EMD SD45-2
The EMD SD45-2 is a 6-axle road switcher diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD). EMD built 136 locomotives between 1972–1974, primarily for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF). The SD45-2 was an improved version of the EMD SD45; the primary visual difference is the lack of flared radiators on the SD45-2.
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 Montana Rail Link No. 306 leads a coal train through Helena, Montana in 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Design
Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the SD45-2 was an upgraded SD45. Like the SD45, the SD45-2 had an EMD 645E3 20-cylinder engine producing 3,600 horsepower (2,680 kW). The main spotting difference between an SD45 and an SD45-2 was the long hood and the rear radiator. On the SD45 the long hood is flared whereas on the SD45-2 it is vertical and the rear cooling fans are more spread out on the top of the rear of the long hood.[1] This unit used the same frame as the EMD SD40-2 and EMD SD38-2. The largest owner of the SD45-2 was the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe with 90 units, the Clinchfield had 18 units, Seaboard Coast line had 15 units and Erie Lackawanna rostered 13 units.
A few cabless SD45-2Bs were built by Santa Fe from units undergoing remanufacturing. In all but one case (5510), the dynamic brakes were moved to the opposite end of the hood from the radiators; they were originally near the center of the hood.[2] With no cab, these B-units are controlled from other locomotives.
In September 2015, Norfolk Southern revealed its SD45-2 numbered 1700 painted back to its Erie Lackawanna color scheme at Chattanooga, Tennessee.[3] This is the second unit from an NS predecessor painted back into its original colors.
Preservation
On August 31, 2018, CSX donated former SD45-2 #8954 (ex: SCL #2049) to the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Ga, making it the first SD45-2 to be preserved.
Original Owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | 90 | 5625-5714 | |
| Clinchfield Railroad | 18 | 3607-3624 | |
| Erie Lackawanna Railway | 13 | 3669-3681 | |
| Seaboard Coast Line Railroad | 15 | 2045-2059 | |
| Totals | 136 | ||
Notes
- Foster 1996, p. 58
- Railfan & Railroad. Carstens Publications. 1988. pp. 28–29.
- Gunnoe, Chase (2015-09-30). "NS repaints Erie Lackawanna SD45-2 in original colors". Trains Magazine. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
References
- Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A Field Guide to Trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-3957-0112-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-026-7.
- Sarberenyi, Robert. EMD SD45-2 Original Owners.
- https://www.train-museum.org/2018/08/31/csx-transportation-donates-rare-locomotive-to-southeastern-railway-museum/
- Marta,H.A., Mels,K.D. and Itami,G.S. (1972), Design features and performance characteristics of the high traction three axle truck, ASME paper no. 72-RT-3.
