For almost 20 years after its introduction in 1966, The SD-45, with it's 20 cylinder 3600 horsepower 645 series engine, was the most powerful locomotive in the EMD catalog. The 20 cylinder engine turned out to be these units Achilles heel, being both inefficient and prone to crankshaft failure. Conrail inherited it's fleet of 174 SD-45s from the Penn Central, Erie Lackawanna, and the Reading. Penn Central contributed 135, 130 of which were delivered to the PRR, 5 delivered to the post-merger PC. 34 came from the EL, and 5 from the RDG. Like previous generations of large old road power, These units worked out their last days in Horseshoe Curve helper service.
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Ex-RDG SD-45 6102 at Lehighton, Pa. July 29, 1978. At this time, Lehighton at the mouth of the Lehigh Gorge, was a busy spot, with several through freights working the yard here. |
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A cab close-up of Conrail SD-45 6072, originally EL 3607, drifting downgrade at the Horseshoe Curve on July 7, 1979. |
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A Conrail SD-45 helper set led by 6109 on the New Portage Branch at CP ELDO in Altoona, Pa. on July 7, 1979. |
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Conrail SD-45 helper set 6192 6224 begin down "the Slide" at Tunnel Hill, Pa. in July, 1980. This photo and the next represent one of the stupidest things I've ever done. Another guy and I climbed to the top of the signal bridge seen in the shadow with our cameras, a cassette player, and a six pack of beer. There we spent the afternoon taking pictures of the parade. Not only were the pictures bad, (the lighting stinks), but it was incredibly dangerous. How we got away without breaking our necks, or getting locked up by the Conrail cop who finally showed up, I'll never know. Thankfully, you are only 19 once. |
Conrail inherited its 33 SDP-45's from the Erie Lackawanna. Although the "P" in the model name designates a passenger locomotive, these locomotives do not have any of the features of a passenger locomotive, such as steam generator or electrical equipment for train power. The only way to get the largest fuel tanks available, was to order the passenger model (which was 4 feet longer than the standard model) and delete the passenger equipment (see SD45-2 for more EL fuel tanks). Like the SD-45's, These units also worked out their last days in Horseshoe Curve helper service.
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Conrail SDP-45's 6681 6678 begin down " the Slide" at Tunnel Hill, Pa. in July, 1980. |
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Conrail SDP-45 6694 being dismantled at R. M. Delevan Inc. in the former Lehigh Valley Coxton Yard in Pittston, Pa. on September 24, 2000. |