[home]

PROTOTYPE RAIL DIESEL CAR - LEHIGH VALLEY NO. 40

On August 2, 2003, Charlotte and I ran across a well-preserved Rail Diesel Car at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.  This is one of the few pieces in their outdoor collection that visitors may board and examine up close.  It was a hot summer day and the windows were closed, so we didn't stay too long.

Notice the dark underframe (including pilot), the clean roof blister, and the grabirons next to the door.  The number 40 appears under the left front window.  There is no LV flag and no exterior color other than black and silver. This car was assigned to the Hazleton Local from Lehighton to Hazleton PA.

This end of the car, which I assume is the front, has no bathroom.  The operator's controls are visible in this view, although the operator's seat is folded forward out of the way.  It is a small circular cushion on a triangular bracket.  The entire operator's cabin is walled in stainless steel.

The interior is bright and cheerful, with off-white walls and ceiling and maroon end walls.  This end has a bathroom on the left.  A water cooler is on the right by the wall.  All windows have shades, including the end door windows.

The Aristocraft model of this car has cab windows that sometimes pop out.  Well, that's not all that bad!  On this prototype, the cab's side windows can be released and hinged inward.

We opened the rear end door so that we could show this view of the vestibule.  Notice the No Smoking sign and the lack of advertisements.  Maybe the Lehigh Valley cleaned it up before donating the car, but perhaps it was kept this way while it was in service.

A view from the rear end vestibule.  Notice the stainless steel wall.  On the model this wall and the cabin door are visble through the end windows.   Charlotte has the door propped open with her purse.  It says "THIS CAR IS AIR CONDITIONED.  PLEASE KEEP DOOR CLOSED."  Well, it was NOT air conditioned that day and we DIDN'T keep the door closed!

On the Aristocraft model of the RDC, I made several modifications, including lowering the body, changing the underbody details, adding battery power, and adding end walls.  Here's the link:

RDC Modifications

(Home)