Eastern Railroad Discussion > CN Track Geometry RDC 1501 on the Flint Sub in Michigan

3/19/18 CN sent their Track Geometry RDC 1501 from Battle Creek to Durand and return on the Flint Sub today. I caught it both EB and WB in videos attached.

Fist video is at 10:45 on the MP 202 curve at Charlotte heading EB towards Durand.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/19/18 15:54 by ngfan.

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Second video was shot at 14:30 at the old GTW depot in Charlotte heading WB back to Battle Creek.

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The horn sounded different coming back.

Excellent videos, thanks for posting.

tsmith5414 Wrote:
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> The horn sounded different coming back.


The horns are placed differently on each end. I also think that they may be different models of horns with a different number of, and orientation of the chimes.

Nice looking unit they have there

Nice videos, ngfan. Looked like a beautiful day. Anyone know the past history on this RDC?

Interesting that CN demands Amtrak have six cars on their trains from CHI - Carbondale, but the ONE RDC is just fine.......to work the grade crossings in Michigan.

poffcapt Wrote:
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> Nice videos, ngfan. Looked like a beautiful day.
> Anyone know the past history on this RDC?


should be having a 60th birthday sometime this year!

originally CN # D 108 in service 1958

then CN # 6108

then VIA RAIL # 6108

then CN # 15016 and CN #1501



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/18 00:58 by bakersfielddave.

CN 1501 horn placement.

The CN 1501 is currently tied up here in Battle Creek, Michigan.

And the way it is sitting here now, the east end of the car has a 3 chime horn, set back maybe 10 to 15 feet from the end of the car.  But the west end has a 5 chime horn, and it is positioned right at the very end of the car.

Ron

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Ron Wrote:

> And the way it is sitting here now, the east end
> of the car has a 3 chime horn, set back maybe 10
> to 15 feet from the end of the car. 

This is a Nathan P3 that sounds pretty much the way it's supposed to (A-Major triad, first inversion).

> But the west
> end has a 5 chime horn, and it is positioned right
> at the very end of the car.

This is a newer Nathan P5, after the patterns were allowed to drift out-of-spec and the individual horn bells went out-of-tune.

My impression is that P-series horns were generally pretty rare in Canada.

I am a great fan and lover of the RDC cars ever since their inception from back in the 1950's and I think it's great that Canadian National saw fit to take one of their RDC's and in lieu of the possibility of scrapping it to make it a really useful MOW system car that supports not only their Engineering and Safety departments but also benefits other railroads and government oversee agencies. Kudos to CN.

Jim
Hatboro, PA

Hey there Jason....is it time for Rapido to think about a "Special Run" of this unit in HO?

...just sayin......why cut up a perfectly good Rapido CN RDC at home when you folks are so good at special things? ....

Bob :)


Chooch Wrote:
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> I am a great fan and lover of the RDC cars ever
> since their inception from back in the 1950's and
> I think it's great that Canadian National saw fit
> to take one of their RDC's and in lieu of the
> possibility of scrapping it to make it a really
> useful MOW system car that supports not only their
> Engineering and Safety departments but also
> benefits other railroads and government oversee
> agencies. Kudos to CN.
>
> Jim
> Hatboro, PA

RFandPFan Wrote:
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> Excellent videos, thanks for posting.


Thanks! You are welcome. A fun day catching it both ways passing through.

poffcapt Wrote:
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> Nice videos, ngfan. Looked like a beautiful day.
> Anyone know the past history on this RDC?

Thanks!! It was great catching it on both moves through our area yesterday.

I've often wondered why more RRs didn't convert these cars to track testing...

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

Thanks.