PREORDER Athearn Genesis ATHG18278 HO F45 Locomotive, WSOR #1001

PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO

In By the early 1960’s the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) was at a big disadvantage. Their 567 engine, in use for over 20 years, had reached it’s peak at 2,500 horsepower in a turbocharged 16-cylinder version. EMD released a new 645 engine in 1966. The most powerful locomotive using this series of engine was the SD45, powered by a 20-cylinder turbocharged 645E engine producing 3600 horsepower. EMD then offered the V20 645E engine in the SDP45 in a standard hood configuration and longer frame to occomodate the steam generator needed for passenger service. 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.

Beginning operations in 1980 with a small fleet of SD9s, the WSOR has grown over the years to operate 837 miles of track over two divisions in Wisconsin. In 1992 the WSOR acquired three ex-BN F45s and repainted them into their attractive red-and-grey livery. Originally purchased to power trains from Horicon, WI to Chicago, IL, but were disliked for switching. They were then moved to Janesville, WI for another Chicago train over Soo Line trackage, but were never used as the SOO prohibited 6-axle power at the time. Ultimately, these units didn’t spending much time in Southern Wisconsin as they proved too heavy for the old Milwaukee Road rails the WSOR operated on. Instead of sitting idle, they were leased back to the Burlington Northern and then sold to the Montana Rail Link where they were eventually repainted after a few years.