EMD SD45-2

The EMD SD45-2 is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD). EMD built 136 locomotives between 1972 and 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 absence of flared radiators on the SD45-2.

EMD SD45-2
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway No. 5699 at Daggett, California, in 1984
Type and origin Power type Diesel Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) Model SD45-2 Build date 1972–1974 Total produced 136
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 40" Length 68 feet 10 inches (20.98 m) Loco weight 368,000 lb (167,000 kg) Fuel capacity 3200-4000 GAL Lubricant cap. 294-466 GAL Water cap. 288 GAL Sandbox cap. 56cuft Prime mover EMD 20-645E3 RPM range 315-900 Engine type V20 diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Alternator AR10 Generator D14 Traction motors D77 Cylinders 20
Performance figures Maximum speed 65–90 mph (105–145 km/h) Power output 3,600 hp (2,680 kW)

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. 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. With no cab, these B-units are controlled from other locomotives.

In September 2015, Norfolk Southern revealed SD45-2 #1700, which was painted back to its Erie Lackawanna color scheme at Chattanooga, Tennessee. 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, Georgia, making it the first SD45-2 to be preserved.

On October 6, 2021, BNSF donated SD45-2 #6484 (ex: ATSF #5704, one of 5 units to receive a bicentennial scheme) to the Southern California Railway Museum (SCRM) in Perris, California. It was restored to its bicentennial scheme as ATSF #5704, and is currently stored in Commerce, California, awaiting delivery to SCRM.

Original owners

Railroad	Quantity	Road Numbers	Notes
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway	90	5625-5714.	To BNSF
Clinchfield Railroad	18	3607-3624.	To Family Lines System then to Seaboard System and now at CSX Transportation
Erie Lackawanna Railway	13	3669-3681.	To Conrail and then to Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation, those to CSX downgraded to SD40-2 standards.
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad	15	2045-2059.	To Family Lines System then to Seaboard System and now at CSX Transportation,
Totals	136

References

• Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A Field Guide to Trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-3957-0112-0.
• 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.
• 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.
• Erie Lackawanna 3669 3670 3674 3677 3679 3681 now Norfolk southern SD45-2 1700-1705 1700 is in Erie Lackawanna paint scheme http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=6028020