By the way, AOL has two Amtrak/passenger rail boards. One is under hobbies and one is under travel. If you don't know where to find them e-mail me and I can provide you with links.
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[This message has been edited by ENR3877 (edited 04-28-2002).]
quote:
Originally posted by ENR3877:
I wonder...why Amtrak chose to retire their RDC's instead of rebuilding them like VIA did.
Believe me, you ain't the only one. 
Of course, VIA doesn't have the FRA to deal with, who regards each engined unit of an RDC consist as a separate locomotive, requiring inspection every three months...
Well...what Amtrak spends their money on is impractical stuff like the Acela Express instead. Problem is, the Acela Express doesn't go everywhere that there's rails in the US...
Suffice to say, while I of course respect, I cannot agree with the thoughts of either Messrs. "Esquimalt & Nanaimo" , Helfner, or other persons whom have posted here and elsewhere advocating more RDC's.
I have never been a "fan" of such. Since most RDC's ran over branch lines, their track tended to be maintained in less than optimal condition (or, in this day and age, designated as lower class trackage by the FRA). As such, one might tend to gravitate towards the center of the car for a smoother ride. Well; center of the car would place you right over the two GM diesels, away from the diesels a rough ride. In short, loose, loose.
The rebuilt Amtrak RDC's were mechanical nightmares. There was a dedicated "grass roots" tour operator, for whom I did work as a purser/guide, from Rockford whom operated Dubuque-Rockford-Chicago day tours. On more than one occasion, the RDC's "crapped" blowing most of the day in Chicago.
The reliability of their reincarnation as the SPV had been reported extensively at both print and web sources.
I will be the first to acknowledge that I never rode any of the long distance RDC runs such as the RI's Choctaw Rocket, the WP Zephyrette, or the PGE/BCR Vancouver-Prince Goerge service. But to me, Kennebunk-Boston on the B&M was long enough.
quote:
). As such, one might tend to gravitate towards the center of the car for a smoother ride. Well; center of the car would place you right over the two GM diesels, away from the diesels a rough ride. In short, loose, loose.
What are you talking about?? The engines on the RDC's are located near the ends of the cars, as they were connected to to inside axle and as for a rough ride, the RDC's ride just a smoothly as any other passenger car. In fact they tend to have a smoother ride on the poor trackage, believe me I know, I've ridden the E&N Railway several times.