Description
The Budd Rail Diesel Car — the RDC — was one of the most successful self-propelled passenger cars ever built. Manufactured from 1949 to 1962, RDCs found work on dozens of North American railroads in branchline and commuter service. The RDC-2 paired a coach section with a baggage compartment, while the RDC-3 added Railway Post Office facilities, making it the railroads' workhorse for combined passenger, baggage and mail service on lower-density routes. Many RDCs operated for more than 60 years, and a handful still earn their keep today on tourist and short-line operations.
Rapido's N scale RDC-2 and RDC-3 expand on the success of the company's earlier RDC-1, with both Phase 1 (1949-1956) and Phase 2 (1956-1962) variations modeled — captured from original blueprints and field measurements. Both fabricated and cast trucks are offered where prototypical. The model uses a hidden single-motor all-wheel-drive system with all-wheel electrical pickup for unparalleled reliability and exceptional interior detail through tinted windows. Directional headlights, red marker lights, flicker-free interior lighting and a MoPower capacitor keep operation smooth across switches and dirty track.
Each car is offered DC/Silent (DCC ready) or DC/DCC/Sound with an ESU LokSound 5 Nano decoder. Factory-installed couplers are mounted at the correct height. Suggested minimum radius is 12.5". Pre-orders require a 25% deposit; balance is collected when stock arrives.
This unit: N Budd RDC-2 (Ph 1) (DC/DCC/Sound): Boston & Maine - Minuteman: #6204
- Phase 1 and Phase 2 body details, designed from original blueprints
- Both fabricated and cast trucks, as prototypical
- Single-motor all-wheel drive with all-wheel electrical pickup
- Flicker-free interior lighting; directional headlights and red marker lights
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC power
- DC/Silent (DCC ready) or DC/DCC/Sound with ESU LokSound 5 Nano
- 12.5" minimum radius; factory-installed couplers at correct height
📦 Preorder details:
Expected ship date: see the Rapido Product Delivery Schedule for the latest dates
25% deposit required at checkout, balance charged when product ships.
Preorder cancellation: 7 days from order date; deposit non-refundable after that.
Browse more from Rapido Trains and our N scale collection, or see all preorders. Ships from Oakville, Ontario. Contact us for special orders.