EMD FP45
Encyclopedia
The EMD FP45 is a cowl unit
type of C-C diesel locomotive
produced in the United States
by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. It was produced beginning in 1967 at the request of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
, which did not want its prestigious Super Chief
and other passenger trains pulled by freight style hood unit
locomotives, which have external walkways. The Santa Fe
preferred a cowl unit
.
was a good passenger locomotive, but to the Santa Fe
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 unit
s, 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. Final drive gear ratio
for passenger service was 59:18.
purchased nine of the locomotives (road numbers 100 through 108), and the Milwaukee Road bought five for its passenger service (road numbers 1 through 5). Reportedly, Illinois Central Railroad
was considering an order for five FP45s as well (EMD order #5742, serial #s 34952-34956), but cancelled it. Such low production was feasible and profitable for EMD since the locomotive was fundamentally just a re-clothed SDP45
. Power, as in the SDP45
, was from a V20
645E3 engine (or prime mover
) developing 3600 hp.
took over passenger service, the FP45s were reassigned to fast freight service, especially Santa Fe
's Super C
high-speed intermodal
run. They were soon repainted from their original red and silver Warbonnet scheme to the standard blue and yellow freight scheme when the steam generators
were removed and they were permanently assigned to the freight pool. In June, 1989 two of the units, #5992 and #5998, were repainted once more in a modified version of the Warbonnet scheme (this time, displaying Santa Fe in large, red letters "billboard"–style across the side) and re–designated as #101 and #102. The units reentered service on July 4 as part of the new "Super Fleet" — the first Santa Fe
units to be so decorated for freight service. The six remaining units were thereafter similarly repainted and renumbered (to 90-93, 95-98, the engine that would have been #94 having been wrecked on California
's Cajon Pass
and retired in 1994), and remained in this scheme (some re–lettered BNSF
after the merger) until their retirement in the late 1990s, after some 30 years of service. Unit 91 was sold to the Wisconsin Central in January 1995, becoming their #6652.
, was sold in greater numbers (86) to the Santa Fe, the Great Northern Railway, and the Burlington Northern Railroad
. Amtrak
bought a similar passenger locomotive based on the 3000 hp SD40-2
, the SDP40F
. At least one F45
remains in service on the Montana Rail Link in the northern United States as of January 2008, and it sees regular freight service on the line.
Cowl unit
A cowl unit is a body style of diesel locomotive. The terminology is a North American one, though similar locomotives exist elsewhere. A cowl unit is one with full-width enclosing bodywork, similar to the cab unit style of earlier locomotives, but unlike the cab unit style, the bodywork is merely...
type of C-C diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
produced in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. It was produced beginning in 1967 at the request of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
, which did not want its prestigious Super Chief
Super Chief
The Super Chief was one of the named passenger trains and the flagship of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was often referred to as "The Train of the Stars" because of the many celebrities who traveled on the streamliner between Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California.The Super...
and other passenger trains pulled by freight style hood unit
Hood unit
A hood unit, in railroad terminology, is a body style for diesel and electric locomotives. On a hood unit, the body of the locomotive is less than full-width for most of the locomotive's length, with walkways on the outside of the locomotive. In contrast, a cab unit has a full-width carbody for...
locomotives, which have external walkways. The Santa Fe
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
preferred a cowl unit
Cowl unit
A cowl unit is a body style of diesel locomotive. The terminology is a North American one, though similar locomotives exist elsewhere. A cowl unit is one with full-width enclosing bodywork, similar to the cab unit style of earlier locomotives, but unlike the cab unit style, the bodywork is merely...
.
