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(erielack) RDC's

At 05:33 04-12-2007, you wrote:
>Date: Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:15:07 -0500
>From: "Schuyler Larrabee" <schuyler.larrabee_@_verizon.net>
>Subject: RE: RDC/DMUs  was (erielack) BINGHAMTON-NYC
>
>First of all, the city is named BINGHAMTON.  (statement from an 
>annoyed native)
>
>Now, as to RDCs.  For single car service, or even for two or maybe 
>three car service, especially
>where one or two might go off some branch, RDCs were a good way to 
>go.  But, if you are talking a
>train of more cars than that, they are a CMOs nightmare.  IIRC (and 
>I might not) RDCs have two eight
>cylinder Detroit Diesels.  Sixteen cylinders to maintain.  Two cars, 
>32 cylinders.  Three cars, 48
>cylinders.  It's a straight arithmetic progression.  It's a heck of 
>a lot simpler to maintain one
>locomotive with probably 12 cylinders (fewer than just ONE RDC) to 
>haul the same number of seats
>than to maintain all those various moving parts.  Cheaper, too.
>
>The B&M up here in New England used RDCs extensively, and it made 
>sense when they were still
>handling a ton of branch lines.  A train of say, six RDCs leaving 
>North Station might head out to
>five or even six end point destinations.  When the service cutbacks 
>came, the whole concept began to
>fall apart.
>
>SGL


I once asked a CMO why run 6 car trains nights and weekends and not 
an RDC or similar.  He explained the RDC is viewed by the FRA as an 
engine and must undergo 30 day inspections.  Plus having 2 motors, it 
meant 2 inspections for each car every 30 days.  Not an efficient use 
of his staff time said he.




Dale 


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