#54 MTBA

#54 Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority

Built - by Budd July 1954 as Canadian Pacific Railway #9054 sn 5916

Engine - pair of 275 hp (205 kW) 6-cylinder Detroit Diesel Series 110 engines

RDC1 is complete

The Budd Company of Philadelphia, PA, built this self-propelled Rail Diesel Car, model RDC-1, introduced in 1949. It was a modern version of self-propelled gas-electric cars, often called “doodlebugs,” built from 1906 – 1930s by several firms. These were cheaper to operate than a locomotive-hauled train, but not very fast or comfortable. The stainless steel RDC was air-conditioned and driven by two GM diesel engines located under the floor, each producing 275 hp @ 1,800 rpm. This location allowed engines to be replaced in less than two hours. Each engine drove one axle, so only the inner axles provided power. They turned the axle through the same Allison hydraulic torque-converter transmission originally used on a WWII Army tank. This was the only widespread railroad use of hydraulic drive in North America. The “hump” on the roof housed the engine radiators, fans and exhaust pipes. Its cost was about $141,000 and its top speed is 83 mph. There are operator’s controls at each end, and several could be coupled together and controlled from the front end. Other RDC models were coach-baggage, coach-baggage-mail, and mail-express versions. 398 were built from 1949 –62. They were used for short distance commuter service in several cities, for which their bi-directional and multiple unit capabilities were well suited. They were also used on branch line and secondary trains, but usually to reduce costs rather than to expand service. The longest RDC route was a one-way run of 924 miles from Salt Lake City, UT, to Oakland, CA, on the Western Pacific. This car was Canadian Pacific #9054 before sale to the MBTA in 1985, and is still in CP colors with MBTA emblems.

85 ft all-passenger coach seating 90 passengers. Weight 118,300 pounds empty. It is 85’ long, 14’ 7” high over the “hump,” and has seats for 89 passengers. It weighs 112,800 lbs. ready to run, and 126,600 lbs. fully loaded.

Donated by Ben Butterworth Donated in 2000 by the Illinois Transit Assembly Corp.