At Charlestown, Massachusetts, just recently, ex-B&M:

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... ge=27&key=

There are also two MARC owned ex-B&O speedliners deep in the Valley yard at Brunswick, MD. However, they are not so deep that vandals can't get to them to "tag" them, as well as deface and break windows on the line of former ex-PRR "Heritage" coaches. My understanding is that the RDC's are part of some dispute over disposition of cars that had received federal funding and are in bureacratic limbo, but at least one of them should go to the Gaithersburg Museum (which would then have something that actually ran through there in the collection, besides the wagon-top caboose - which is leaving for Hagerstown).

Just a rant at my impotence and frustration.

That's interesting that they are riding on freight trucks...

I wonder if they are moveable by regular rail service?

From "GP40MC1118" - These RDC's are two of the four Billerica Shop derelicts. They
were brought down to Boston on Easter Sunday weekend in 2004
for the DNC convention. They were pegged to be modified for
crew rooms, etc at North Station.

This never happened and there they sit at FX. They continue to
get trashed by vandals and vagrants. Its unclear what will happen
to them now.

I would think that these cars would have somewhat bright prospects. There will only be a growing demand for ADA capable cars in coming years. Likewise, many museums and tourist railroads rely on reverse movements. One of these cars could admirably serve as a de-powered ADA / cab car.

Tom Cornillie

Not too sure of that. I think the price of stainless steel scrap will out distance the potential of public good. Perhaps a railfan operation would be able to utilize them, but the cost of making restored Budd Cars would, I think, outweigh the ADA potential.

Paul,

Gaithersburg is acquiring an RDC from the Hagerstown Roundhouse group in trade for the wagon top and WM kitchen car.

Wesley

Cab cars aren't such a great idea if you're regulated by the FRA. They consider a cab car a locomotive, which means it has to have a blue card and all the inspections a loco has to have. That's why we often use the cabs of the CN cars for the horn and bell on our eastbound shove, but have made no attempt to modify them for control of the locomotive or air brakes. It's far cheaper to just have the con watch the end of the shove and maybe toot the horn at crossings. This way, the car only needs a current COTS.

This is what I had in mind. The RDC cab would provide a convenient place for the brakeman protecting the reverse movement. Regarding braking, I do not know of anyplace where revesrse moves are made on a regular basis (including Amtrak) where the brakeman does not have access to a valve on the main brake line. Likewise, some museum/tourist operations use a caboose equipped with a horn and headlight for reverse movements -- both of which would be conveniently housed on the RDC.

Tom Cornillie

I believe that the Hagerstown RDC's are some of the "de-humped" ex B&M ones from MBTA, right? I grant you to most people, a RDC is a RDC, but why not try and get the authentic, real deal - complete with hump, cast emblems and engines? I have visions of one that looks like the Speedliner on lease from the B&O Museum in PA.