Pnwr has 3 that I know of. Only one, 3051 is ex KCS nee-CNW and is in KCS paint. 3052 and 3053 are ex SP and have the SP telltales. At least 3052 spent time on Buffalo and Pittsburgh and Illinois Midland before moving back "home". Also, they were brought into the system as SD45R (SP GRIP rebuild) retaining the v20. They were converted some time later. Original numbers in the 36xx range. Moved to305x when converted.
If I understand, that leaves only a small handle of "true" SD45 (ie, not SD40-2 converted) still commercially running in all north America, am I wrong? Dom
The North Shore Transportation Museum in Duluth, MN has NP SD45 #3617 (still with 20 cyl.) and it should be up and running soon. The GNHS owns GN SD45 #400 (Hustle Muscle, still with 20 cyl.).
Neatest diesel ever created, in my opinion. And to think, after 50 or almost 50 years, some are still running. It's those flared radiators that did it. Doug
Tacoma Rail has one, basically an SD40-2 in the SD45 carbody, that they use along with an SD40 up the hill to South Tacoma.
There's quite a few small business's up the hill towards Frederickson, Boeing has a plant too. I've seen as much as 25 car trains go up the 3.75% Gulch, so they need power! They also acquired two SD70ACe's as well, for the "Mountain Div" as they call it.
Just a quick note- While there is 3.75%, it is not the entire grade. Just a short stretch. If I recall the profile, something like a hump in the hill itself.
Yes, short, maybe a half mile or so, but starting at the base of a curve, and with the rainy weather and leaves in the Fall and all, it can be very treacherous-both up AND down hill!!
