I just recieved a couple of Burlington SD-45’s from Proto . I assumed when I ordered them they would be the red /white scheme CB&Q had used. These are painted with a black top, green with a wide white stripe down sides & numbered 525, 530 . So what year are we talking here ? late 70’s ? Thanks, Randy…
If they have a wide white stripe the is curved on one end.
That is a very rare version known as the “pistol grip” is was
one of several experimental paint schemes from the pre-merger
era very early 1970’s.
The CB&Q SD45’s(15 in the first order) were delivered in 1968-1969 in the black/white/green paint scheme. This was one of the ‘test’ paint schemes(a GP40 and nine U23C’s were delivered in this scheme as well). The C&S SD40’s were delivered in the ‘Redbird’ paint scheme that you expected. The BN merger happened in 1970, and the paint scheme used was the standard black/green with white graphics(5 GP38’s ordered by the SP&S were delivered in the new ‘merger green’). 2 E8A’s were also painted just before the merger with the white ‘hocky stick’, which became the ‘passenger’ paint scheme until Amtrak took over passenger operation in 1971…
A number of GN passenger cars wore several variations of the green/white paint scheme before the merger. The NP took delivery of wide vision cabooses and freight cars in ‘Cascade’ green. The CB&Q repainted a lot of boxcars and older wood cabooses in the merger green(without BN lettering before the actual merger. Your SD45 is a part of the ‘history’ leading up to the big merger!
Jim
Here is the production data on those Burlington SD45s from A J Kristopans webpage:
34551-34565 01/69 (7147)
Chicago Burlington & Quincy 516-530
One of the guys out at the Radcliff Model Railroad Association had a pair of these Proto Burlington
SD45s that he ran. They are sharp looking units.
Ed
Thanks for the info, Guys. The white on the sides do resemble a pistol grip . These look to be a great addition to my roster. Train world has these at a great price right now.
Some interesting things about the SD45’s
They had 60:17 gearing (77 MPH, and I believe it went to 83 MPH Overspeed), which was the same for most F7A’s, F7B’s, GP7’s, GP20’s, GP35’s, GP39-2’s, GP40-2’s, and SD35’s.
The CB&Q ordered triple-clasp trucks with cast iron brakes.
As then, the CB&Q ordered the Leslie S-2M airhorn located above the radiator fans.
There was no cross-thru from the pilots in the front and rear.
When new, the SD45’s rolled off with friction-bearing caps on each axle.
GP40-sized steps.
No Dual Sandlines (only the ones located within the steps.
When the units were retired by the BN years, they were returned to the leasing company in 02/84. Shortly afterwards, the SD45’s were sold to C&NW as 6576-6589.
Evergreen,
Some interesting things about the ‘Q’ SD45’s:
The gearing was indeed 60:17 - This became the ‘standard’ for BN fast merchandise engines. The maximum speed of most EMD engines built starting in the 60’s was raised by 6 mph due to the new traction motors like the D77 which could withstand faster rotational speed before they would ‘birdnest’ and become a ground short. If a F7 was geared with 60:17 gears, it would have a maximum speed of 77 mph. Some roads kept the old speed rating even on new engines. In the case of those ‘Q’ SD45’s, they had the ‘MAX 83 MPH’ stencil on the forward cab wall over the windows. I remember that the GP20’s and everything newer also were stenciled for 83 MPH. IIRC, a GP9 that I worked on was stenciled for 65 MPH, and I suspect the SD7/9’s were as well. Never worked on a covered wagon(only 4 were left on the roster in 1968, and 1 at merger time). The D77 traction motors could handle a lot more amps. Of course the maximum speed on the division for freight trains was 60 mph.
Triple clasp brakes were standard on the CB&Q and UP at the time. Cross-thru to trailing units was not allowed(though we did it at times to prevent stopping). The walkways could be very treacherous in ice/snow, The ‘friction’ bearing caps were just a different vendor design - they should be roller bearings,
IIRC. The SD45’s rode very smooth(did not have the forward ‘lope’ of the GP40’s before EMD rebuilt the frames). All in all, they were good locomotives.
Jim
The SD7’s and SD9’s were also geared for 65 MPH (and 65:12 for a 55 MPH slow drag). What I wonder about the SD45’s is the ‘mirrors’. They looked like pieces of glass.
The Q’s U23C’s had 74:18 gearing.
The scheme doesn’t just look like a pistol grip, maybe a Hockey Stick or a Bent Bar as well.
I’m not too sure, but I believe CB&Q #524 is the only survivor that hasn’t been rebuilt into a SD40M-2.
There were two schemes. The hockey-stick is what I consider was eventually used on passenger equipment. The pistol grip was a much wider white sash. I’ve only seen it on one of the great domes and on locomotives.
IIRC a few GN passenger cars were painted in a scheme where the white continued straight across the car. I think there was even one car in something like the “Big Sky Blue” scheme only using green instead of blue??