Australian National RDC

Australian National RDC

Budd RDC - After several less than stellar attempts at creating a self-propelled railcar, in 1950 The Budd Co. struck paydirt. They sold their first 90 seat coach RDC-1 to the New York Central on April 19th, and eventually sold 397 more after that. In an era where most railroads were looking to either drop passenger service completely, or at least reduce costs on lesser travelled routes, The Budd RDC was exactly what the doctor ordered. Capable of a top speed of 85 mph from its 275-300 hp engines, it could go from 0-60 in two minutes, start on grades as steep as 3%, and only needed a crew of 2. Its two engines were mounted beneath the car body, and could be changed in an hour if necessary. Eventually delivered in 5 versions (RDC-1 90 seat coach, RDC-2 coach & baggage, RDC-3 coach, baggage & RPO, RDC-4 baggage-RPO and the cabless RDC-9, which has only one engine and had to be operated with one of the other units). Budd delivered the last 12 RDC's to the Reading Company in 1962. Over 50 years from its debut, you can still find Budd RDC's working on Class 1, commuter and tourist railroads, and in several different countries.
Following World War II, the Commonwealth Railways upgraded its short haul passenger services by introducing railcars on the runs between Port Pirie, Port Augusta, and Tarcoola. In October 1950, an order was placed with The Budd Company, Philadelphia, U.S.A. for the delivery of three air-conditioned railcars. The railcars arrived in March 1951. They were the standard Budd RDC-1 design, and featured stainless steel bodies and air-conditioning. There were two compartments, with seating for forty-nine in one and forty-one in the other. After entering service buffet facilities were fitted and seating improvements made, reducing the capacity to seventy passengers. While in service, they ran between Port Pirie Junction and Pimba. In 1952 service was extended from Pimba to the Woomera township. From July 1952 the cars made regular runs to Tarcoola. Completion of the standard gauge line to Marree allowed Budd cars to run on that line, first to Brachina, and ultimately to Marree. Once the Port Augusta to Whyalla line was opened, they also ran on that.
The Budd car service to Tarcoola was discontinued on 25th January 1961, although the service was retained between Port Augusta and Woomera. The cars were removed from service in 1976, refurbished in 1985 for a new service between Adelaide and Whyalla, and were finally withdrawn from service December 31st, 1990. Railcar CB1 was donated to the National Railway Museum in Port Adelaide by Australian National in 1996. Railcars CB2 and CB3 are currently under private ownership.
To manually set running numbers for these (not neccessary, as it'll set them automatically), use 981, 982 or 983, as there were prototypically only 3 of these cars, and that will select the proper CB1, CB2 or CB3 designation.

Author: Jeff Barr

Australian National RDC
an_rdc_alpha_numbers
alphanumber_0.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_1.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_2.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_3.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_4.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_5.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_6.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_7.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_8.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_9.tga 4.04KB
an_rdc_art
an_rdc_art_512.texture.txt 63 bytes
an_rdc_art_icon.texture.txt 63 bytes
art_512.tga 1.00MB
art_icon.tga 32.04KB
an_rdc_body
an_rdc_body.im 603.39KB
box1.texture.txt 27 bytes
box1.tga 24.04KB
brownmetal.texture.txt 33 bytes
brownmetal.tga 12.04KB
coupler.bmp 3.05KB
coupler.texture.txt 30 bytes
digit_4.texture.txt 30 bytes
digit_4.tga 4.04KB
digit_5.texture.txt 30 bytes
digit_5.tga 4.04KB
digit_6.texture.txt 30 bytes
digit_6.tga 4.04KB
door_left.im 7.48KB
door_left.kin 3.19KB
door_open.wav 22.53KB
door_right.im 7.48KB
door_right.kin 3.19KB
doors.evt 112 bytes
doors.texture.txt 28 bytes
doors.tga 24.04KB
engine.texture.txt 29 bytes
engine.tga 6.02KB
env_metal.bmp 192.05KB
env_metal.texture.txt 32 bytes
legs-legs.texture.txt 43 bytes
legs.tga 2.04KB
light.texture.txt 28 bytes
light.tga 3.04KB
main.texture.txt 27 bytes
main.tga 768.04KB
night
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env_metal.texture.txt 32 bytes
main.texture.txt 27 bytes
main.tga 768.04KB
night.im 1.29KB
windows-windows.texture.txt 49 bytes
windows.tga 8.04KB
redlight.texture.txt 31 bytes
redlight.tga 12.04KB
roof vent.texture.txt 32 bytes
roof vent.tga 6.04KB
roof1.texture.txt 28 bytes
roof1.tga 12.04KB
sidenumber.texture.txt 33 bytes
sidenumber.tga 6.04KB
steel.texture.txt 28 bytes
steel.tga 6.04KB
steel2.texture.txt 29 bytes
steel2.tga 6.04KB
vent.texture.txt 27 bytes
vent.tga 12.04KB
windows.texture.txt 30 bytes
windows.tga 6.02KB
yellow.texture.txt 29 bytes
yellow.tga 3.04KB
• config.txt 10.71KB
• lights.gs 10.66KB

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