Locomotive Histories, Episode 1: The EMD SDP45

Photo credits go to (in order):
Cz17
Wharton Separk
Terry Cantrell
Paul Rome
GRNDMND (flickr)
Tom Sink
R.A Durfee
Roger Lalonde
Bill Edgar
Charlies Biel
Jonathan Ferraro
Audio credit:
Roundhouser

[@letstalktrains5001]

Noticed a few errors I made in the video. The city of Ogden is located in Utah, not California. And the E units are car bodied, not cowl bodied. - Daniel

[@Cnw8701]

No, you were right about the E-Units. E-Units are cab units or cowl units. The SDP45 is a carbody unit: having a frame with a hooded carbody.

[@AutismTakesOn]

@@Cnw8701 Actually, the SDP45 is a "hood unit", with the E-units and F-units being "carbody units", also known as "cab units", with locomotives such as the SDP40F, F40PH, FP45, and F45 being known as "cowl units".
The difference between a carbody/cab unit and a cowl unit is that a carbody/cab unit is enclosed in a bridge-and-truss style carbody (hence the term carbody unit), resulting in a lower weight and higher strength.
A cowl unit, on the other hand, is built in the same way as a hood unit, except that the walkways are enclosed by "cowling", hence the name "cowl unit".
The cowling of a cowl unit, in the case of passenger locomotives, is merely intended to make the locomotive more aesthetically pleasing, and, in the case of freight units (F45, SD40-2F, SD50F, SD60F, C40-8M), the cowling protects the crew from harsh weather conditions, where running a hood unit would be impractical, such as in the frigid Canadian North.

[@Slim_Slid]

With Erie Lackawanna the SD45M's compared to the SDP45's also had larger fuel tanks which just happened to be the same gallon capacity tanks that would be standard on all SD70 series units in later years. That was one detail that wasn't mentioned. Southern Pacific acquired 6 SD45M's from Erie Lackawanna to be rebuilt into SD40M-2's by MK Rail. There was 133 SD40M-2 rebuilds in total. Most of the list contained 97 SD45R's and 30 SD40's. The SD45M's just like the other units of the same series had the same problems which was crankshaft failure and aggressive internal vibration which contributed to fractured frames on alot of units within the series. The SD45's,SD45-2's,F45's/FP45's,and SD45T-2's had the same issues until rebuilds began.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed.👍👀

[@calvingrondahl1011]

I retired as the editorial cartoonist in Ogden, Utah... you are fine, good video.

[@0fficialdregs]

if you're a museum and you have locomotives decaying in your collection, you should just scrap the equipment altogether or sell it off

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

The SD45M was just an SDP45 with the steam generator taken out, other thsn that its no different. Same frame and body.

[@bluel7162]

just purchased a conrail sdp45 athearn genesis., great stuff. thanks.

[@Erik-dg6et]

the first shot of the SP sdp was x EL sdp

[@LanesTrains]

Great video Daniel

[@donaldrodgers8389]

These units did not last long on CONRAIL.None of SDP45's were in service on CR when CSX/NS bought out CR on 6/1/99.They were off the CR roster in the mid 1980's.There lease was up and NS got them from CR in the mid 1980's.NS did not operate them.Some were sold to locomotive leasers.6670 is going to be restored.And I remember in the 1990's 6694 was stored in Southfork,Pa still in CR Blue.I don't know what happened to 6694 after that.Any help on the fate of 6694 would be greatful.Thanks.

[@abigailperez1314]

it is said that. 6694 is scrapped

[@amtrak713productions8]

They are talking about restoring conrail sdp45 #6670 suprised they are doing this shes in rough shape

[@justinparker4412]

Hi Lets Talk Trains