applied to the Reading cars. The design of the Budd Silverliner was based on a lightweight
stainless steel body and frame coupled to an advanced AC/DC
rectifier propulsion system and new lightweight, high-speed
trucks. While largely identical to the earlier Pioneer IIIs, differences included a single-arm
Faiveley pantograph, a state-of-the-art propulsion system that made use of
solid-state phase angle controllers coupled to mercury arc
ignitron rectifiers, higher-powered motors, a higher-capacity main transformer,
multi-function couplers and
disc brakes. One result of these upgrades was that the Silverliners were incompatible with the six Pioneer prototypes. Passenger amenities were also identical to the Pioneer III cars offering riders
air cushion suspension,
air conditioning,
electric train heat and a nearly silent acceleration and braking. With more than the Pioneer III cars ( total), the Silverliners could achieve a acceleration rate, which was far higher than the older
MP54s and a top speed of compared with the of the MP54 fleet (which was not often reached in service). Inside, the cars were equipped with 25 rows of 3+2 reversible (flipover) bench seating with 124 usable seats and either a bathroom or an additional 3-person bench seat. The seats were initially furnished in a dark gray diamond-patterned
foam rubber "plush", which began to wear out by the mid-1970s. Four cars (#259, #269, #9012 and #9015) were experimentally retrofitted with brown vinyl
leatherette seats. However, the balance of the fleet was redone in the SEPTA/Conrail era with canvas-textured padded covering in a so-called "Ketchup and Mustard" theme, with the three-person seats upholstered in mustard yellow and the two-person seats done in a dark ketchup red. Despite both Reading and PRR cars being paid for in part by the PSIC, each railroad was allowed to put their own stamp on the design. These differences included the PRR units being fitted with only one overhead
luggage rack, a bar
pilot, a metal-framed engineer's window and
position-light cab signals, with the Reading cars being fitted with a
cowcatcher, twin overhead luggage racks, and color light (though PRR-compatible) cab signals; the latter were removed after the RDG discontinued its 1928 cab signal installation on the Bethlehem Branch between
Jenkintown and
Lansdale in 1967, and 9001–9017 would have to be re-equipped with cab signal equipment in 1983–84 in preparation for operation through the
Center City Commuter Connection and former PRR lines. The first group of PRR cars (201–219) were intended by be used on longer distance runs to places like
Harrisburg, PA and
New York City and were equipped with a bathroom on the "F" end to facilitate this. The second set of PRR cars, along with all of the Reading cars, were not equipped with comfort facilities, substituting a 3-person bench seat is its place. While all of the Silverliner cars were delivered with disc brakes, the PRR disliked this feature as it required trains to be placed over a drop pit for routine brake work, and all of their 38 cars were converted to conventional
tread brakes by 1968. The Reading cars were not converted to tread braking until rebuilding in the SEPTA era in 1989. In addition to the disc brakes, all classes of Budd Silverliner were delivered with an early
multi-function coupler design that consisted of an
AAR "tightlock" knuckle coupler mounted above a separate automatic coupler for air and electrical connections. This design allowed the new MU cars to be attached (in emergencies or planned shop moves) for towing behind locomotives, conventional passenger and heavyweight MU cars, or in freight trains; the outer ends of the stepboxes were lettered with detailed instructions to train crews for doing so. However, the newer fleet of 232
Silverliner IVs were delivered with
Budd's new "pin and cup" coupler and both the Silverliner II and III fleets were modified to both couple to and MU with the IVs, as opposed to the older cars the IVs were replacing. When this change was carried out the Penn Central fitted its cars with a welded bar pilot to protect the leading wheels from debris impact. All cars were equipped with WABCO AA2 horns. == Notable cars and incidents ==