EMD "SD45" Locomotives

Last revised: July 17, 2023

By: Adam Burns

The EMD SD45 series included several variants of the original design, just had been the case with the SD40 series.

The model was manufactured from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s and included such variants as the SD45-2, SDP45, SD45X, and SD45T-2.

The series was very successful, particularly the original model which sold more than 1,200 examples by itself. While EMD now built its locomotives using a standard frame and design (beginning with the SD35), the SD45 is easily distinguishable from its siblings by its rear flared radiator, a trademark that no other model featured.

However, perhaps it was the SD45 that in some ways began to show "cracks" in Electro-Motive's armor.

For the first time in the company's history a model it cataloged had some reliability issues. These were eventually resolved but it was a foreboding of things to come. 

In any event, the SD45 could pull almost anything and today, numerous units remain in revenue service on shortlines and regionals.

Photos

A handsome Santa Fe SD45-2, #5700, shows off its Bicentennial livery in Kansas City on February 26, 1975. J. Primm photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Background

The EMD SD45 began production in late 1965 using General Motors' new 20-cylinder model 645E3 prime mover.

The SD45's 20-cylinders meant it was extremely powerful, able to produce 3,600 horsepower (600 horsepower more than the SD40 series released a year later), which was a significant reason so many railroads purchased the model.

Using GM's model D77 traction motors the SD45 could produce over 82,000 pounds of continuous tractive effort and 92,000 pounds starting, which was on par with what the SD38s could produce and the later SD40s.

Sales for the SD45 took off rather quickly given EMD's stellar reputation as a locomotive builder through the mid-1960s. However, as railroads began to use the locomotive they began experiencing reliability issues.

The 20-cylinder prime mover was experiencing teething issues and had a tendency to break crankshafts, naturally resulting in engine failures out on the road.

While EMD soon fixed the problem by replacing the main engine block with a new design many railroads were turned off of the locomotive after its initial problems and with the highly successful and reliable SD40 released in 1966 decided to just buy that model instead.

Rio Grande SD45 #5323 leads a freight through heavy snow just west of Loma, Colorado during the late 1960s. American-Rails.com collection.

In any event, the power the SD45 offered could not be denied and some lines truly liked theirs.

In 1967 EMD released the SDP45, which at 70-feet was five feet longer than the SD45. It was built for use in passenger service featuring a steam generator and water supply.

In this Great Northern publicity photo, new SDP45 #333 leads the "Empire Builder" in its redesigned "Big Sky Blue" livery near Montana's Glacier National Park during the fall of 1967. Author's collection.

Just 52 SDP45s were built for the Southern Pacific, Great Northern, and Erie Lackawanna (the EL purchased the most, 34).   In the summer of 1970 EMD began construction on the experimental SD45X.

The locomotive was rated at 4,200 horsepower and only the Southern Pacific purchased the model (3) with EMD owning 4 demonstrator units.

As with the SD40 series, in the spring of 1972 EMD released the upgraded SD45-2 model, which was virtually identical to its predecessor save for updated electronics allowing for the locomotive to be more efficient.

The model was built through 1974 with 136 units sold. Around the same time EMD also manufactured the SD45T-2.

A Northern Pacific publicity photo featuring four new SD45's just delivered from Electro-Motive at the Mississippi Street Shops in St. Paul, Minnesota in July, 1966. Author's collection.

As with the SD40T-2, requested by the Rio Grande, the SD45T-2 redesigned its air intakes to the locomotive's walkways and the radiators were moved as high as possible.

This allowed the locomotive to receive the clean, cool air found near the floor of tunnels (where exhaust and heat was an issue) and blowing it up through the radiators and out the top.

Erie Lackawanna SD45 #3633 is stopped with a westbound freight at the small depot in Deposit, New York during a crew change in March, 1970. Photographer unknown. Author's collection.

It proved to be an innovative and successful design as both the SD40T-2 and SD45T-2 sold quite well for a variant; the former selling more than 300 examples and the latter nearly 250, all of which went to the Southern Pacific/Cotton Belt (9157-9404).

Today, most of these units are in operation while SP #9193 is preserved at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.

