This is meant to be clarification not nit-picking -- but you may want to consider the neuroticity of the source (me.) RDCs are powered by engines, not motors, and might be considered locomotives, not engines. The engines are usually GM or Cummins with, IIRC, 6-cylinder engines and torque converters. The engines are mounted on slide-out racks for ease of maintenance and, as GM or Cummins, enjoy wide-spread parts support. I use the present tense because RDCs are not extinct. Quite a fgew still run in Canada (where the regulatory climate might be gentler) anf a firm in Canada still has more, either rebuilt and ready to run or rebuildable, for anyone bright enough to use them. The NYS&W has used them on the ex-DL&W in the Syracuse area (list content). Meanwhile, Colorado RailCar is marketing a diesel multiple-unit concept (DMU) to anyone wealthy enough to buy them. The State of Vermont and Amtrak have been considering them for the Montrealer, north of New Haven, but hangups have arisen over the buy-back of the units if the project "fails." The physical means to restore passenger srrvice on ex-EL routes exists. The fiscal means, judging by the reams of dollar bills flowing to engineers and consultants to study and plan, exist. What is lacking is the political will of someone with the neccesary power to stand up and say, "WE ARE GOING TO DO IT!" Randy Brown - -------------------------------------------------------------- Understand the mechanics of all this, but didn't WP use RDCs on long distance runs as "Zephyrettes" in the 50s? Tony Horn - -------------- Original message -------------- From: Dale and Ev SBC <gobills_@_ncweb.com> The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List Sponsored by the ELH&TS http://www.elhts.org To Unsubscribe: http://lists.elhts.org/erielackunsub.html ------------------------------
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