An earlier ATSF F45 with the "Bluebonnet" scheme.
One of the very Similar EMD FP45s.
The EMD; Electro Motive Division; F45 is a type of six-axle, 3,600 hp diesel locomotive built from 1966 to 1971.
86 F45s were built. 14 steam generator equipped FP45s were built.
Very few remained on several regional and shortline railroads, but most have been retired and scrapped, while 3 were preserved.
History[]
The EMD F45 was one of the very first modern cowl-bodied diesel locomotives built for the North American locomotive market. They were purchased by the Santa Fe, Great Northern as well as Burlington Northern after the 1970 merger.
The F45's cowl helped provide better protection for the diesel engine and actually made it easier to service for crews. Fleets were slowly retired by the Burlington Northern in the 1980’s and Santa Fe in the 1990’s (even after the creation of the BNSF in 1996), and were eventually rebuilt and sold to regional and shoreline railroads, such as the Utah Railway, NYSW, Montana Rail Link, and the Wisconsin Central. One was used as a test bed by MotivePower Inc. until 2021.
EMD FP45[]
The FP45; the F45's externally-similar counter-part, yet equipped with a steam generator for heating; was one of the last passenger locomotives purchased by the ATSF (aside from the GE U28CG and U30CG) shortly before the creation of Amtrak in the 1970's, and was also one of the last locomotives to be painted in the ATSF's "Warbonnet" scheme; to whom the Warbonnet scheme wasn't applied on the ATSF's locomotives until the purchase of the EMD GP60M and GE Dash 8-40BW in the 1990's.
Rebuilds[]
From 1980-1983, Santa Fe's San Bernardino shops rebuilt F45s and FP45s 5900-5943 and 5945-5948. They emerged as 5950-5993 and 5995-5998 and were redesignated SDF45s and SDFP45. Electrically they were upgraded to SD45-2 standards. Mechanically, they were re-geared from 59:18 to 60:17, reducing their top speed from 89 mph to 83 mph.
In the late 1980s, Santa Fe again re-geared them - this time to 62:15 for 71 mph.
Trivia[]
- The main way of distinguishing an FP45 from an F45 is the large steam generator compartment on the rear of the FP45.
- Several reconverted FP45's were also repainted and renumbered into their original condition when they were used to assist ATSF 3751 when it was first restored and began operating steam excursions in 1993-1994.
- The FP45 inspired the development of the EMD SDP40F as well as wide-cab (safety cab) diesel locomotives.
Disposition[]
F45[]
- One F45 (GN 441, formerly ATSF 1910/5910/MKCX 5531/UTAH 9013) was converted into a lodge for a hotel.
- Montana Rail Link F45 #390, formerly BN 6644, is currently under private ownership and is stored in Airway Heights, WA.
- ATSF 5989 was used as a test bed by MotivePower, Inc. until 2021. It is awaiting restoration to the Kodachrome scheme, with the hope that it will be eventually sent to a museum
- Morrison-Knudsen used the cowls from several scrapped BN F45s to rebuild eleven GP40s into GP40FH-2 locomotives for New Jersey Transit. 4130-4139 were completed in 1987, and 4141 in 1989 (New cowls were fabricated for 4140 and 4142-4144). M-K also used both cowls and cabs from scrapped BN F45s, to construct five F40PHL-2 locomotives on GP40 frames. They are Tri-Rail 801-805, completed in 1988.
FP45[]
- ATSF FP45 90 was sold
- ATSF FP45 91 was sold to Wisconsin Central.
- ATSF FP45 92 was sold
- ATSF FP45 93 was sold
- ATSF FP45 94 was wrecked
- ATSF FP45 95 was sold
- ATSF FP45 96 was wrecked
- ATSF FP45 97 was sold
- ATSF FP45 98 was sold