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3/28/2024
 
 
 
 
 
Owner: Chicago & Northwestern
Model:Budd RDC3Built As:NH 130 (RDC3)
Serial Number:5820Order No:
Frame Number:Built:5/1953
Notes:Track Inspection Car, ex-NH 130
Other locos with this serial:  CNW 430(RDC3) PC 130(RDC3)
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w/b C&NW Track Inspection Car #430
Title:  w/b C&NW Track Inspection Car #430
Description: 
Photo Date:  5/22/1979  Upload Date: 8/12/2021 8:31:32 PM
Location:  Lake Bluff, IL
Author:  Gerard Putz
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  124   Comments: 0
w/b C&NW Track Inspection Car #430
Title:  w/b C&NW Track Inspection Car #430
Description: 
Photo Date:  5/22/1979  Upload Date: 8/12/2021 8:33:20 PM
Location:  Lake Bluff, IL
Author:  Gerard Putz
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  124   Comments: 0
w/b C&NW Track Inspection Car #430
Title:  w/b C&NW Track Inspection Car #430
Description: 
Photo Date:  5/22/1979  Upload Date: 8/12/2021 8:35:08 PM
Location:  Lake Bluff, IL
Author:  Gerard Putz
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  115   Comments: 0
w/b C&NW Track Inspection Car #430
Title:  w/b C&NW Track Inspection Car #430
Description: 
Photo Date:  5/22/1979  Upload Date: 8/12/2021 8:36:48 PM
Location:  Lake Bluff, IL
Author:  Gerard Putz
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  94   Comments: 0
C&NW RDC
Title:  C&NW RDC
Description:  rail inspection car
Photo Date:  5/1/1980  Upload Date: 11/25/2007 4:20:04 PM
Location:  Saint Paul, MN
Author:  Greg Smith
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  1054   Comments: 2
C&NW RDC car
Title:  C&NW RDC car
Description:  rail inspection car
Photo Date:  5/1/1980  Upload Date: 11/25/2007 4:21:16 PM
Location:  Saint Paul, MN
Author:  Greg Smith
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  1667   Comments: 0
CNW 430
Title:  CNW 430
Description:  CNW 430, Inspection car, ex-NYC
Photo Date:  8/13/1980  Upload Date: 11/3/2022 5:44:20 PM
Location:  Oshkosh, WI
Author:  Albert W Krueger
Categories:  Roster,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  87   Comments: 0
CNW 430
Title:  CNW 430
Description:  Ex-PC 972, nee-NH 130 Track Inspection car rblt from RDC3m (built with no baggage section).
Photo Date:  9/20/1980  Upload Date: 7/19/2016 9:46:13 PM
Location:  Inman, NE
Author:  The Houser Collection, Jerry LaBoda Scan Collection
Categories:  RollingStock,Passenger
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  730   Comments: 0
C&NW RDC3m 430
Title:  C&NW RDC3m 430
Description:  C&NW RDC3m 430 at the California Avenue Coach Yard, Chicago, Illinois on an unknown day in January 1981, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. This is a former NH RDC3 converted to a track inspection car. Part of the test apparatus is visible connected to the rear truck. I'm not sure how this car worked, but the following is excerpted from a Burlington Route Historical Society publication of Rail Detector Cars, and that publication contained a reprint of a January 1931 paper by Harcourt C. Drake, presented to the American Institute of Electrical Engineers entitled, 'Transverse Fissure Detector Car':

The Fissure Detector depends for its operation upon the fact that electric current flowing through a rail is compelled to pass around any fracture, inclusion, or separation in the metal. In the detector car, the power plant for the detector equipment consists of a specially designed double commutator 6,000-ampere, 2-volt DC generator directly coupled to a 50 hp engine. Current from the generator is carried by heavy busses to brush units located on either side of the car. In operation the car passes along the track at about 6 mph, with 2,000 to 3,000 amperes flowing through each rail. The current is sensed by the pickup unit, amplified and sent to a recording table, which consists of a moving roll of paper and nine pens (like a polygraph or lie detector). The top pen (landmark pen) is marked by the car's operator to indicate mileposts and other landmarks, the middle two pens record angle bars (rail joints). When the car passes over a fissure, and indication appears on the record. Three recorder pen relays are connected to the output of the amplifier and adjusted to different values of plate current, thus giving an indication of the size of the defect. Other relays are provided to operate paint guns and the defect area is automatically marked with a spot painted on the rail. The operator notes the record, sees the spot painted on the rail, and stopping the car, backs up for a hand test, applying 1,500 amperes to the suspected spot. Examination of the spot with a galvanometer can determine the size of the fissure within a few percent. The car can also find split heads, horizontal fissures, compound fissures, pipes, cracked webs, broken bases and other defects.

