RDC 701

A New Home in Soldotna

The 701 was delivered to Whistle Hill in Soldotna. Plans for the unit are currently unknown. 10/30/2022

The Last Budd Can.

The 701 stands in the Seward Yard waiting for the day it forever leaves the rails of the Last Frontier. Mount Marathon stands in the background still covered by the past winter's snow, soon to melt all away but for a few short months.

701 is an RDC-3 and was acquired by the Alaska Railroad in 1985 and was retired from passenger service late 2008. From 2009 to 2015 it was used as a caboose/crew car for MOW use and for a time could be seen on the end of a work train. From what I understand one thought was since it had controls it could be used as a shoving platform with a bell, horn and lights when a work train would have to shove several miles to a work site.

Today the 701 stands in the Seward yard and word is it was bought by an American company in Brazil along with the ex-BCOL cement hoppers to be used there, though no one can confirm where exactly it, and the hoppers are going for sure. This was taken after my visit to the SEWARD car, after all I could pass up grabbing this shot. At the time of this photo, there were no other cars except a spreader and a couple of flats in the very empty yard. 04/19/2021