EMD SDP45

History[]

The EMD (Electro-Motive Division) SDP45 is a type of 20-cylinder, 3,600hp,

BN (Ex-GN) SDP45 — A BN (ex-GN) SDP45 and F45 awaiting their next assignment.

six-axle, passenger diesel-electric locomotive built by Electro-Motive Division (EMD) in LaGrange, IL from 1967-1970. 2 variants were built: the SDP45 with a steam generator for Southern Pacific (SP) and Great Northern (GN), along with the SD45M, which refers to the units built without a steam generator for fast freight service on Erie Lackawanna (EL). In total, 52 units were built for the 3 railroads. Very few survive today as most were scrapped in the 1980's and 1990's, with the exception for the remaining units rebuilt into SD45-2's, SD40M-2's by MK Rail for SP in the early 1990s, and slugs.

SP initially utilized their 10 SDP45 units for push-pull commuter service throughout the San Francisco Bay Area prior to the creation of CalTrain in the 1980s. After their retirement from passenger service, they were repurposed for freight operations until their full retirement sometime in 1989. Two units, however, retained their steam generators for business train use (SP #3201 and 3207).

One SD45M (CR 6670, formerly EL 3639) is preserved at the Virginia Museum of Transportation but strangely it is not on the museum's collection list nor is it at the museum itself. It is in rough condition, still awaiting full cosmetic restoration.

Identification[]

SP and GN's SDP45's had flat rear hoods like the SDP28 (Korean Export), SDP38 (Korean Export), SDP35, SDP40, GP40P, and GP40P-2.

Erie Lackawanna's SD45M's and SD40M-2 rebuilds were rebuilt with standard long-hoods, and look like average SD and GP locomotive models.

The SD40M-2 rebuilds have radiator fans with the same spacing as a 40 series unit does, while the true 45s have wider spacing.

The SD45M's and SDP45's have an extended rear end that takes up the space between the radiators and the rear walkway, the extension is shorter on the SD45M since there is no steam generator.

SDP45's and SD45M's are easily identifiable because of the brake wheel on the nose, as well as the lengthened long-hood.

Statistics[]

Owner	SP	EL	GN
Model	SDP45	SD45M	SDP45
Built	1967-1967	1967-1970	1967
Numbers	3200-3209	3635-3668	326-333
Total Built	10 units	34 units	8 units
Length	70' 8"	70' 8"	70' 8"
Height	15' 2"	15' 2"	15' 2"
Speed	83-109 MPH	71 MPH	95 MPH
Wheel Arrangement	C-C	C-C	C-C, 1 retrofitted with rear BB-BB trucks by BN and EMD
Engine	EMD 20-645E3	EMD 20-645E3	EMD 20-645E3
Aspiration	Turbocharged	Turbocharged	Turbocharged
Horsepower	3600	3600	3600
Alternator	AR10B	AR10B	AR10B
Traction Motors	D77	D77	D77
Weight	396,000 lbs	396,000 lbs	396,000 lbs
Disposition	All Scrapped	Scrapped, rebuilt, sold, 1 preserved	To BN, all scrapped

Trivia[]

CR 6670 is the only SD45M to be preserved.

EL 3657 and 3667 were rebuilt into SD45-2s after being damaged in derailments. 3657 still survives today as CCET 332 operating in Ohio.

One SD45M was sold to WC as 6634 and was sold to IHB, but was scrapped before rebuild in Mexico.

10 SD45M's were sold to Norfolk & Western (N&W) prior to their initial retirement.

EL 3654, 3659, 3662, 3665, 3666 and 3668 were rebuilt by Morrison-Knudson as SP SD40M-2's #8691-8696.

BN SDP45 #6599 was retrofitted with an experimental rear B-B B-B radial truck prior to the debut of the EMD HTCR and HTCR-II radial truck models for the EMD SD70 line.

SP 3201, 3207 and 3208 were repainted into the SPSF Kodachrome scheme in the mid-1980's following the brief, yet failed, merger.

As of 2016 NREX 2772 (ex-UP, nee SP) is currently stored at NRE in Paducah, KY.

HLCX 6515 was the last SD45M rebuild that did not go to SP or MRL.

The SD45X, SD45T-2 and SD40T-2 all share the same frame as the SDP45 and SD45M.

The FP45 was created as Santa Fe (ATSF) did not want another freight style locomotive pulling their Super Chief trains.