History and development
The EMD SDP45EMD SDP45
The EMD SDP45 was a six-axle, C-C, diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois. It was fundamentally a passenger-hauling version of the SD45 on a stretched locomotive frame and with an extended, squared-off long hood at the rear, aft of the radiators,...
was a good passenger locomotive, but to the Santa Fe
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
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 unit
Cab unit
A cab unit and a carbody unit are body styles of locomotives in railroad terminology. While closely related, they are not exactly the same....
s, 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. Final drive gear ratio
Gear ratio
The gear ratio of a gear train is the ratio of the angular velocity of the input gear to the angular velocity of the output gear, also known as the speed ratio of the gear train. The gear ratio can be computed directly from the numbers of teeth of the various gears that engage to form the gear...
for passenger service was 59:18.
Orders
The Santa FeAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
purchased nine of the locomotives (road numbers 100 through 108), and the Milwaukee Road bought five for its passenger service (road numbers 1 through 5). Reportedly, Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
was considering an order for five FP45s as well (EMD order #5742, serial #s 34952-34956), but cancelled it. Such low production was feasible and profitable for EMD since the locomotive was fundamentally just a re-clothed SDP45
EMD SDP45
The EMD SDP45 was a six-axle, C-C, diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois. It was fundamentally a passenger-hauling version of the SD45 on a stretched locomotive frame and with an extended, squared-off long hood at the rear, aft of the radiators,...
. Power, as in the SDP45
EMD SDP45
The EMD SDP45 was a six-axle, C-C, diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois. It was fundamentally a passenger-hauling version of the SD45 on a stretched locomotive frame and with an extended, squared-off long hood at the rear, aft of the radiators,...
, was from a V20
V20 engine
A V20 engine is a V engine with 20 cylinders.Engines of this number of cylinders are not common in automobiles, but this configuration is used in some large diesel engines....
645E3 engine (or prime mover
Prime mover (locomotive)
In engineering, a prime mover is an engine that converts fuel to useful work. In locomotives, the prime mover is thus the source of power for its propulsion. The term is generally used when discussing any locomotive powered by an internal combustion engine...
) developing 3600 hp.
Liveries
When AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
took over passenger service, the FP45s were reassigned to fast freight service, especially Santa Fe
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
's Super C
Super C (freight train)
The Super C was a premium, high-speed intermodal freight train operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from 1968 to 1976. Dubbed the "World's Fastest Freight Train," the all-TOFC and container train's route ran from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California on a 40-hour schedule.-...
high-speed intermodal
Intermodal freight transport
Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation , without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. The method reduces cargo handling, and so improves security, reduces damages and...
run. They were soon repainted from their original red and silver Warbonnet scheme to the standard blue and yellow freight scheme when the steam generators
Steam generator (railroad)
Steam generator is the term used to describe a type of boiler used to produce steam for climate control and potable water heating in railroad passenger cars...
were removed and they were permanently assigned to the freight pool. In June, 1989 two of the units, #5992 and #5998, were repainted once more in a modified version of the Warbonnet scheme (this time, displaying Santa Fe in large, red letters "billboard"–style across the side) and re–designated as #101 and #102. The units reentered service on July 4 as part of the new "Super Fleet" — the first Santa Fe
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
units to be so decorated for freight service. The six remaining units were thereafter similarly repainted and renumbered (to 90-93, 95-98, the engine that would have been #94 having been wrecked on California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Cajon Pass
Cajon Pass
Cajon Pass is a moderate-elevation mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. It was created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault...
and retired in 1994), and remained in this scheme (some re–lettered BNSF
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
after the merger) until their retirement in the late 1990s, after some 30 years of service. Unit 91 was sold to the Wisconsin Central in January 1995, becoming their #6652.
Derivatives
A freight-only derivative, the EMD F45EMD F45
An EMD F45 is a C-C cowled diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1968 and 1971. Power was provided by an EMD 645E3 20-cylinder engine which generated .-Design:...
, was sold in greater numbers (86) to the Santa Fe, the Great Northern Railway, and the Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
. Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
bought a similar passenger locomotive based on the 3000 hp SD40-2
EMD SD40-2
The EMD SD40-2 is a C-C locomotive produced by EMD from 1972 to 1989.The SD40-2 was first introduced in January 1972 as the mid-range offering in EMD's six-axle "Dash-2" series, competing against the GE U30C and the MLW M630...
