Built: Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
Date: 11/62
Serial # 7004
In the mid 1980's BC Rail was experiencing an increase in ridership on the Cariboo Dayliner service due, in a large part to refurbished equipment and increased tourism spurred by EXPO 86 in Vancouver. Needing more equipment, BC Rail went to the second hand market for more Budd cars.
Three RDC-1s were purchased from the Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia. The cars were built in December1962 and had been part of the last order of Budd cars ever built. SEPTA 9155/56/60 had been assigned to the Reading Railroad in commuter service out of Philadelphia and in this service they were fitted out with commuter style walk over seats. They were not very comfortable for long distance travel. The cars were numbered BC-14 (SEPTA 9155), BC-21 (SEPTA 9156) and BC-22 (SEPTA 9160). The cars entered service in December 1983.
BC-21 and her three sisters were subsequently up-graded with new seats and refurbished interiors as well as exterior changes to add ditch lights. They served until the end of passenger service in October 2002, and were put up for sale. BC-21 did not attract many bidders as the car was not operational at the time of sale. WCRA made an offer in early 2003 and it was accepted.
The PGE/BCR Budd cars were an important part of passenger rail service in BC and as such we plan to refurbish BC-21 and her sister car BC-33 to operating condition. Future plans envision excursion service as well as local special event service in and around Squamish.
