 cars, but with a baggage section at one end of the car. Very few examples exist.
===RDC 3===
Similar to the RDC 2, but with a larger baggage compartment. Very few examples exist.
===RDC 4===
These were essentially diesel powered baggage cars with controls. Only one example still exists; it is operated by VIA on its Sudbury-White River route.
===RDC 9===
These were "non-driving motor cars" with no controls and only one engine. It is coupled to other RDCs for increased capacity. Very few examples exist today.
==Trivia==
*Amtrak acquired 24 (including three from the Roger Williams), mostly for use in Connecticut. One of them #27 once wore a cab from a diesel on it.
*In 1951, the Budd Company exported three standard RDC-1 railcars to Australia, which Budd engineer Joseph F. Grosser accompanied. 
*In 1956, Budd introduced a new version of the RDC, with several improvements.
*Budd RDCs were sold to operators in North America, South America, Asia, and Australia.
*From 1982 to 1984 Tokyu Car built 45 of a heavily specialized, meter-gauge RDC design for the Taiwan Railway Administration under license from Budd.
==See also==
*Gallery
==Sources==
Category:Passenger locomotives
Category:VIA Rail locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Amtrak locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:Alaska Railroad Locomotives
Category:Budd Company
Category:Diesel trainsets
Category:Chicago and North Western locomotives
Category:Diesel locomotives
Category:United States
Category:4 foot 8 1⁄2 inch gauge
Category:Canada
Category:Budd Rail Diesel Car
Category:US railroads
Category:New Haven locomotives