In looking thru the Denver Library Photo section I came across a photo of a two car Budd train built for the D & RGW called the "Prospector". It was built in the late thirties and seems to be a cross between the zephers and the RDC's. It has a round observation car and a power car. Anyone have any information on this cross breed?
//photoswest.org perry otto collection photos 8665-8

Don Grant

Donald Duke and Edmund Keilty's book, RDC, devotes several pages to the Prospector. While the Prospector it's self was a failure because of being under powered for the two percent plus grades found between Denver and Salt Lake City, the basic layout eventually evolved into the famed Budd RDC. The Pioneer itself evolved from earlier stainless steel rail cars Budd had built, many with the Michelin flanged rubber tires which Michelin was pushing as an alternative to steel wheels on passenger equipment.

There is a Colorado Railroad Annual from years ago that contained a good article on the "Prospector", from the two car Budd train to the reincarnation of the train with the former C&O equipment. I'll see if I can post a volume number tonight after I get home from work.

Don C.

Arthur Dubin wrote in detail about The Prospector in his Kalmbach-published work More Classic Trains. Excellent photos accompanied the write-up along with an interior diagram. In addition self-propulsion, the train featured "cabinette" compartments, a kitchen, and a dinette section.

Sloan