Rail Diesel CarsBoston & Maine #6112 & #6133
Budd RDCs Aristocraft Features: battery power r/c, lights, sound Status: In Progress Update Completed: The Central Massachusetts branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad ran passenger service using RDCs. Starting in 1965, "a single round trip daily train consisted of two Budd RDC cars served [Boston to South Sudbury] until 1968, when it was reduced to a single car." Passenger service ended in 1971. |
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Historical Basis
Budd RDCs (Rail Diesel Cars) were common for commuter service in the 50s and 60s. The Boston & Maine (along with the NH) owned many of these cars. In fact, the BM, over its life, has record of ownership of over 100 Budd cars. Two of these cars would run on the east-end of the Central Mass Railroad, on which my Leeds Hill Railroad is heavily based. This is the lore basis for these cars. While the car numbers may be off (I don't feel like changing them), part of the story of my railroad is that these came to the LHRR from the BM after their service ended around the 70s.
The Model & Disassembly
Aristocraft, a now defunct large scale model company, made two types of RDCs. These are called either RDC-1 or -3. These BM cars are RDC-1s. Ig to mine used from a fellow NHGRS club member. He had done quite a bit of work to them including lowering the whole car closer to the railhead (a common mod by modelers who had these), and adding ball bearing wheelsets to the non-powered trucks.
The first time I tried to disassemble my RDCs, I only got half way there before giving up for the day. Several months later, I found this page on Greg Elmassian's site. On here, Greg goes into more detail about the modifications that were often made to these cars. There is a link to a second page on his site which explains how to do some of these mods.
The first time I tried to disassemble my RDCs, I only got half way there before giving up for the day. Several months later, I found this page on Greg Elmassian's site. On here, Greg goes into more detail about the modifications that were often made to these cars. There is a link to a second page on his site which explains how to do some of these mods.
The Work
These cars were already pretty well adjusted to look about as good as they can. However, when I received them, they had almost no internal wiring. I had agreed to purchase one powered and one non-powered car when I expressed interest in them, and I understood that they would need battery and controls. This worked out well because when I first expressed interest in these, I was just starting to convert my fleet to RailPro control.
When the cars came to me, they each had a speaker inside and LEDs on each end (both white and red). There were also some connectors to go from one car to another. However, the wiring, as it existed, didn't make sense. So, the first two things I did to actually begin work on the powered engine (BM #6112) was to reduce the existing wiring to bare necessity and then test each speaker. One speaker would be OK, if not both of them.
When the cars came to me, they each had a speaker inside and LEDs on each end (both white and red). There were also some connectors to go from one car to another. However, the wiring, as it existed, didn't make sense. So, the first two things I did to actually begin work on the powered engine (BM #6112) was to reduce the existing wiring to bare necessity and then test each speaker. One speaker would be OK, if not both of them.
