Review | Broadway Limited - EMD SD45

Hello again folks, I'm back with another model review today!

This one is something special - with Independence Day just a couple days past, I thought a locomotive based on that would be just perfect.

So without further ado, let's get started!

EMD SD45 History: The SD45 was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors from December of 1965 until December of 1971, and during this six year period 1,260 total units would be built.

They were powered by an EMD 20-645E3 V20 prime mover, which produced 3,600hp and powered two, three axle trucks (C-C arrangement) through an EMD AR10B generator.

During this period railroads wanted more horsepower, and the SD45 was the next step up from the SD40, which had 3,000hp. This power came at a cost, however: early examples were plagued by crankshaft failures, which was caused by engine block flex, though this issue would be rectified by EMD.

That said, many railroads would roster SD45s and get years of service from them, though they would not have the longevity of their less powerful SD40 kin.

By the late 90’s most, if not all, railroads that originally purchased the SD45 had retired them, even though some had been rebuilt over the years. The SD45 would have limited success on the used locomotive market, with only a few smaller RRs rostering them. Many would be either scrapped or rebuilt with the more reliable V16 16-645E3 prime mover, making them an SD40 mechanically.

Several still exist, in various conditions – a very small number still retain the V20 and remain in service, a few are preserved both running and non-running, and some still operate but were repowered with the V16.

NW 1776 History: Norfolk & Western 1776 was built in February of 1970, and was turned out in standard N&W paint, which was a nice dark blue.

With the Bicentennial celebrations ramping up, N&W would join many other railroads in painting equipment to celebrate, and this included the appropriately numbered 1776, which in 1974 received a spectacular livery based on the early American flag.

While in this scheme it would spend time on display in Chicago along with Bicentennial themed locomotives from many other RRs, including Burlington Northern, ATSF, Milwaukee Road, Illinois Central Gulf, Seaboard Coast Line, and several others.

It wasn’t all fun and games for 1776 though, as it still handled regular freight duties, as well as some passenger service on N&W’s Chicago commuter services, which they’d inherited from Wabash.

It would sport this livery until being repainted by 1981 into N&W’s then standard black.

By 1990 it was retired and stripped of prime mover, generator, and traction motors, and relegated to the deadline. However, thankfully, it would be repainted into the Bicentennial scheme and donated to the Virginia Museum of Transportation for display, where it remains today. It was displayed uncovered for years, but in March of 2012 Norfolk Southern repainted 1776 in their Chattanooga paint shop, and after its return to the VMT, it has been displayed under a roof.

Box info.

And NW 1776, in all her patriotic glory.

I've always thought the whole idea of RRs painting equipment for the Bicentennial in 1976 was a top-notch deal.

It really produced some great schemes, that for the most part were only seen on one locomotive, and for only a couple years - though some remained painted this way for some time. And some schemes weren't that great, but it's the thought that counts.

Notice the little gold "F" next to the last handrail stanchion - this signifies the front of the locomotive, so 1776 was originally set up for long-hood-forward operation, but was painted in a scheme more appropriate for short-hood-forward operation, which appears to be how it most often ran. NW and Southern really hung on to that LHF stuff until the end; it even carried over into NS after the merger, as they bought units set up that way.

The high hood really makes this scheme. A fairly simple scheme, really, but one of the best of the era, in my opinion.

This scheme would not have aged well, however. The red, and especially the white, would have started looking rough pretty quickly - like any bright colors do on locomotives. Regular washing and touchups would help, of course, but that's definitely not something a Class 1 is going to do, for the most part.

Good: I'm used to BLI stuff being of high quality, and this one fit the bill. The paint, which was very important to this model, looked excellent. All the lettering and stickers looked nice, as well. The various small details were well made and installed. The overall build quality was very good, and the lights were particularly impressive - the headlights, number boards, and class lights all have seperate controls, and they all worked and looked very nice. The sounds were also spot on, clear and crisp, with a good range - no shrillness or rattling. It operates very nicely, all around, too. Weight is good, too - a solid 1lb 1.4oz.

Bad: A couple small instances of excess glue where seperate detail parts were installed, and some minor molding issues on the fuel tank. Minor issues, barely noticeable.

Overall: A really great model of a really cool prototype. This is actually the second BLI SD45 I've had and reviewed, and both were of great quality, as I'm used to from them. I'd definitely recommend this one!

As always, thanks for looking!