ATSF Santa Fe RDC??

I see that Kato will be turning out a set of RDCs (Rail Diesel Cars), including one in the Santa Fe paint scheme. I find no data on these things in my Santa Fe data sheets and was wondering what the scoop on them is?? Where did they run, what period of time, size, weight etc. Anybody know?? Happy Modeling!!
John

 

John,

Welcome back. The Santa Fe owned 2 RDC-1's numbered DC-191 and DC-192. The were initially assigned to the Los Angeles-San Diego run. They were involved in a derailment at Redondo Jct.(?) in '54 or '55, after which DC-192 was rebuilt with a baggage compartment. It wasn't a true RDC-2. The baggage compartment was much larger. At some point, they were assigned to the Newton-Great Bend run, I think (if not that, then somewhere else in Kansas). In the early- to mid-60's, they were assigned to the El Pasoan between El Paso and Albuquerque. I'm pretty sure that was their last assignment.

Dwight

 

Thanks Dwight, The info will help a great deal!! Happy Modeling!!
John

 

The last I heard about the ATSF RDC's is that the last one was running down in South Eastern New Mexico in the 70's. Nothing since.

 

The late Fitzwiliam Sergeant (sp.?) of the Budd Company told me when I met him in Boston in about 1951 that he wanted to sell a whole fleet of RDCs to the Santa Fe for long distance service from Chicago to Los Angeles. He envisioned them leaving several times a day--a sort of El Capitan with the frequency of the old San Diegans. He realized the problem was with the crew requirements then insisted upon by the brotherhoods.
The service would have been much cheaper than piston-engine aircraft flight from Chicago to LA.

 

Now that is good information! So Santa Fe never did the long run RDCs because of crew problems?
John

 

There is an article about the accident with the Santa Fe RDC's at the website of the Los Angeles fire departement.
http://www.lafire.com/famous_fires/560122_SantaFeTrainWreck/012256_SantaFeTrainWreck .htm

All I know is that before the accident the only two RDC's Santa Fe had (nr.'s 191 and 192) were assigned to the Surfline from LA to San Diego.

[ 10 September 2001: Message edited by: Wilbert Vossen ]</p>

 

Thanks for the info Wilbert...it will be very useful! Thanks also for the link! Happy Modeling!!
John