What vintage is it? Kato first released the SD45 back in the early 90's, then sat on the tooling for ten forevers before releasing it again. The earlier model is a real jet, best toned down with DCC, especially if you're going to speed match it with Atlas engines that have the newer "slow speed" motor.
I'm not sure if the newer SD45 is comparable, since the idiots at Kato don't run them in any roads that interest me.
If you're not sure, pop off the shell and look under the hood. If you've got two light boards, front and rear, it's the old one. If you've got a single long light board, (and a paint job limited to YouPee or BNSF) it's the new one.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
I use DCC there is no problem adjusting the starting speed.
But saying that, I have 2 of the Kato SD40 which under the shell are the same as the SD45. On an inexpensive DC power pack it does take off much to fast. With my DC MRC power pack which has a much better low starting voltage it is much slower though not as slow as I would like it if I ran DC.
The DC packs are just for testing before I install a decoder or trouble shooting.
Is the DC pack a top of the line or a inexpensive one.
Have you asked about this on nscale.net or thetrainboard.com
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
I am building a layout using a new Kato SD45 for power. The problem--it is SO fast. It runs at startup at about the speed I was hoping for at 3/4 power. I would like to know if there are any products available to change the gearing to slow this thing down! Thanks.