Proto 1000 Rail Diesel Car RDC-1; Powered - Assembled -- Central of New Jersey #553 (dark green lettering)

The Budd RDC, short for Rail Diesel Car, was a complete passenger train in a single car. Each car was the same length as a full-sized passenger car (except for the rare RDC-4) and featured Budd's typical corrugated stainless steel exterior. Two 275-horsepower diesel engines mounted under the floor powered a mechanical transmission. Cooling radiators and exhaust stacks were mounted on the roof, making the car resemble a dome car. The RDC-1 is a 90-seat coach that was originally produced for commuter runs and short intercity runs. The RDC-2 and RDC-3 were ideal for passenger runs that handled mail and express; the RDC-2 seats 71 and has a 17' baggage compartment and the RDC-3 seats 49 and has a 17' baggage compartment and a 15' RPO compartment. Two more variations were also available, but were rare; the RDC-9 was a 94-seat trailer coach with no operator's cabs that had to be run with another RDC, and the RDC-4 was a 73' baggage-RPO only and carried no passengers. In s