Why are the SD45s hated.....

[WCfan]

Yes they would of been. WC at the end was having trouble with money, and if they kept the 45s in the shape they got them, it would of drove them deeper into the ground.

[WSOR 3801]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

[WCfan]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

It's pretty flat considering what the BN and ATSF SD45s where running through.

[coborn35]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

Yea, coming into Neenah youve got a fairly steep hill, big enough Ive never got up it going more than 20, considering I charged it going 50. Onthe way down, got to use heavy dynamics with them heavy tank trains. 

[WCfan]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

Yea, coming into Neenah youve got a fairly steep hill, big enough Ive never got up it going more than 20, considering I charged it going 50. Onthe way down, got to use heavy dynamics with them heavy tank trains. 

I'm not saying Wisconsin is ALL flat. But it's flatter than the rockies, which is where WC got most of there SD45s. But Wisconsin Does have it's share of grades.

[coborn35]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

Yea, coming into Neenah youve got a fairly steep hill, big enough Ive never got up it going more than 20, considering I charged it going 50. Onthe way down, got to use heavy dynamics with them heavy tank trains. 

I'm not saying Wisconsin is ALL flat. But it's flatter than the rockies, which is where WC got most of there SD45s. But Wisconsin Does have it's share of grades.

Thats whats called a contradiction. Also, I wasnt aware that either GN, CB&Q, NP and Frisco ran through the Rockies.....

[WCfan]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

Yea, coming into Neenah youve got a fairly steep hill, big enough Ive never got up it going more than 20, considering I charged it going 50. Onthe way down, got to use heavy dynamics with them heavy tank trains. 

I'm not saying Wisconsin is ALL flat. But it's flatter than the rockies, which is where WC got most of there SD45s. But Wisconsin Does have it's share of grades.

Thats whats called a contradiction. Also, I wasnt aware that either GN, CB&Q, NP and Frisco ran through the Rockies.....

I was talking about BN. And BN ran Through the Cascades/northern Rockies.

[espeefoamer]

The Southern Pacific and Rio Grande ran their SD45s over some of the roughest grades in the nation.

Both roads really beat their locos hard.

[wctransfer]

Which is pretty much why the WC never bought an of their SD45s lol. Just because something isnt AS big, doesnt mean it doesnt put the same strain on the engine.

Alec

[WCfan]

Which is pretty much why the WC never bought an of their SD45s lol. Just because something isnt AS big, doesnt mean it doesnt put the same strain on the engine.

Alec

Yeah I guess so. A Step short grade is same as a gradual long grade. Yeah WC only bought two SP SD45s, Numbered 7637 and 9093.

[n012944]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

Yea, coming into Neenah youve got a fairly steep hill, big enough Ive never got up it going more than 20, considering I charged it going 50. Onthe way down, got to use heavy dynamics with them heavy tank trains. 

I'm not saying Wisconsin is ALL flat. But it's flatter than the rockies, which is where WC got most of there SD45s. But Wisconsin Does have it's share of grades.

Thats whats called a contradiction. Also, I wasnt aware that either GN, CB&Q, NP and Frisco ran through the Rockies.....

The GN and the NP ran through the Rockies, and the Cascades for that matter. Also the CB&Q and Frisco units ran over the Rockies while owned by the BN.

Bert

[coborn35]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

Yea, coming into Neenah youve got a fairly steep hill, big enough Ive never got up it going more than 20, considering I charged it going 50. Onthe way down, got to use heavy dynamics with them heavy tank trains. 

I'm not saying Wisconsin is ALL flat. But it's flatter than the rockies, which is where WC got most of there SD45s. But Wisconsin Does have it's share of grades.

Thats whats called a contradiction. Also, I wasnt aware that either GN, CB&Q, NP and Frisco ran through the Rockies.....

The GN and the NP ran through the Rockies, and the Cascades for that matter. Also the CB&Q and Frisco units ran over the Rockies while owned by the BN.

Bert

Ahh thats right I was thinking about the MILW for some reason! My bad.

[Anonymous]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

Yea, coming into Neenah youve got a fairly steep hill, big enough Ive never got up it going more than 20, considering I charged it going 50. Onthe way down, got to use heavy dynamics with them heavy tank trains. 

I'm not saying Wisconsin is ALL flat. But it's flatter than the rockies, which is where WC got most of there SD45s. But Wisconsin Does have it's share of grades.

Thats whats called a contradiction. Also, I wasnt aware that either GN, CB&Q, NP and Frisco ran through the Rockies.....

The GN and the NP ran through the Rockies, and the Cascades for that matter. Also the CB&Q and Frisco units ran over the Rockies while owned by the BN.

Bert

Don't forget that the Frisco had a rough line through the Ozarks. Not quite the rockies but the profile was still difficult enough for it to be in the hands of a short line now.

