Flyer S gauge RDC set

RDC Trinity Rail Express.................sign me up!

Regards,

Frank

Early in the 1950's Gilbert's engineering department did a mock-up of an RDC to go against the one Lionel had.  It was a Budd streamlined car with ends from the New Haven coaches attached.  They used a power truck from the Geep.  Classic Toy Trains had a photo of it in their July 1995 issue.  I now resides in a Dan Olsen's collection along with other engineering samples. 

I used the photos to scratch build a "what if" model, that is, what it could have looked like if Gilbert went ahead with building it. 

Notice that I used reproduction window inserts to make it look more "authentic"

Jerry Poniatowski

I think now would be a good time that one that someone produce a four car RCD set. Something different and it will be a great seller. Many of my rail S-gaugers would be interested in purchasing this set. Road names of coarse will have to include B&M and NH.

Hi Poniaj,

Very nice RDC. I do remember that a company out of Penn. did produce a motorized unit for a short period of time. Back then I should have purchased one but it was priced out of my range at the time. Thank you for sharing those pictures.

Hi Frank,

enjoyed your video!!! Now wouldn't that look great running on our layouts? Take note to all of those manufactores out there!!

The company was PA Heritage out of PA. Managed to get a used one off Ebay at a reasonable price. Repainted and decorated for C&NW.  They run pretty nice. Still seen occasionally on Ebay.

Rich

Back somewhere in the late 1990's, American HiRail offered some RDC's cloned from Athearn HO DNA.

AHR pretty much built these to order.  Only a handful were made with scale wheels.

Both are DC, each powered with an AHR power truck and they run pretty well.  The horns are a little funky and drilling out for headlights are on my "one of these days" list, but overall they don't look too bad.

Rusty

very nice Rusty.

it would be realy nice to see what these manufactures come up with. Now with sounds, smoke, TMCC, Legecy control, Proto sounds etc........... it would be nice to have on our layouts. 

RDC's from the West................ I like these too!

Regards,

Frank

that is a neat video, thanks for the link! I wonder about the cost/benefit of the refurbished RDCS versus the dedicated light rail with catenary, that DART is using. 

Good Day,

To my knowledge the entire DART system is on a catenary.  Some where I heard or read that the Trinity Rail Express has the largest roster of RDC’s in the country. I prefer diesel power. The Trinity Rail Express operates between Dallas and Fort Worth with all diesel power. I really like the red, white and blue color scheme.

Regards,

Frank

I would think a Marx/K-Line Budd would be a good candidate to kitbash one. They were probably close to 3/16 scale in some dimensions, but would need to be narrowed. Marx Budds and E7's were a bit wide to allow the motor assy to swing.

Just a thought

Steve

Here is the PHM RDC converted to TMCC and sound.

Carl

Hi Carl,

Like what you did to your RDC. I do remember PHM a few years back. They were at the Greenburg show in Wilmington Mass. Just starting out with a few RDC models. Kind of pricey back then but I guess someone has to pay for the R&D. I know Lionel offers an O-gauge version so I'm sure they could scale it in "S", or anyone else for that matter.