RDC

[Joe323]

Has Bachmann ever made RDC's?

[Trainman203]

Athearn did way back, check eBay.  Ever ride one?

[Piyer]

Has Bachmann ever made RDC's?

Not to my recollection. Just Athearn, ATT (not the phone company), LifeLike / Proto 1000, and Rapido in HO, Kato and ConCor in N. 

[Len]

The Proto 1000 verstion was the best of the bunch until Rapido got there's out the door. A review of the Rapido units can be found here: http://rrmodelcraftsman.com/rapido-budd-rdc-ho-scale/

Having spent a lot of hours riding New Haven RDCs, I can say Rapido got them right.

Len

[ebtnut]

Just as an FYI, the Athearn units were/are about 10 scale feet too short.  The original version had rubber band "Hi-F" drive.

[Nathan]

The Original Athearn versions came out long before the rubber band drives.  I had one in the 1954 time frame, gear drive.

Nathan

[Trainman203]

The RDC was a descendant of the doodlebug , which Bachmann did offer in the past.  They probably thought that one self propelled rail car was enough.

[Trainman203]

Nothing like standing at the front door window of an RDC looking at the oncoming track.  Almost as good as a cab ride!

[jward]

Nothing like standing at the front door window of an RDC looking at the oncoming track.  Almost as good as a cab ride!

Or riding the front seat of a PCC trolley.

[DAVISinGP]

Having spent a lot of hours riding New Haven RDCs, I can say Rapido got them right.

The September 2019 issue of Model Railroad News also has an extensive review.

And searching "rapido rdc santa fe" will bring up several videos of the RDC cars in Santa Fe livery (my favorite).

Caution: some of those videos are a bit painful to watch.

[plas man]

back in 1960's Tri-ang UK (HO/00) made one not sure of scale , but 1960's mould maker and portable layout's it could be under scale ,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4jQzvEdq_4

[Trainman203]

Rapido saved a prototype RDC from scrap!  And restored it to operation!  Now that's what I call commitment!