[wctransfer]

9093 was scrapped very early in its career with the WC, and good thing because it was one ugly unit!

Alec

[Randy Stahl]

We had more than that , I don't think WC owned any of them , they were courtesy of the Oxford group . I don't remember the 9093 , I do recall the 8093 and others of that ilk . I just had a flashback and I recall the 8993 being moved to Chicago in about 1992.

 

[WCfan]

9093 was scrapped very early in its career with the WC, and good thing because it was one ugly unit!

Alec

I looked at the picture of it. Yeah it wasn't the prettiest.

[WCfan]

Here's the site where I found the WC 45 info. I'm not sure if they have all the SD45s. But How would I know. It also gives pictures of the units.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?mid=94&Page=1

[coborn35]

We we have finally aquired WC SD45 #7495, minus its generator.

We being the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and North Shore Scenic Railroad.

[wctransfer]

Max, is there still a sticker that resembles a stop sign on the conductors side door?

Anyway, the WC never really owned the 17XXs or the ex SP units. The WC had three ex SP units, those were 8939,8993,and the 9093.

Alec

[ShopsYardMaster]

The first of the Oxford engines were ex-SP 8939, 8993, and 9093, and
ex-NS 1701, 1718, 1724, and 1744-1746(also 1737 for parts). Then they
added, IIRC, 6498, 6553 and a few other SD-45's whose numbers I don't
recall. They also had the five higher numbered SDL-39's, which were
traded to WC for more SD-45's.

 Most of these SD-45s were leased to UP, NS or CSX during the late '80's/early '90's. 

Oxford later acquired 6 ex-MILW SD-40-2's, #6365-6370(SOO numbers), which were eventually sold to, I believe, KCS. 

[WCfan]

The old WC is not all that flat.  Lots of hills and valleys, a roller coaster if you will.  From Waukesha to Slinger northbound is mostly uphill, with a little down at Rugby.  That is the part I have run on, not sure of the rest of the line.

They were moving pretty big trains, and the SD45 were acquired cheaply.  GP40s might have cost the same, or more per unit, and SD40-2s weren't on the market like they are now.

Yea, coming into Neenah youve got a fairly steep hill, big enough Ive never got up it going more than 20, considering I charged it going 50. Onthe way down, got to use heavy dynamics with them heavy tank trains. 

I'm not saying Wisconsin is ALL flat. But it's flatter than the rockies, which is where WC got most of there SD45s. But Wisconsin Does have it's share of grades.

Thats whats called a contradiction. Also, I wasnt aware that either GN, CB&Q, NP and Frisco ran through the Rockies.....

The GN and the NP ran through the Rockies, and the Cascades for that matter. Also the CB&Q and Frisco units ran over the Rockies while owned by the BN.

Bert

Ahh thats right I was thinking about the MILW for some reason! My bad.

Milwaukee Road DID run through the Cascades. Here's a map. Look in the North West corner. (Milw is the red line) It did run through thr Moutains.

http://webhome.idirect.com/~helmutw/milwrd/media/mrmap73.jpg

[coborn35]

Oh well. Not my piece of the pie.

[BigJim]

Don't have time to scan five pages of text, but, there have been an awful lot of red & yellow SD45's coming thru here, heading for what looks like the scrap heap. Any thoughts?

[wctransfer]

Ya, that would be the CSIX ones. Does anyone plan on shooting them when they are scrapped? It would be nice, since no one in Chicago has shot the ones that are being sent away.

Alec

[BigJim]

Ya, they had CSIX hand spray painted on the side.

[Anonymous]

CN didn't like how much fuel they were consuming. They were also pretty old.

[WCfan]

Yes, they where old. But like wctransfer said, WC redid the locos so they weren't half bad.

I wonder how many SD45s are left? There can't be many. I wonder if in the next 15-20 years the SD45 will be nonexistent on most operating railroads.

[wjstix]

Why are the WC SD45s hated by CN. Almost all of them are scrapped. Is it because of the 20 cylinders, the turbo-charging, or is it because it doesn't fit in with CN standards? I heard that most railroads didn't want the SD45s, because they where running into problums. Is this true? Why are the SD45s so hated by other railroads?(Or am I wrong, and the Railroads loved them)

As it happens, I got a cab ride in an SD-45 last Friday - ex-GN 400 "Hustle Muscle" at the MN Transportation Museum. Apparently GN had a lot of trouble with the crankshafts when these engines were new, their solution was to make some changes to reduce the horsepower from 3600 to 3300. That seemed to significantly reduce the crankshaft issues.  

[coborn35]

Wjstix: Just a note, its not EX-GN, it is still painted GN.

WCFan: As will the SD40's, SD40-2's, SD38/SD38-2's etc.

[YoHo1975]

It's Ex-GN, because GN doesn't own it anymore. And of course it had been painted for BN.