Spectrum Diesel EMD SD45 - Powered DCC-Ready

• In real life this EMD SD45
  is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1965 and December 1971. Power was provided by an EMD 645E3 20-cylinder engine which generated 3600 horsepower (2.7 MW). This locomotive shared the same common frame with the EMD SD38, EMD SD39, EMD SD40, and EMD SDP40.
  
  1260 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads. Following this, the SD45-2 was released as its upgraded replacement. Additional models, like the SD45T-2, featuring the Tunnel Motor design, were released.
  
  The folly of the SD45, however was its fuel-guzzling 20-cylinder diesel engine. Reliability wasn't as good as the railroads that owned them hoped, due to the 20 cylinder prime mover's propensity to break its own crankshaft, and even though it created an extra 600 horsepower (450 kW) from the 16-645 in the SD40-2, some railroads felt it just wasn't worth it, even after EMD improved the crankshaft design. Buyers included the Southern Pacific, Santa Fe and others. Many SD45s can still be found, either rebuilt with 16-cylinder 645s, operating for lease companies, and running under Montana Rail Link. Wisconsin Central used to roster a large fleet of SD45s but CN has recently retired all of their fleet, with mass scrapings.

•  EMD SD45
  Power type Diesel-electric
  Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
  Model SD45
  Build date December 1965 – December 1971
  Total production 1,260
  AAR wheel arr. C-C
  Gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)
  Prime mover EMD 645E3
  Cylinders 20
  Power output 3,600 hp (2.7 MW)
  Disposition Some still in service, but becoming very rare as of early 2007