PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

In By the early 1960’s the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) was at a big disadvantage. Their 567 engine, in use for over 20 years, had reached it’s peak at 2,500 horsepower in a turbocharged 16-cylinder version. EMD released a new 645 engine in 1966. The most powerful locomotive using this series of engine was the SD45, powered by a 20-cylinder turbocharged 645E engine producing 3600 horsepower. EMD then offered the V20 645E engine in the SDP45 in a standard hood configuration and longer frame to occomodate the steam generator needed for passenger service. The EMD SDP45 was a good passenger locomotive, but to the Santa Fe Railway it did not look the part. EMD therefore designed a lightweight “cowl” body to cover the locomotive, though it did not, as in earlier cab units, provide any structural strength, which remained in the frame. The cowl provided sleeker looks, better aerodynamics at speed, and allowed the crew to enter the engine compartment en route for diagnostics and maintenance. After sponsoring the development of the FP45 passenger locomotive, the Santa Fe requested a similar freight locomotive from Electro-Motive. Where the FP45 was an SDP45 wrapped in a full-width Cowl carbody, the new F45 was essentially an SD45 given the same treatment.

F45 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Full cab interior

• Coupler cut levers

• Flexible rubber trainline hose

• Lift rings

• Wire grab irons

• See-through cab windows

• Flexible rubber MU hoses

• Windshield wipers

• Walkway tread

• Flush mounted port hole window glass

• Flexicoil-C sideframes with high brake cylinders

• Body-mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers

• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector

• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance

• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, and breather pipes

• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain

• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation

• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow

• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track

• Bidirectional LED lighting

• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power

• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more

• Accurately-painted and –printed paint schemes

• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run

• Packaging securely holds model for safe storage

• Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound

• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC

• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode

• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC

• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode

• Precision slow speed control

• Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights

• Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes

• CV chart included in the box

Santa Fe

Delivered in 1968, Santa Fe’s fleet of 40 F45s was used mainly on the transcontinental line between Los Angeles and Chicago. In the mid-1970s, Santa Fe began to repaint the units and install a variety of rooftop equipment, such as air conditioners, antennas, and beacons. In 1982-1983, the F45’s were rebuilt at the railroad’s San Bernardino, CA shops. They emerged wearing new numbers in the 59XX series and were classified as “F45u / SDF45”. In 1994, 22 units were sold to Morrison Knudsen and received MKM lettering under the road numbers.

ATSF FEATURES:

• See road number specific features for details on each unit

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #5918 “Un-rebuilt” unit with earlier road number series, Leslie RS3L horn on low-clearance bracket, Sinclair antenna mounted directly on dust bin, Prime Stratolight beacon mounted directly to cab on blue base, Era late 1970s+

• #5956 “Rebuilt” number series, Nathan K3LA horn on tall bracket, Sinclair antenna mounted on ground plane, Prime Stratolight beacon mounted on bracket, Era mid 1980s+

• #5973 “Rebuilt” number series, Leslie RS3L horn on bracket, Large and small sinclair antennas mounted on ground planes, Removed Prime Stratolight beacon-platform remains, MU hose holders, Era 1990s+

• #5977 “Rebuilt” number series,Leslie RS3L horn on bracket, Large and small sinclair antennas mounted on ground planes, No beacon, Alternate number board font, MU hose holders, Era 1990s+

Looking for more Athearn F-Unit Diesel Locomotives? Click here!