, the SDP40F
EMD SDP40F
The EMD SDP40F was a 6-axle Diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division from 1973 for Amtrak service. Power was provided by an EMD 645E3 16-cylinder turbocharged Diesel engine, which generated 3000 tractive horsepower .-Origins:The SDP40F was the first locomotive...
. At least one F45
EMD F45
An EMD F45 is a C-C cowled diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1968 and 1971. Power was provided by an EMD 645E3 20-cylinder engine which generated .-Design:...
remains in service on the Montana Rail Link in the northern United States as of January 2008, and it sees regular freight service on the line.
Preservation
Those that were not wrecked in service, or sold to other railroads, are on display in museums:- Santa Fe 90: was donated to the Oklahoma Railway MuseumOklahoma Railway MuseumThe Oklahoma Railway Museum is a railroad museum located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.-Location:The museum is located at 3400 Northeast Grand Boulevard and is situated in a former railroad depot.-Operations:...
in Oklahoma CityOklahoma cityOklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
in a non-operational state. #90 was the last FP45 donated by the Santa Fe and had resided on a RIP trackRIP trackA RIP track is a designated track or tracks in a rail yard where locomotives and/or railroad cars are set out for minor repairs without removing the units from service, sometimes without even removing a freight load from the car. In some yards, a RIP track may be used for staging locomotives or...
for two years before being delivered to the museum. - Santa Fe 92: was donated to the Illinois Railway MuseumIllinois Railway MuseumThe Illinois Railway Museum is the largest railroad museum in the United States and is located in Union, Illinois, northwest of Chicago...
in Union, IllinoisUnion, IllinoisUnion is a village in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 580 at the 2010 census, up from 576 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Union is located at ....
. - Santa Fe 93: preserved at the Great Plains Transportation MuseumGreat Plains Transportation MuseumThe Great Plains Transportation Museum is a railroad museum in Wichita, Kansas.-Collection:The museum's collection includes 6 locomotives and several pieces of rolling stock used on freight and passenger trains....
in Wichita, KansasWichita, KansasWichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. - Santa Fe 95: preserved at the Western America Railroad MuseumWestern America Railroad MuseumThe Western America Railroad Museum is a railroad museum located in Barstow, California.The museum collects, preserves and shares the history of railroading in the Pacific Southwest...
in Barstow, CaliforniaBarstow, CaliforniaBarstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
. - Santa Fe 97: preserved at the Museum of the American RailroadMuseum of the American RailroadThe Museum of the American Railroad, formerly known as the Age of Steam Railroad Museum, is located at 1105 Washington Street in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas. The museum has a large collection of steam, diesel and passenger railroad equipment...
in Dallas, TexasDallas, TexasDallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. - Santa Fe 98ATSF 98ATSF 98 is a 1967 General Motors Electro-Motive Division FP45 diesel locomotive once owned by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and is today on permanent, operational display at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, California USA....
: was donated in operating condition less the cab's air conditioner to the Orange Empire Railway MuseumOrange Empire Railway MuseumThe Orange Empire Railway Museum , 2201 South "A" Street, Perris, California, is a railroad museum founded in 1956 at the Pinacate Station as the "Orange Empire Trolley Museum." The museum also operates a heritage railroad on the museum grounds.-Background:The collection focuses on Southern...
at Perris, CaliforniaPerris, CaliforniaPerris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
. It is still used for demonstration runs, though infrequently because of its sheer size and slightly low compression in two cylinders. This historic locomotive has the distinction of being the last passenger locomotive ever purchased by the Santa Fe. This locomotive can be rented and operated by the railroad enthusiast.
External links
- Additional photos, specifications and information on the surviving FP45 locomotives-by Jim Fuhrman
- Santa Fe 92 specifications as preserved at IRM
- Preservation project for Santa Fe FP-45 93 At the Great Plains Transportation Museum.