© trainspo.comEMD SD45
Built by EMD
Overview of the EMD SD45
Discover the powerful EMD SD45 diesel locomotive, a true workhorse of North American railroads.
Built between 1965 and 1971, the SD45 is known for its impressive 2680 kW power output, driven by its EMD 20-645E3 prime mover.
This iconic locomotive, with its 1435 mm gauge and Co'Co' wheel arrangement, served a vast array of prominent railway companies across the United States.
Its legacy includes service with Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, Southern Pacific, and Union Pacific, among many others.
The SD45 model played a significant role in freight transportation for decades, becoming a recognizable symbol of rail power.
EMD SD45 technical specifications
| Value | Imperial / US | |
|---|---|---|
| Series | SD45 | |
| Built by | EMD · 1965–19711,260 units | |
| Power output | 2,680 kW3,594 hp | |
| Prime mover | EMD 20-645E3 | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mmStandard gauge4 ft 8½ in | |
| UIC axle arrangement | Co'Co' |
Operators of the EMD SD45
Railway companies that have operated the SD45, with the class designation used by each of them.
| Operator | Class | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | ATSF SD45 | United States |
| Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad | BPRR SD45M | United States |
| Burlington Northern | BN SD45 | United States |
| Chicago and North Western Transportation Company | CNW SD45 | United States |
| Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad | DRGW SD45 | United States |
| Erie Lackawanna | EL SD45 | United States |
| Illinois Central Gulf | ICG SD45 | United States |
| New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway | NYSW SD45 | United States |
| Norfolk and Western Railway | NW SD45 | United States |
| Seaboard Coast Line Railroad | SCL SD45 | United States |
| Seaboard System Railroad | SBD SD45 | United States |
| Southern Pacific Transportation Company | SP SD45 | United States |
| Southern Railway | SOU SD45 | United States |
| St. Louis & San Francisco Railway (Frisco) | SLSF SD45 | United States |
| Union Pacific Railroad | UP SD45 | United States |
| Wisconsin Central Ltd. | WC SD45 | United States |
EMD SD45 photos
Photos © their respective authors, shared on trainspo.com. They may show liveries or variants that differ from the specifications above.
More diesel locomotives from EMD

EMD
G16
Diesel locomotive
1965–1973 · 120 km/h

EMD
SD45u
Diesel locomotive
1965–1971 · 2,680 kW

EMD
FP45
Diesel locomotive
1967–1968 · 2,680 kW

EMD
GP38M
Diesel locomotive
1966–1971

EMD
SD35
Diesel locomotive
1964–1966

EMD
SD40
Diesel locomotive
1966–1972

EMD
SDP45
Diesel locomotive
1967–1970 · 2,680 kW

EMD
GP49
Diesel locomotive
2,800 kW