Photo Date:  1/1/1981  Upload Date: 3/6/2011 11:39:10 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Chuck Zeiler
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  1501   Comments: 0
C&NW RDC3m 430
Title:  C&NW RDC3m 430
Description:  C&NW RDC3m 430 at California Avenue Coach Yard, Chicago, Illinois, January, 1981, photo by Chuck Zeiler. This is former NH RDC3 130 converted to a track inspection vehicle.

The car in front of it has C&NW reporting marks, but also has Genesee & Wyoming painted on the letterboard. It appears that it was numbered C&NW 404, later C&NW 440 and named "Philip R. Hastings".

Photo Date:  1/1/1981  Upload Date: 2/17/2011 2:04:03 PM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Chuck Zeiler
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  933   Comments: 0
C&NW RDC3m 430
Title:  C&NW RDC3m 430
Description:  C&NW RDC3m 430 at the California Avenue Coach Yard in Chicago, Illinois on an unknown day in April 1981, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. This is a former New Haven RDC3 130 converted to a self-powered track inspection car. It appears that it has sustained minor damage to the front end, I'll bet there's a story to go with that . Also on the roof over the former RPO section is what appears to be a muffler, my best guess is there was some sort of diesel-generator in this section to power the track inspection apparatus.
Photo Date:  4/1/1981  Upload Date: 2/4/2011 8:10:29 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Chuck Zeiler
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  1099   Comments: 2
CNW 430
Title:  CNW 430
Description:  Former RDC-3 converted to track inspection car.
Photo Date:  6/9/1981  Upload Date: 9/25/2007 10:42:39 AM
Location:  Fremont, NE
Author:  C.W. Lahickey
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  1423   Comments: 0
CNW 430
Title:  CNW 430
Description:  Former RDC-3 converted to track inspection car.
Photo Date:  6/9/1981  Upload Date: 9/25/2007 10:43:02 AM
Location:  Fremont, NE
Author:  C.W. Lahickey
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  1590   Comments: 0
CNW 430
Title:  CNW 430
Description:  CNW 430
Photo Date:  7/1/1981  Upload Date: 11/15/2019 4:20:13 PM
Location:  Oshkosh, WI
Author:  Albert W Krueger
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  213   Comments: 0
CNW 430
Title:  CNW 430
Description:  CNW 430
Photo Date:  7/1/1981  Upload Date: 11/15/2019 4:20:41 PM
Location:  Oshkosh, WI
Author:  Albert W Krueger
Categories:  Roster,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  287   Comments: 0
Surprise
Title:  Surprise
Description:  I never expected to see this. CNW RDC, looks like has an RPO apartment too. Now it's a track inspection car.
Photo Date:  8/15/1982  Upload Date: 3/3/2013 2:54:29 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard,Passenger
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3) CNW 4324(GP9R) CNW 4110(GP7R)
Views:  814   Comments: 1
C&NW RDC3m 430
Title:  C&NW RDC3m 430
Description:  C&NW RDC3m 430 at the California Avenue Coach Yard, Chicago, Illinois, August 16, 1982, photo by Chuck Zeiler. The following is exerpted from the May 1991 edition of Mainline Modeler Magazine:

As built, the RDC3 consisted of a 17 foot Railway Post Office, a 17 foot express room, and a 40 foot, 49-seat passenger section. Some RDC3's were built without RPO apartments, but used an identical carbody to those so equipped. Of the five RDC3's originally owned by the New Haven, #'s 126 and 129 migrated to Pennsylvania DOT ownership, where they were converted to all-coach layout. At first they were assigned to Pittsburgh PAT service, later they sent to SEPTA service in Philadelphia. Still later they were sent to Morrison-Knudsen, converted almost back to the original configuration, but without the RPO apartment, and sent to Alaska.

Another New Haven RDC3, the 130, having been converted to a self-propelled track inspection car, found itself in the employ of the C&NW. The carbody modifications were numerous. On the right side, the RPO door and window were retained, but the baggage door was filled in using matching flutes below the belt rail, replacing the opposite side's RPO window with stainless sheet above the belt. The second and third passenger windows were removed and and relocated to the left side in the former location of the baggage door. That displaced door frame was shifted forward to the position of the left side RPO door, which was discarded. On the passenger end, all cab windows, both end and side, were deepened to within a foot of the floor to provide the observation room. Although the letterboard duplicated the graphics of the original 1950 RDCs, the sides of the ex-NH 130 featured two sizes of C&NW logos, and the car's front end was painted with green and yellow diagonal stripes.

