Here at The Reading & Northern Railroad in eastern PA, we have two 1950's vintage RDCs, which have been part of our excursion fleet since 1985. The cars received some rehab work in 1999, and travelled our system on a series of trips in '99 and 2000. Some nice photos are on our website (RBMNRR.com).

While "fair" mechanically, the two cars have one recurring problem: the roofs leak on both cars. We have tried to locate the source, and have blasted the cars with a high-pressure sprayer for hours, without a trace of a leak. Let it start to rain and it's like Niagra Falls.

Anyone out there with a similar experience? The cars are basically original Budd fluted stainless steel. We would appreciate any suggestions, and more importantly, solutions... and yes, we have already ruled-out souvenir umbrella for each passenger.

Thanks!

S. Gilbert / Ed Heck RBMN Passenger Dept. Port Clinton, PA

Are you sure it's a leak, and not condensation? A load of moist passengers, on a humid day, exhaling for several hours, coupled with a carbody skin cooled by rain could deposit a lot of water inside the car. If the ventilation is not running or drains are defective, there is no way to remove this water.

Aarne H. Frobom
The Steam Railroading Institute
Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation, Inc.
P. O. Box 665
Owosso, MI 48867-0665

froboma@mdot.state.mi.us

> Here at The Reading & Northern Railroad
> in eastern PA, we have two 1950's vintage
> RDCs, which have been part of our excursion
> fleet since 1985. The cars received some
> rehab work in 1999, and travelled our system
> on a series of trips in '99 and 2000. Some
> nice photos are on our website (RBMNRR.com).

> While "fair" mechanically, the two
> cars have one recurring problem: the roofs
> leak on both cars. We have tried to locate
> the source, and have blasted the cars with a
> high-pressure sprayer for hours, without a
> trace of a leak. Let it start to rain and
> it's like Niagra Falls.

> Anyone out there with a similar experience?
> The cars are basically original Budd fluted
> stainless steel. We would appreciate any
> suggestions, and more importantly,
> solutions... and yes, we have already
> ruled-out souvenir umbrella for each
> passenger.

> Thanks!

> S. Gilbert / Ed Heck RBMN Passenger Dept.
> Port Clinton, PA

Steve,
I forwarded your inquiry to an Amtrak friend. Here's what I got back: "Yes they do and it's cause is a failure of the solder used to seal the seams in the stainless over time, the silverliners have the same issue.  The problem is the water runs by capillary action through the seam and into the car.  The only solution is either to re solder the seams, or muck the roof with silver coating.  we and SEPTA opted for the latter. "

Couldn't resist a post on this.

As a former AMTRAK Communications & Signals supervisor, I regularly faced this problem in New Haven. Some of our leaky RDC roofs were traced to leaky seals under the radio antenna, and/or the entrance coax cable. Also the air horn, especially the chime type, flexed on the roof and leaked in high wind and rain situations.

None of these leaks were easy to find as the water ran down the antenna cable (and air piping for the horn) into the cab and around the interior roof structure.

Hope this helps.

Al Goff
Director - Operations & Rail Systems Engineering
Washington Group International
(Merged Raytheon/Morrison Knudson)
-------------------------

> Here at The Reading & Northern Railroad
> in eastern PA, we have two 1950's vintage
> RDCs, which have been part of our excursion
> fleet since 1985. The cars received some
> rehab work in 1999, and travelled our system
> on a series of trips in '99 and 2000. Some
> nice photos are on our website (RBMNRR.com).

> While "fair" mechanically, the two
> cars have one recurring problem: the roofs
> leak on both cars. We have tried to locate
> the source, and have blasted the cars with a
> high-pressure sprayer for hours, without a
> trace of a leak. Let it start to rain and
> it's like Niagra Falls.

> Anyone out there with a similar experience?
> The cars are basically original Budd fluted
> stainless steel. We would appreciate any
> suggestions, and more importantly,
> solutions... and yes, we have already
> ruled-out souvenir umbrella for each
> passenger.

> Thanks!

> S. Gilbert / Ed Heck RBMN Passenger Dept.
> Port Clinton, PA


al.goff@ceraonline.org