Can someone tell me what trucks are on this SP SP45?

I posted this link on your other DS45 thread and just now saw this thread so here it is again:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_...005%202010-12-25.JPG

Note the as-delivered "L-shaped" engineer's cab front window.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

I can't figure out why Atlas put these different side frames on this model. I need to find out more about the prototype.

When I search for pictures of the real engine, the pictures show a different truck design.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/new-atlas-sd45

It has been suggested that they are GE trucks!

No, they are NOT "GE trucks", but for some odd reason the journal boxes have been changed from the original EMD JMRA oil lubricated Hyatt roller bearing boxes to the Timken cartridge type roller bearings. Also the two air brake cylinders per side would not have been original to an SP SD45. Definitely something odd about those trucks, especially for an SP unit.

I thought they were an early EMD version.

Joe,

The truck side frames are EMD and not GE.  The ones on your locomotive are closer to HT-C trucks which replaced the older Flexcoil design.  Here some nice images from another modeling site of HT-C trucks. The HT-C truck was developed in 1970-1971 and was standard on dash-2 six axle EMD trucks like the SD40-2, SD45-2, or the much maligned SDP40F.

Your SD45 should have Flexcoil trucks.  SP did have the SD45X model with was a test bed for the HT-C truck.  See this link for a photo.  However, you can also see, this not nearly a stock SD45.

The stock SP SD45 is shown here with the Flexcoil trucks.  The good news for you is that if Atlas is using the same truck block as MTH, you can swap the side frames out from say a Railking FP45 to get something closer to the prototype.  I am planning on going the other direction and putting HT-C side frames on my two MTH Amtrak FP45s as a first step to getting them closer to the SDP40Fs they are meant to represent.

I saw your other post and didn't want to comment as I didn't want to start a flame war unnecessarily.  I hope you are able to get the final results you are looking for as that old MTH tooling that dates back to Weaver with a true fixed pilot in two-rail is not too bad looking.  With the correct side frames, I think you have a pretty credible SD45. Best of luck!

@Engineer-Joe, I am in the same boat as you as I have the sister unit to your SD45, #8614, also from Beth at PDT. I have emailed the Atlas customer service department to see what info they can provide.

@GG1 4877 Interestingly, Atlas used the correct truck side frames for other locomotives in this run as can be seen on this Norfolk & Western unit.