I’m looking at a CP Rail SD40-2 I just picked up and my Huron Central SD45’s and I don’t see any difference, both are P2K’s. Looking at pictures of the REAL loco’s as well has me thinking they are basically identical. Is that true or have I had one too many beers today, I’m on holidays so its OK, lol.
If ya can’t SEE any differences between an SD40-2 and an SD45 … yup, I’m thinking too many beers !!! [(-D]
Mark.
Well, a REALLY big diffrence is the Radiator. If you look on the SD45 you will notice right away that it is Flared.
Here’s a good Example. The lead loco is a SD40 (Which looks identical to a SD40-2) , and the one behind it is a SD45.
http://thomas766.fotopic.net/p2624534.html
Now there also could be some confusion, are you sure it’s a SD45? Or is it a SD45-2? The SD45-2s didn’t have the flared radiator.
The SD45-2s looked like this: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=192760&nseq=10 Again if you look at the rear the radiator is not flared, which can make the SD45-2 and SD40-2 look almost alike. But if you have stood next to a SD45/45-2, you can really FEEL the diffrence. [(-D]
BTW: Could you take some pictures of the locomotive, that would help too.
Far too many beers if you can’t tell the primary difference - a 16 cylinder engine in a 40-2 versus the 20 cylinder engine in the SD45. Can’t you tell by the difference in the length of the long hoods. The 40-2 has a characteristic rear ‘porch’ because of the shortened long hood.
Boy, I guess we need to take this question into consideration when judging the credibility of your responses to other posts. Add to this the fact that P2K doesn’t make a SD40-2, nor SD45-2 as in an earlier post, nor even a SD40. Kato yes, P2K No.
jktrains
SD45 develops 3600 max HP
SD40-2 develops 3000 max HP
All the dash 2 models have updated modular electronics cards which make replacement of components faster and easier.
The SD40-2 was the first to use Microprocessors ( can’t see that can we ), they were built between 1968 and 1970, 2,300 hp 54 units built for first generation.
The SD45 was built between 1965 and 1971, 3,600 hp, 1,260 units built.
SD stood for Special Duty
There’s quite a difference but here is a quick glance:
SD45 - produced circa mid 1960s.
Horsepower: 3,600
Catalog fuel tank size: 4,000
Engine: 20 cylinder EMD 645 series (20-645E)
Length: 65 feet 8 inches
Special identifying feature: The famous “flared” radiators. From the back they form a letter “V”
SD40-2: First produced circa 1972
Horsepower: 3,000
Catalog Fuel tank: 3,200 gallons
Engine: 16 cylinder EMD 645 series (16-645E3)
Length: 68 feet, 10 inches
Special identifying feature: Long back “Porch”. (Kind of hard to miss on these monsters!)
EMD was very practical and simply used the same chassis for the SD40-2 and SD45-2. Since the SD40-2 housed a 16 cylinder engine instead of the 45-2’s 20 cylinder diesel, the hood was shorter in length than the 45-2, which resulted in that famous “porch” which engine crews liked.
If you put your locomotives next to each other on a flat surface and line up either the front step ladders or rear step ladders, you should see a very small difference in length. 3 feet in HO is not much at all.
As the others have said, I think that would be more than one beer too many. In my opinion those are two of the more distintive EMD hood units. The SD45 with the flare radiators on the rear and the SD40-2 with that huge porch over the rear truck.
Now if you would have said an SD40 and an SD45-2 then I would understand the confusion. I have a hard time telling those two apart.
I can relate to your question. Yes there is a difference. I just looked at my P2K Huron Central SD45 and compared it to my Kato Algoma central SD40-2. The front hoods are different lengths and the bodies are different widths when looking from above. But , I agree there isn’t a major difference other than that. Mind you I’m not one of those rivet counters. I say enjoy what you have.
Tom
WRONG !!!
