Penn Central SD45 #6190 Joins The Fleet

Greeting All,

The N.Y.C.T.L. is now the proud owner and operator of Penn Central SD45 #6190. The Patti-O Paint Shop and Terminal Yard Engine Shop has released this Athearn BB SD45 just in time for the holiday season rush in merchandise and coal trains.

About two months ago fellow modeler and blogger John Bruce contacted me asking if I was interested in a certain item that would possibly enhance my fledgling commuter operations. I was thrilled and said yes. The box arrived with the item and some other goodies that included an undecorated Athearn BB SD45 from the mid 1970's according to John. John's generosity is much appreciated and the new SD45 has come to be known as Big John from the song Big Bad John by Jimmy Dean.     

What's an SD45 you ask? The Electro Motive Division of General Motors began production of a new diesel electric locomotive in 1965 powered by a 20 cylinder 645E3 primer mover that produced 3,600 horsepower and rode on C-C trucks. Big, burly, powerful the SD45 was unique in the EMD catalog for it's 20 cylinders and flared radiators. Designed for heavy hauls the SD45s could pull almost anything.

The Pennsylvania RR purchased 130 SD45s between 1966-1968 and the Penn Central added 5 more later in 1968.  The SD45 initially sold well but once in use the 20 cylinder engines crankshafts were known to flex and crack. This pretty much doomed sales but EMD's revised engine block to cure this became the basis of their ultra reliable 710G prime mover.

On the Penn Central, the combined 6,600 horsepower of an SD45 and an SD40 was quite popular as the motive power consist on many trains.

Using rattle can black paint, Microscale decals, Walthers Solvaset, Testor's Dullcote and some acrylic hobby paint for the yellow handrails I converted the undecorated SD45 into PC #6190. 

On the N.Y.C.T.L. SD45 #6190 fills a roster void and more importantly gives my BB SD40 #6282 a running mate. I painted the 6282 in 2012 but it's seen little run time. With the 6190 now on the roster that will change big time. 

Let's take a look;

1/87th scale John B rides the newly painted 6190 into Terminal Yard.

The 1/87th scale trainmen of the N.Y.C.T.L. were on hand for the unveiling.

Looking like a picture from the Penn Central Power book by R.J. Yanosey the 6190 is coupled to SD40 6282.

The SD45 -SD40's first assignment will be Unit Coal Train UAB-1 a coal drag out of Terminal Yard destined for Bethlehem Steel at Ashtabula Ohio. Their combined power should easily handle a thirty five car train and the grade behind Hudson Coal where the black diamonds originated.

The SD45 - SD40 have cleared out track 5 and are pulling track 6. 

The TY switcher couples PRR N6B #980796 to the coal train.The N6B was built, painted and lettered by John Bruce and was one of the train goodies in the box with the SD45. Only fitting it make the maiden voyage!

UAB-1 rolls thru Bedford NY easily pulling the thirty five car train.

SD45 Big John meets GP38 Sir Larry at Bedford Station! The 6282 coupled up to the 6190 has never been happier. This is one of those lash ups that just looks right to me.

This is a unit coal train! PC 100 ton hoppers follow a pair of KP&W 70 ton hoppers thru the switch to track #3.

The rear of UAB-1 features these Athearn BB 50 ton 2 bay coal hoppers. 

UAB-1 engines 6190 and 6282 easily muscle the coal train over the Cornelius Vanderbilt Bridge and thru the grade on the High Line.

Sounding like a Thin Lizzy song the boys are down at Dino's with this week's man of the hour 1/87th scale John B for all the 1/87th scale pizza and beer they can handle courtesy of N.Y.C.T.L. management.  

In continued testing the the BB SD45-SD40 combo easily handled coal trains up to 65 cars. There was some slight slipping on the 65 car train so I added a powered / dummy set of Athearn BB GP38-2s that I painted in 2014. I originally tried them at the rear of the train but that did not fare well. Here's a look at the four PC units on the head end of a 65 car coal train.

Unit Coal Train: USA-1 Hudson Coal via Terminal Yard to US                                              Steel at Ashtabula Ohio. 
Engines: 6190, 6282, 7692, 8024.
Loads: 65. Empties: 0
Caboose: 980796

Thanks John!

Thanks for reading and watching!!!