EMD SD45T-2
Encyclopedia
The EMD SD45T-2 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive
conceived in early 1972 by EMD at the request of the Southern Pacific Railroad
. Like the similar SD40T-2
, this locomotive model is nicknamed a "tunnel motor". 247 of this model were built from February 1972 to June 1975. Out of the total, 84 units were built for SP's subsidiary Cotton Belt
. From April 1986 to December 1989, about half of the units were rebuilt and designated as SD45T-2R and 24 of the 126 rebuilds were built for Cotton Belt.
The SD45T-2 is a variation of the SD45-2
, with cooling system modifications. Specifically, the intake for the radiator cooling air was moved to the walkway level, and the cooling fans themselves moved under the radiator cores, instead of on top. The tunnel motors were built to perform best in superheated tunnel
s in mountainous areas in the western United States
. These locomotive models featured air intake grills at the lower rear of the locomotives' long hoods so the engines could obtain available cool and clean air into the radiator section.
The SD40T-2
is similar in appearance to the SD45T-2. One key spotting difference is that the hood is longer on the SD45T-2 to accommodate the V20 prime mover vs. the V16 used on the SD40T-2. The result is that the cab is further forward on the frame, so there is no "front porch" or "snoot" nose. This mimicks the differences between the SD45-2 and the SD40-2
. Another key spotting difference between the SD45T-2 and the SD40T-2 is that the SD45T-2 has three fan access doors above the cooling air intake, while the SD40T-2 has only two on each side.
Like the SD40T-2, some of SP's SD45T-2 tunnel motors were obtained by Kansas City Southern Railway
, Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad
, Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
and by the Union Pacific Railroad
when it merged the SP in 1996.
Some SD45T-2s were rebuilt and designated to SD45T-3, SD40T-3 and SD40-2T, in addition, some locomotive leasing companies own the SD45 tunnel motor locomotives. They are found scattered all over the United States and are an increasingly rare sight.
As of January 2003, SD45T-2R tunnel motor, SP #6819 (formerly SP 9193) was donated to the California State Railroad Museum
in Sacramento
.
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
conceived in early 1972 by EMD at the request of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
. Like the similar SD40T-2
EMD SD40T-2
An EMD SD40T-2 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Power is provided by a 16-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine capable of producing . The Southern Pacific's locomotive features a fuel tank and is long. The Rio Grande's locomotive features a smaller fuel...
, this locomotive model is nicknamed a "tunnel motor". 247 of this model were built from February 1972 to June 1975. Out of the total, 84 units were built for SP's subsidiary Cotton Belt
St. Louis Southwestern Railway
The St. Louis Southwestern Railway , known by its nickname of "The Cotton Belt Route" or simply Cotton Belt, was organized on January 15, 1891, although it had its origins in a series of short lines founded in Tyler, Texas, in 1870 that connected northeastern Texas to Arkansas and southeastern...
. From April 1986 to December 1989, about half of the units were rebuilt and designated as SD45T-2R and 24 of the 126 rebuilds were built for Cotton Belt.
The SD45T-2 is a variation of the SD45-2
EMD SD45-2
An EMD SD45-2 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division beginning in 1972. Power was provided by an EMD 645E3 20-cylinder engine which generated . Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the SD45-2 was an upgraded SD45.The main spotting difference between an SD45 and an...
, with cooling system modifications. Specifically, the intake for the radiator cooling air was moved to the walkway level, and the cooling fans themselves moved under the radiator cores, instead of on top. The tunnel motors were built to perform best in superheated tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s in mountainous areas in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. These locomotive models featured air intake grills at the lower rear of the locomotives' long hoods so the engines could obtain available cool and clean air into the radiator section.
The SD40T-2
EMD SD40T-2
An EMD SD40T-2 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Power is provided by a 16-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine capable of producing . The Southern Pacific's locomotive features a fuel tank and is long. The Rio Grande's locomotive features a smaller fuel...
is similar in appearance to the SD45T-2. One key spotting difference is that the hood is longer on the SD45T-2 to accommodate the V20 prime mover vs. the V16 used on the SD40T-2. The result is that the cab is further forward on the frame, so there is no "front porch" or "snoot" nose. This mimicks the differences between the SD45-2 and the SD40-2
EMD SD40-2
The EMD SD40-2 is a C-C locomotive produced by EMD from 1972 to 1989.The SD40-2 was first introduced in January 1972 as the mid-range offering in EMD's six-axle "Dash-2" series, competing against the GE U30C and the MLW M630...
. Another key spotting difference between the SD45T-2 and the SD40T-2 is that the SD45T-2 has three fan access doors above the cooling air intake, while the SD40T-2 has only two on each side.
Like the SD40T-2, some of SP's SD45T-2 tunnel motors were obtained by Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
, Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad
Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad
The Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad is a class II railroad that operates in northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio.The railroad's main route runs from the Lake Erie port of Conneaut, Ohio to the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a distance of 139 miles...
, Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
The Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway is a railroad operating in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin that hauls iron ore and later taconite to the Great Lakes ports of Duluth and Two Harbors, Minnesota...
and by the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
when it merged the SP in 1996.
Some SD45T-2s were rebuilt and designated to SD45T-3, SD40T-3 and SD40-2T, in addition, some locomotive leasing companies own the SD45 tunnel motor locomotives. They are found scattered all over the United States and are an increasingly rare sight.
As of January 2003, SD45T-2R tunnel motor, SP #6819 (formerly SP 9193) was donated to the California State Railroad Museum
California State Railroad Museum
The California State Railroad Museum is a museum in the state park system of California, USA, interpreting the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. It is located in Old Sacramento at 111 I Street....
in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
.