The SD40-2 (and the rest of the Dash 2 line) was introduced in 1972 - BEFORE microprocessors. They had modular electrical controls as mentioned in a post near the top of this. The SD40-2 was rated at 3000 hp, produced by a turbocharged two stroke V16 diesel with 645 cubic inches per cylinder.
2300hp would be the SD39/39-2 (and similar GP) which had rather low production. They had turbocharged V12. The 2000hp SD38/38-2 (" GP) had a supercharged V16.
The 3600hp SD45/45-2 had turbocharged V20 engines.
The SD40-2 and SD45-2 were replaced in the EMD catalogue by the SD50, with a 3500hp (later 3600hp) V16, still with 645 cubic inches per cylinder. The 50 sereis (GP49/50 SD50) were the first production EMD diesel locomotives for the NA frieght locomotive market to have microprocessor based controls.
There is a HUGE difference between the SD40-2 and SD45. Like most of us said they have the flared radiator with is VERY noticeable.
(Sorry is that sounded mean in any way. Didn’t intend a grouchy voice)
Hi there,
There are a lot of differences between the SD45 and SD40-2. In the past CP was looking for power so they purchased some SD45’s and converted them to SD40-2’s mechanically. The new designation turned out to be SD40-2M but from a distance they appear as being SD45’s.
Here is a location of a web site with an SD40-2M: http://www.trainweb.org/galt-stn/cproster/locomotive/5400s/cp5494.htm
Hope this helps.
Frank
Let’s just make that a clickable link.
I remember reading an article in Trains (must have been early Seventies) in which the SD40 series was described as a “kid wearing gym shoes”. That description stuck with me and its the feet-too-big-for-the-body idea that helps me tell the difference, especially with the unflared radiators on some of the 45 series.
Chris
They use the same cab and that’s about it.
The SD40-2 is longer than the older SD45 also. Try looking at two real ones.
Length coupler
SD40-2 |
68’ 10" |
64’ 8" |
43’ 6" |
|---|---|---|---|
SD40T-2 |
70’ 8" (1) |
66’ 6" |
45’ 5" (1) |
SD45 (4) |
65’ 9 1/2" |
61’ 7 1/2" |
40’ |
Cheers
From “Diesel Locomotives: the First 50 Years”, Kalmbach Publishing, ISBN# 0-89024-258-5, page 75, “The SD38, SD40, SDP40, and SD45 ride on the same frame…”. More SD45’s were built than SD40’s (but not including the -2 series) (there were 1260 versus 1227, respectively). Other spotting features “The radiator roof fans are a distinguishing feature. The SD38 has 2 large fans, the others have 3. The outward slanting radiators of the SD45 and SDP45 identify these models.” “The SDP45 requires a longer frame than the SD45 to accomodate a steam generator at the rear of the long hood” (page 79).
Note that this book does not cover any of the “-2” series locomotives, it cuts off around 1972 or so.
Brad
Nigel, go to page 111 of the Rail Power, then tell me what you read!! " EMD’s Dash 2 series, starting with the SD40-2, in 1972, introduced microprocessors. I know they were available because I was working in a semiconductor Mfg plant at that time MAKING those microprocessors. I know my eyes are getting older at age 68, but this is what I read on that page, correct me if I am wrong.
grayfox1119
Don’t feel bad , I was working with micro-processors in the late sixties in the service. Still classified as of this time I guess. You never hear about it. Did research with signal processing. So I too know that processors were available then.
Well, it could be the beer or the nomenclature. As mentioned there have been several re-build projects involving the SD45-2’s. The UP had a large re-build program and basically took SD45-2’s and converted them to SD40-2’s(2-m, 2-R). Outwardly it is very hard to distinguish the two, mostly radiator differences.
At first I thought the UP was running a lot of 45-2’s but no, they were all converts. The UP does hve one SD45-2, aquired this year in a merger (LTEX).
Tilden
I agree. They are very hard to distinguish.
Here is a picture of the rear end of a P2K SD45 I have.
