SD45-T Loco Model????

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello All,

I just purchaced a HO locomotive shell (Of what I had thought was a Athearn SD40P shell) recently off eBay. I got it in the mail yesterday, and went to put it on my SD45/SD40P chassis, and saw it didn’t fit. The shell was too long. Then to make sure I had the right chassis, I held it up to a SD40P shell I already have, and found the shell I have to be about 1 1/2 inches longer than the SD40P.

I went on the internet, and found out that the shell is of a SD45-T (tunnel motor), very similar to the one that Athearn RTR currently produces. I know that Athearn never made the SD45-T in kits, as they never had the molds for one.

Did Rail Power Products produce this model? I know that Athearn bought RPP, and makes quite a bit of their models. Does anybody know where I can buy a chassis for this model? The shell didn’t even pass the motor while I was going to put it on the shell on, so was there a special motor? If I can’t get a motor, I will make it a dummy so my Athearn SD38’s (ex-RPP models) can drag them along.

I thought that it might be possible (If I can’t get a chassis) to cut up a Athearn frame to make it longer, so I can at least have a dummy.

Help!

Phil

2

The SD45T-2 has exactly the same length frame as the SD40T-2. You can buy an SD40T-2 mechanism from Athearn, part number #45042. An SD45T-2 shell should fit on it.

Good luck.

3

It is more likely that the shell is a SD40T-2 shell rather than a SD45T-2. Count the doors above the radiator intakes. If there are two, then it is a SD40T-2. If there are three, then it is a SD45T-2.

RPP never made a shell for either tunnel motor.

4

You’re right!

I just checked out a photo of a SD40T-2, and it looks exactally like it. The only difference I found between the SD45T-2 model and the SD40T-2 was that mine had a lot of room in front of the nose. The SD40T-2 has that.

This could be considered the “newest” engine that I have. I don’t have any engines that were produced after the 70’s now…

Thanks for your help.

Phil