Budd Rail Diesel Car Profile and Models
CN 6206 at Melford, Saskatchewan, Canada in October 1971. ©Roger Puta
The Budd Rail Diesel Car, RDC, Budd car or Buddliner is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit (DMU) railcar. Between 1949 and 1962, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The cars were primarily adopted for passenger service in rural areas with low traffic density or in short-haul commuter service, and were less expensive to operate in this context than a traditional diesel locomotive-drawn train with coaches. The cars could be used singly or coupled together in train sets and controlled from the cab of the front unit. The RDC was one of the few DMU trains to achieve commercial success in North America. RDC trains were an early example of self-contained diesel multiple unit trains, an arrangement now in common use by railways all over the world. |
|
Type of Unit |
Single-car DMU |
Builder |
Budd Company |
Build Dates |
1949 to 1962 |
Total Built |
398 |
Power Output |
RDC-1/2/3/4: 550hp RDC-9: 300hp |
Top Speed |
85mph |
Passenger Capacity |
Between 70 and 94 |
Operated By |
A-Train AllEarth Rail Amtrak Baltimore & Ohio Railroad BC Rail Boston & Maine Railroad Burlington Northern Railroad Canadian National Railway Canadian Pacific Railway Cape Cod Central Railroad Cape May Seashore Lines Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Central Railroad of New Jersey Dominion Atlantic Railway Great Northern Railway Lehigh Valley MARC MBTA Metro-North Railroad New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway Penn Central Portland & Western Railroad Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines Reading Company Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Sierra Verde Express Southern Pacific Railroad Trinity Railway Express Via Rail WES Commuter Rail (Also used by other US/ Canada operators, in Austrlia, Brazil, Cuba & Saudi Arabia) |
Main Duties |
Rural Passenger/ Commuter Services |
In Service Until |
Present |
Surviving Examples |
Many in service or preservation |
Products awaiting categorisation
Scale | Brand | Image | Construction Type | DCC Capability | Product Code | Product Title | Livery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N Gauge | Con-Cor | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
0001-004460 View |
Budd RDC-1 railcar - undecorated | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Con-Cor | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
0001-0044600 View |
Budd RDC-1 railcar - undecorated | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Con-Cor | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
0001-004487 View |
Budd RDC Diesel Railcar Baltimore & Ohio | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Con-Cor | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
0001-004508 View |
Budd RDC Diesel Railcar Amtrak | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Con-Cor | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
0001-004529 View |
Budd RDC-3 Rail Diesel Car of the Canadian National Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Con-Cor | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
0001-04467 View |
Budd RDC-1 of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (unpowered dummy car) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Con-Cor | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
0001-04508 View |
Budd RDC-2 #35 in Amtrak Livery (unpowered dummy car) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
106-3005 View |
Budd RDC 2-Car Railcar set of the Canadian Pacific Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
106-3012 View |
Rail Diesel Cars - Northern Pacific - B-31, B-42 | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
106-3015 View |
Budd Diesel Railcar RDC-2 #711 & #712 of the Alaska Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
166-001 View |
Budd RDC Rail Diesel Car (powered, unlettered) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
166-0100 View |
Budd RDC-2 Railcar with Baggage Compartment (unlettered) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
166-0111 View |
Budd RDC-2 #712 of the Alaska Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
166-0206 View |
Budd RDC M-499 of the New York Central Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
166-0209 View |
Budd RDC Diesel Railcar 9003 of the Rock Island Line | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
166-0300 View |
Budd RDC-4 Railcar (unlettered) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
166-0303 View |
Budd RDC-4 137 of the New Haven Railroad | New Haven | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
176-0111 View |
Diesel Rail Car #2 Alaskan Rail Road | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
176-0202 View |
Diesel Rail Car #3 Canadian National | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
176-0301 View |
Diesel Rail Car #4 Canadian Pacific | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Athearn | Requires assembly | Not set |
2075 View |
Budd RDC-3 - undecorated (unpowered dummy) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Athearn | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
2076 View |
Budd RDC-3 of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Athearn | Requires assembly | Not set |
2077 View |
Budd RDC-1 of the New Haven Railroad (unpowered dummy) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Athearn | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
2170 View |
RDC-1 Budd railcar - Undecorated | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Athearn | Not set | Unpowered |
2171 View |
RDC-1 railcar 'Santa Fe' | ||
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Athearn | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
2176 View |
Budd RDC-3 railcar 'Santa Fe' | ||
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Life-Like | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
30386 View |
RDC-2 Diesel Electric Rail Car M499 | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | MTS Imports Inc. | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
RDC3-MTS View |
Budd RDC-3 PhIb (undecorated) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Proto 1000 | Not set | Not set |
23972 View |
Budd RDC-2 railcar #8550 of the Baltimore & Ohio | ||
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Proto 1000 | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
239735 View |
Budd RDC #6222 in Via Rail Livery | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Proto 1000 | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
23981 View |
Budd RDC Railcar B-31 of the Northern Pacific Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Proto 1000 | Not set | Not set |
30385 View |
Budd RDC M497 New York Central | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Proto 1000 | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
31249PROTO View |
Budd RDC Railcar of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
16017 View |
Budd RDC-1 #9063 of the Canadian Pacific Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | Not set | Not set |
16131 View |
RDC-1 passenger car #40 of the Lehigh Valley | ||
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
16503 View |
RDC-1 Budd Diesel Railcar #6114 in VIA Rail Livery (DCC Sound onboard) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
16517 View |
Budd RDC-1 #9063 of the Canadian Pacific Railroad (DCC sound fitted) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | Not set | DCC fitted, with sound |
16555 View |
Budd RDC-1 #554 Central New Jersey (DCC sound fitted) | ||
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
16603Rapido View |
RDC-1 - RDC-2m #DC-191 & #DC-192 of the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad with DCC Sound | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
16657 View |
Budd RDC-2 #375 'Western Zephyrette' of the Western Pacific Railroad (DCC sound fitted) | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC fitted, with sound |
16716 View |
Budd Rail Diesel Car RDC-1 6136 of Via Rail | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC fitted, with sound |
16727 View |
Budd Rail Diesel Car RDC-2 D204 of the Canadian National Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC fitted, with sound |
16730 View |
Budd Rail Diesel Car RDC-2 6205 of the Canadian National Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC fitted, with sound |
16734 View |
Budd Rail Diesel Car RDC-2 6219 of Via Rail | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC fitted, with sound |
16736 View |
Budd Rail Diesel Car RDC-3 9020 of the Canadian Pacific Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Rapido Trains North America | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC fitted, with sound |
16746 View |
Budd Rail Diesel Car RDC-3 6352 of the Canadian National Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Walthers | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
920-35264 View |
Budd RDC railcar #10 of the Southern Pacific Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation | |
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) | Walthers | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
920-35303 View |
Budd RDC-2 #120 of the New Haven Railroad | Awaiting Categorisation |