Jim:

When did NS quit running its SD45's? I think it may have been 1988 but I wouldn't swear to it. I'm planning to do some N&W, SOU and NS modeling in HO. Athearn offers a fantastic high nose SD45 in its Ready to Roll series and I'm planning to pick up a few in the "NW" scheme including the Bicentennial 1776. The Southern version is scheduled for December release and that will be next on the list.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Bob Callahan

Bob,
I am not really sure. They just seemed to fade away. I'm not sure if they lasted that long. By that time, the SD40-2's had pretty much taken over. I'll ask around and see what I can find out.

Bob I'd say your about correct on 1988.I know it was the late 80's.

But did you know the NS-1(NS's book of rules for equipment operation and handling) still lists 6 SD45-2's,no:'s 1700-1705 ?Shows them as group Y,3 (YARD SERVICE) locomotives at 3,000 h.p. .Their standard 6 axles with dynamic brake.

I've never seen any of them personally,but they must be left over Conrails.They may even be out of service.The NS-1 was last updated Oct 01,2007.

Good morning, Gents. Many thanks for the replies.

The 1700 series SD45-2's are former EL/CR units. They are assigned to Conrail Shared Assets in New Jersey. Even though the 1700's seem to spend the bulk of their time working Oak Island Yard, I see them fairly frequently operating on trains to Port Reading and Old Bridge. They'll even appear on the Staten Island trash train from time to time.

CSX operates a handful of these units in CSAO service as well.

Thanks again,

Bob

As you seem to allude to, where the SD45's were being used has a lot to do with it. Just as steam shrank into the coal fields of West Virginia until they were all gone, the SD45's may have done a similar disappearing act. By '88 the first generation of Hi-Ad units were firmly established.

It could be that the SD45's were taken away from my little part of the N&W and utilized in other parts. It wouldn't surprise me that they spent their last days moving coal out of Weller Yard.

Jim I'll ask some of the guys in Williamson if they can remember seeing any in the late 80's.The guys on the east side out of Williamson work Weller.

There used to be an ex-N&W sd-45 on Wolf Creek branch at Pontiki mine site.It's been about 13 or 14 years since I've took a train up there to know if it's still there.It was a low nose version.And I think the 20 cyl. had been retrofitted to a cat motor.It was pale blue in color and named "The Blue Goose" by everyone

Thanks to all of the guys on the N&WHS mailing list, here is what I have found:

"N&W and Southerns SD45s were retired en masse in 1986-88... some as early as 83."

"One retired in 1-1988, 18 in 2-1988, and the last five in 10-1989."

"I was down in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1988. I saw so many high hood
SD45s, I got the impression NdeM must have bought most of the ex N&Ws."

Bob,
I looked back through old timebooks, mid-87 was is old as I could find right now, I had no SD45's onward.

Jim/Collin:

Thanks again for all the information. It has been very helpful and is exactly what I needed.

Regarding the Mexico observation, N de M looked like an operating museum during the early 80's. I was living in New York State at the time and G.E.'s facility in Hornell, NY was turning out many rebuilt four and six axle U-boats for N de M. They were shipped west via the former EL main to their new home.

Bob

While not SD45's, I ordered my first two NS units today. They are GP40X's 7001 and 7002. Given the extremely limited production of the prototype GP40X, I was shocked to learn a mass produced plastic model existed in any scale.

Bob