Photo Date:  8/16/1982  Upload Date: 2/12/2011 10:42:31 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Chuck Zeiler
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  713   Comments: 1
CNW RDC3m 430
Title:  CNW RDC3m 430
Description:  Chicago & North Western Railway RDC3m 430 at the California Avenue Coach Yard in Chicago, Illinois on August 16, 1982, photo by Chuck Zeiler. The following is exerpted from the May 1991 edition of Mainline Modeler Magazine:

As built, the RDC3 consisted of a 17 foot Railway Post Office, a 17 foot express room, and a 40 foot, 49-seat passenger section. Some RDC3's were built without RPO apartments, but used an identical carbody to those so equipped. Of the five RDC3's originally owned by the New Haven, #'s 126 and 129 migrated to Pennsylvania DOT ownership, where they were converted to all-coach layout. At first they were assigned to Pittsburgh PAT service, later they sent to SEPTA service in Philadelphia. Still later they were sent to Morrison-Knudsen, converted almost back to the original configuration, but without the RPO apartment, and sent to Alaska. Another New Haven RDC3, the #130, having been converted to a self-propelled track inspection car, found itself in the employ of the C&NW. The carbody modifications were numerous. On the right side, the RPO door and window were retained, but the baggage door was filled in using matching flutes below the belt rail, replacing the opposite side's RPO window with stainless sheet above the belt. The second and third passenger windows were removed and and relocated to the left side in the former location of the baggage door. That displaced door frame was shifted forward to the position of the left side RPO door, which was discarded. On the passenger end, all cab windows, both end and side, were deepened to within a foot of the floor to provide the observation room. Although the letterboard duplicated the graphics of the original 1950 RDCs, the sides of the ex-NH #130 featured two sizes of C&NW logos, and the car's front end was painted with green and yellow diagonal stripes.

Photo Date:  8/16/1982  Upload Date: 2/1/2011 2:43:25 PM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Chuck Zeiler
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  1366   Comments: 1
C&NW RDC3m 430
Title:  C&NW RDC3m 430
Description:  Chicago & North Western Railway RDC3m 430 at the coach yard between California and Western Avenues in Chicago, Illinois, August 7, 1983, photo by Chuck Zeiler. This unit was built in 1953 as New Haven RDC3 130 (c/n 5820), went to PC as No. 97. It was one of three RDCs acquired by a German firm, KrautKramer-Ultrasonic Co., who intended to convert them to rail detector cars and compete with Sperry Rail Service. Apparently, the project failed and the car was purchased from KrautKramer by the Chicago & North Western, who renumbered it 430, and used it as a track inspection car.
Photo Date:  8/7/1983  Upload Date: 2/8/2011 12:40:23 PM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Chuck Zeiler
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  975   Comments: 0
Non-standard equipment.
Title:  Non-standard equipment.
Description:  One of the only times I recall hearing a Hancock air whistle
Photo Date:  6/10/1984  Upload Date: 2/17/2012 5:06:03 PM
Location:  DeKalb, IL
Author:  Jim Vivian
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  991   Comments: 1
CNW Track Inspection Car 430
Title:  CNW Track Inspection Car 430
Description:  CNW Track Inspection Car 430 at the CNW yard in Madison, IL. This is an RDC3m converted into a track inspection car and was a rare sight in Madison, IL. Taken in July 1984.
Photo Date:  7/1/1984  Upload Date: 9/22/2018 10:35:35 AM
Location:  Madison, IL
Author:  Michael Mainridge
Categories:  Passenger
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  282   Comments: 1
CNW 430 Logo and number board clsoeup
Title:  CNW 430 Logo and number board clsoeup
Description: 
Photo Date:  6/1/2011  Upload Date: 6/10/2011 11:47:28 AM
Location:  French Lick, IN
Author:  Gary Everhart
Categories:  Roster,RollingStock,Station,Steam,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  741   Comments: 0
CNW 430
Title:  CNW 430
Description:  ex Track Inspection Car, ex NH
Photo Date:  6/1/2011  Upload Date: 6/10/2011 11:47:32 AM
Location:  French Lick, IN
Author:  Gary Everhart
Categories:  Roster,RollingStock,Station,Steam,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  1314   Comments: 0
CNW 430
Title:  CNW 430
Description: 
Photo Date:  7/16/2012  Upload Date: 7/25/2012 11:51:27 AM
Location:  French Lick, IN
Author:  Zachary Walters
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  CNW 430(RDC3)
Views:  847   Comments: 0


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