PREORDER Athearn ATH19092 N FP45 Locomotive, CB&Q #9997

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

EMD released a new 645 engine in 1966. The most powerful locomotive using this series of engine was the SD45. The EMD SDP45 was a good passenger locomotive, but to the Santa Fe Railway 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 units, 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. After sponsoring the development of the FP45 passenger locomotive, the Santa Fe requested a similar freight locomotive from Electro-Motive. Where the FP45 was an SDP45 wrapped in a full-width Cowl carbody, the new F45 was essentially an SD45 given the same treatment.

In 1967, passenger service in the US was a dim prospect. Most roads were losing money on the trains, and looking for any reason they could think of to abandon service. The Burlington, however, was in a unique position. Not only did they constitute one-third of the conglomerate that hosted the world-famous California Zephyr, but they also operated a substantial commuter service in the Chicago area. To that end, the Q ordered three EMD FP45 locomotives in 1967 (two to power the CZ, and one as a reserve). They reasoned that, should the CZ falter, these units could easily be adapted to commuter service. * * This is an alternate timeline; unfortunately, the CB&Q did not purchase EMD FP45 locomotives. However, we think that they would look great in passenger service hauling the California Zephyr from Chicago to Denver, or heading up a fleet of bi-levels in commuter service - with these Legendary Liveries units, you can.