SD45 Alive and Kickin'

[C855B]

I thought only the sixth/final  SP SD40T-2 order came with the exhaust silencer.  All SD45T-2 orders and the five other SD40T-2 orders did not have the exhaust silencer. This is going from questionable memory.

I'm in the same boat... questionable memory. What I am recalling from trackside back then is we came to call the T-2s "slushboxes" because you heard the exhaust rush under load but so much of the bass we were accustomed to just wasn't there. It was, to us, the end of "glorious noise".

[jpwisc]

True SD45s are getting hard to find. There are lots of SD40M-2 rebuilds out there still.
A trio working the BLU this fall:

A pair on the SCXY last spring:

[Mark5]

As built the 45s were higher maintenance (20 cylinders!) and a bit thirsty. This I think is one reason that older units and the "40" series tended to last longer for most class ones.

[Rich_S]

So are there no SD45s left in revenue service?  Call me a bit surprised.

One of the biggest issues with the 645 20 cylinder is they are prone to crankshaft failure. Three of our SD45-2's have had their 20 cylinder 645 diesel engines replaced with 16 cylinder 645 diesel engines (3,000 HP). The three (1703, 1704 & 1705) that still have their 20 cylinder 645 diesel engines have had the horsepower de-rated to 3,000 hp.

Age is not so much an issue as parts supply, coupled to the crankshaft failure, that is why many of the SD45's have been converted into SD40-2's under the hood. Same holds true for the many GP38's, GP38AC's, and SD40's on the system. Even though they kept their original carbodies, under the hood they are all now dash 2 models.

Same issue existed with the 16-645 when EMD tried to squeeze 3500 HP out of it. They began experiencing crankshaft failures. Hence most GP50's are now GP38-3's and SD50's are now SD40E's. The 50's series modules were a little flaky as well, so they've been replaced with EM2000 computers in the SD40E units. 

[Philip H]

So @Rich_S  what you are really saying is the SD40-2 was EMD's best locomotive design all around and should still be in production.

[Rich_S]

So @Rich_S  what you are really saying is the SD40-2 was EMD's best locomotive design all around and should still be in production.

For it's time period yes, but it's been replaced by the SD70Ace. 

[Bob Bufkin]

I know several CSX and NS engineers that swear that the 40-2 was the best locomotive they ever ran.

[Rich_S]

I know several CSX and NS engineers that swear that the 40-2 was the best locomotive they ever ran.

Bob, There is no doubt, the throttle response alone was fantastic. But compared to today's SD70Ace, the wheel slip system alone on today's SD70 series makes the SD40-2 look like a very slippery locomotive. It's like comparing a 1955 Lincoln Continental to a 2017 Lincoln Continental, things naturally improve over time.