The prototype SD45T-2s were built to solve an operating problem in Southern Pacific’s numerous snowsheds and long tunnels in the Sierra Nevada mountains. These 70′-8″, six-axle, 3,600-hp locomotives had boxy long hoods and lowered radiator air intakes designed to draw clean, cooler air into the radiators to reduce engine overheating.
While similar in appearance, the SD45T-2 shouldn’t be confused with its smaller 3,000-hp SD40T-2 cousin. The easiest way to identify these locomotives is to count the number of radiator-fan doors above the intake screens. If a unit has three doors it’s an SD45T-2; if it has two it’s an SD40T-2.
In recent years, particularly after Union Pacific’s purchase of SP, the SD45T-2s have been sold off and can be found on other railroads, including Bessemer & Lake Erie; Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range; and Kansas City Southern.
Full of details. Our sample came decorated for Southern Pacific. The model closely matches the dimensions in the Model Railroader Cyclopedia: Vol. 2 Diesel Locomotives and has a smooth paint job with crisp paint separation lines and distinct, opaque lettering.
Athearn’s SD45T-2 is a Ready-to-Roll model featuring a high level of detail, including see-through radiator intake screens and dynamic brake fans, a brass Nathan P-3 horn, and wire grab irons, to name a few. The body shell also features a safety-tread walkway with toolbox doors molded into the rear of the traction motor air duct on the brakeman’s side of the long hood.
The EMD HT-C truck sideframes are acetal plastic with individually applied brake cylinders and snubbers. The sideframes have a small printed “62-15” marking to indicate the prototype’s gear ratio.
Performance. When I first tested Athearn’s SD45T-2 the starting voltage was 6V, which seemed high for an Athearn unit. I thought the high starting voltage might be related to the model’s weight, but I decided to examine the mechanism to see if something else might be the culprit.
I carefully removed the body shell as the headlight wiring is connected to a printed-circuit board located on top of the motor. Inside I found excess lubricant around the truck gear boxes and some oil on the commutator. While proper lubrication of models is important, too much can be a bad thing.
I sprayed the commutator with two applications of television tuner cleaner. I let the cleaner stand for two minutes before using a towel to remove the dirty fluid and to polish the commutator contacts. After wiping off the second application of tuner cleaner, I let the model stand for 10 minutes to allow the solvent to evaporate.
The cleaning paid off. Starting voltage dropped to 4.2V with a slow speed of a scale 7.8 mph. This starting speed will probably drop even lower as the model gains some mileage. The SD45T-2’s drawbar pull was 4.96 ounces, equivalent to about 69 free-rolling cars on straight and level track.
The model is designed for DC operation straight from the box, but its DCC Quick Plug makes it easy to install a decoder.
Overall, I think the SD45T-2 is a great addition to Athearn’s Ready-to-Roll line. Espee fans have waited for years to have this model in plastic, and Athearn has delivered a solid locomotive with great detail. Now that the prototypes are being sold off, modelers of other railroads will also be able to give these heavy haulers a home.
Price: $99.98 to $109.98
Manufacturer
Athearn Trains
1550 Glenn Curtiss St.
Carson, CA 90746
www.athearn.com
Description
Plastic and metal locomotive
Road names
Bessemer & Lake Erie, Kansas
City Southern, St. Louis South-
western (Bicentennial with
Roman lettering), Southern
Pacific (“Kodachrome,” Roman
lettering, and speed lettering),
and undecorated (early and
late versions
Features
Cab sunshades and vents
Celcon handrails
Digital Command Control (DCC)
decoder Quick Plug
Directional headlights
Drawbar pull: 4.96 ounces
Engine weight: 22.5 ounces
Five-pole skew-wound motor
with dual flywheels
Flush-mounted window glazing
Hex drive line
HT-C truck sideframes
McHenry scale magnetic
knuckle couplers (mounted at
the correct height)
Metal grab irons
Minimum radius: 22″
Nathan P-3 horn
Nylon worm gear
Safety-tread pattern in walkways
See-through radiator air intakes
and dynamic brake fans
Wheels correctly gauged
I remember seeing these in Eugene , Oregon at the yard as they were going through maintenance after a long run through the cascade mountains. I seen both versions and always wanted to have both representations of the prototype. I currently have the SD40T-2 Southern Pacific DCC ready and now I am looking for the SD45T-2 Southern Pacific but Athearn is out of stock and do not know when they will produce more of these locomotives.
No Doubt Raymond, I remember those days too! I would go to the Colorado River near Park Moabi which is on the CA- AZ border outside of Kingman AZ. Anyway, I have always enjoyed watching these locomotives as a kid and wondered too about the "empty" area at the rear of the hood.
Where do I find one cause there's no hobby shop in Martinsville.
I have the Cotton Belt version of this Tunnel Motor by Athearn in HO. It is a great locomotive indeed! As a kid, I have always wondered why the hollow space in the rear of the locomotive. My dad worked for SP, and my only vantage point was by peering through the station wagon windows while riding along the staging tracks at the Sacramento Shops in the early 80's. From such a perspective, I always thought the locomotive was completely hollow!! Where did they put the diesel engine? This model by Athearn partially recreates that fascination for me. I can see the drive shaft and the top of the truck in this model though. If maybe 4 of the 6 wheels in the rear truck were driven or even a dummy truck in the rear, they could probably pull this see-through illusion off.
I also have the SP version of the EMD SD40T-2 (88" nose), which I think is a slightly more detailed work of art by Athearn. The SD40T-2 model happens to have the detailed hoses front and rear hanging out of the snow plow. The SD45T-2 model does not. The SD40T-2 length is a little shorter, but that is okay with me. Heck, the DRGW guys figured that you could not really use the top 600 HP out of the 3600 HP SD45T-2 going 25 MPH up the grade anyhow. That is probably why they stuck with the 3000 HP SD40T-2. It simply was less maintenance, consumed less fuel, and was cheaper to begin with. This also happened to be the case with the Athearn SD40T-2 being less expensive than the Athearn SD45T-2. This just might be due to popularity of the SD45T-2 from a railfan perspective.