1951
The RDC:In 1949, the Budd Company began development of a new lightweight, self-propelled diesel rail car for use in local and branchline passenger service at the request of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad. The resulting prototype, named Rail Diesel Car (or RDC), quickly gained nationwide popularity.
With many small passenger trains operating at a loss of revenue, railroads searched for ways to reduce costs as opposed to abandoning service. The RDC was efficient, easy to maintain, and required only a two-person train crew. RDC's were also available with options for baggage or mail sections.
Ultimately, 368 RDC's were sold to twenty-five North American railroad companies including the Baltimore and Ohio, Reading, Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, and the Lehigh Valley. Many were subsequently resold, and several remained in operation into the twenty-first century.
Builder: Budd Company, Red Lion, PA
Build Date: August 1951
Retirement Date: 1984
No. Built: 368
Class: RDC-1
Weight: 118,000 lbs.
Length: 85 ft.
PHMC Cat No. RR84.2
Lehigh Valley No. 40:The Lehigh Valley Railroad ordered a pair of RDC's, Nos. 40-41, from the Budd Company in 1951 for service between Hazelton and Lehighton. At Lehighton, passengers could make connections to the Valley's intercity trains. No. 41 was equipped as a combination coach and baggage car.
On February 4, 1961, the Lehigh Valley ended all intercity passenger service. No. 40 made the last run from Hazelton four days later, marking the very end of scheduled passenger service on the railroad.
With the end of service, No. 40 was sold to the Reading Company and renumbered 9163. The car served its new owner on commuter trains out of Philadelphia until the Reading's bankruptcy in 1971. Acquired by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), No. 9163 continued to serve the region until 1984. Donated by PennDOT to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the car arrived in Strasburg under its own power as the first RDC to be preserved at an American railroad museum.
(Banner at bottom of marker):The RDC's low operating costs helped save many small passenger trains in the 1950's.
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