Data Sheet and Specifications

Entered Production12/1965 (Demonstrator #4351)
Years Produced (SD45)12/1965 - 12/1971
Years Produced (SDP45)5/1967 - 8/1970
Years Produced (SD45X)6/1970 - 2/1971
Years Produced (SD45-2)5/1972 - 9/1974
Engine645E3
Engine (SD45X)645F3B
Engine BuilderGM
Horsepower3600
Horsepower (SD45X)4200
RPM904
Cylinders20
Cylinders (SD45X)16
Length65' 9 ½"
Length (SD45X)70' 8"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Engine Hood)15' 2 13/32"
Width10'
Weight368,000 Lbs
Fuel Capacity3200 Gallons
Fuel Capacity (SD45X)4400 Gallons
Air CompressorGardner-Denver
Air Compressor ModelWBO
Air Brake ManufacturerWestinghouse
Air Brake Schedule26L
TrucksC-C
Truck TypeFlexicoil
Truck Type (SD45X)HT-C
Truck Wheelbase13' 7"
Wheel Size40"
Traction MotorsD77 (6), GM
Primary GeneratorAR10, GM
Steam Generator (SDP45)Vapor-Clarkson (Model AR4125)
Auxiliary GeneratorDelco (A8102)
AlternatorD14
MU (Multiple-Unit)Yes
Dynamic BrakesYes
Gear Ratio62:15
Gear Ratio (SDP45)59:15
Tractive Effort (Starting)92,000 Lbs at 25%
Tractive Effort (Starting)89,500 Lbs at 25% (SDP45)
Tractive Effort (Continuous)82,100 Lbs at 11 mph
Tractive Effort (Continuous)82,100 Lbs at 6.6 mph (SDP45)
Top Speed65 mph
Top Speed (SDP45)95 mph
70021348726354234y235627968307098.jpgA pair of Frisco SD45's, along with GP35 #701, at Springfield, Missouri, circa 1970. Mac Owen photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Production Rosters

SD45

Total Built = 1,260

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Order Number Completion Date
Great Northern 400-407 31598-31605 7871 5/1966-6/1966
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) 4351 (became Illinois Central #7000) 31693 5696 12/1965
Electro-Motive (Demonstrators) 4352-4353 (became Delaware & Hudson #802-803) 31694-31695 5696 1/1966
Atlantic Coast Line 1024-1033 31840-31849 5703 12/1966
Northern Pacific 3600-3603 31951-31954 7890 7/1966
Norfolk & Western 1700-1704 31955-31959 5705 7/1966
Norfolk & Western 1705-1730 31960-31985 7904 7/1966-9/1966
Norfolk & Western 1731-1734 31986-31989 7905 9/1966
Southern Pacific 8800-8844 31991-32035 7887 8/1966-9/1966
Santa Fe 1800-1829 32056-32085 5708 6/1966-8/1966
Pennsylvania 6105-6139 32315-32349 7928 10/1966-12/1966
Pennsylvania 6140-6169 32365-32394 7928 1/1967-2/1967
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) 4354 (became Delaware & Hudson #801) 32462 5720 6/1966
Santa Fe 1830-1889 32506-32565 5722 10/1966-12/1966
Chicago & North Western 901-920 32624-32643 7945 2/1967-3/1967
Denver & Rio Grande Western 5315-5324 32689-32698 7951 1/1967-2/1967
Norfolk & Western 1735-1738 32699-32702 7953 5/1967
Norfolk & Western 1739-1764 32703-32728 7988 7/1967-9/1967
Southern Pacific 8845-8893 32759-32807 7954 2/1967-4/1967
Southern Pacific 8894-8934 32808-32848 7971 4/1967-7/1967
Great Northern 408-417 32988-32997 7963 4/1967
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 900-905 33011-33016 7967 2/1967
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 906 33017 7968 2/1967
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 907-911 33018-33022 7970 2/1967-3/1967
Northern Pacific 3604-3619 33025-33040 7978 4/1967-5/1967
Erie Lackawanna 3601-3620 33101-33120 7991 6/1967
Reading 7600-7604 33175-33179 7992 7/1967
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 912-913 33182-33183 5729 5/1967
Union Pacific 3600-3621 33409-33430 7975 3/1968-4/1968
Union Pacific 3622 33431 7107 4/1968
Union Pacific 3623 33432 7108 4/1968
Union Pacific 3624-3639 33433-33448 7077 3/1968-4/1968
Milwaukee Road 4000-4005 33525-33530 7052 1/1968-2/1968
Southern 3122-3159 33544-33581 7068 11/1967-12/1967
Southern 3105-3121 33582-33598 7074 12/1967
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 914-925 33599-33610 7080 2/1968
St Louis-Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) 8964-8971 33624-33631 7081 2/1968-4/1968
Southern Pacific 8935-8963 33632-33660 7082 2/1968-5/1968
St Louis-Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) 8972-8981 33661-33670 4/1968-6/1968 7081
Denver & Rio Grande Western 5325-5336 33757-33768 7085 3/1968-5/1968
Great Northern 418-426 33785-33793 7088 7/1968-8/1968
Pennsylvania 6170-6199, 6210-6234 33804-33858 7993 12/1967-1/1968
Pennsylvania 6200-6208 (Evens) 33859-33863 7090 1/1968
Pennsylvania 6201-6209 (Odds) 33864-33868 7091 1/1968-3/1968
Northern Pacific 3620-3629 33900-33909 7094 4/1968-5/1968
Denver & Rio Grande Western 5337-5340 33931-33934 7106 3/1968
Erie Lackawanna 3621-3634 33936-33949 7104 5/1968
Union Pacific 3640-3649 34016-34025 7077 3/1968
Milwaukee Road 4006-4009 34149-34152 7133 12/1968
Seaboard Coast Line 2010-2023 34163-34176 7123 10/1968
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 926-928 34245-34247 7129 10/1968
Penn Central 6235-6239 34277-34281 7125 8/1968
Southern Pacific 8982-9001 34350-34369 7138 12/1968-2/1969
Southern Pacific 9002-9007 34370-34375 7163 2/1969
Southern Pacific 9008-9030 34376-34398 7138 2/1969-4/1969
Southern Pacific 9031-9036 34399-34404 7164 4/1969-5/1969
Southern Pacific 9037-9051 34405-34419 7138 3/1969
St Louis-Southwestern Railway (Frisco) 9052-9059 34420-34427 7140 1/1969-3/1969
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 516-530 34551-34565 7147 1/1969
Chicago & North Western 937-977 34570-34610 7148 1/1969-2/1969
St Louis-Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) 9060-9068 34726-34734 7150 12/1968
Southern Pacific 9069-9103 34904-34938 7170 3/1969-4/1969
Santa Fe 5590-5597 34995-35012 7175 5/1969
Santa Fe 5598-5614 35013-35019 7177 5/1969
Southern Pacific 9104-9123 35196-35215 7187 10/1969-12/1969
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 929-942 35477-35490 7194 9/1969-10/1969
Norfolk & Western 1765-1789 35521-35545 7199 2/1970-3/1970
Norfolk & Western 1790-1814 35546-35570 5745 12/1969
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 943-948 35583-35588 7204 12/1969
St Louis-Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) 9152-9155 35753-35756 7215 1/1970
Southern Pacific 9124-9151 35761-35788 7217 12/1969-3/1970
Southern 3160-3169, 3100-3104 36109-36123 5755 3/1970
Burlington Northern 6472-6491 36361-36380 7261 6/1970-7/1970
Santa Fe 5622-5624 36491-36493 5763 6/1970
Santa Fe 5615-5621 36494-36500 7267 6/1970
Burlington Northern 6492-6497 36794-36799 7279 8/1970-9/1970
Burlington Northern 6498-6542 37106-37150 5773 5/1971-8/1971
Seaboard Coast Line 2024-2044 37715-37735 5784 9/1971-10/1971
Colorado & Southern 868-874 38366-38372 5788 10/1971
Burlington Northern 6543-6567 5794-1/25 5794 11/1971-12/1971

Reused Serials

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Order Number Completion Date
Southern 3120 33597 8084 4/1970

SD45-2

Total Built = 136

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Completion Date
Erie Lackawanna 3669-3681 7381-1 thru 7381-13 10/1972
Clinchfield 3607-3616 7382-1 thru 7382-10 11/1972
Santa Fe 5625-5661 7391-1 thru 7391-37 5/1972
Santa Fe 5662-5704 72642-1 thru 72642-43 5/1973-6/1973
Clinchfield 3617-3624 73773-1 thru 73773-8 2/1974
Seaboard Coast Line 2045-2059 74601-1 thru 74601-15 8/1974-9/1974
Santa Fe 5705-5714 74603-1 thru 74603-10 5/1974

SDP45

Total Built = 54

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Order Number Completion Date
Southern Pacific 3200-3209 32849-32858 5/1967-7/1967 7955
Great Northern 326-333 33041-33048 7979 7/1967-8/1967
Erie Lackawanna 3635-3653 34976-34994 7174 5/1969-6/1969
Erie Lackawanna 3654-3661 36658-36665 7246 7/1970-8/1970
Erie Lackawanna 3662-3668 36880-36886 7246 8/1970

SD45X

Total Built = 7

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Order Number Completion Date
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) 5740 34123 5740 6/1970
Southern Pacific 9500-9502 35741-35743 7288 8/1970-9/1970
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) 4201 (became Southern Pacific #9503) 36806 5751 6/1970
Electro-Motive (Demonstrators) 4202-4203 (became Southern Pacific #9504-9505) 36807-36808 5751 2/1971

One of the Santa Fe's interesting SD45B's, #5501, was photographed here in Riverdale, Illinois on August 28, 1990. John Eagan, Jr. photo. Author's collection.

While not as successful as the SD40 series the SD45 and its variants still sold very with more than 1,700 purchased by the time production had finally ended in the early summer of 1975.

After EMD corrected the model's engine block flaws most of the fleet remains in active revenue service today.

Other examples of the locomotive officially preserved include Erie Lackawanna #3607 at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Great Northern #400 ("Hustle Muscle") at the Lake Superior Museum of Transportation, Norfolk & Western #1776 at the Virginia Museum of Transportation, SP #8800 at the Utah State Railroad Museum, and EL SDP45 #3639 also at VMT. 

235920358273472352783689289078.jpgMilwaukee Road SD45 #4000 was photographed here at the company's terminal in Bensenville, Illinois in February, 1969. American-Rails.com collection.

Sources

  • Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
  • Marre, Louis A. Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years, A Guide To Diesels Built Before 1972.  Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1995.
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. Diesel Spotter's Guide.  Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.
  • Schafer, Mike. Vintage Diesel Locomotives. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 1998.
  • Solomon, Brian. American Diesel Locomotive, The. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 2000.
  • Solomon, Brian.  EMD Locomotives.  Minneapolis: MBI Publishing Company, 2006.
  • Solomon, Brian.  GE and EMD Locomotives:  The Illustrated History.  Minneapolis:  Voyageur Press, 2014.
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