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Listed as a new in AHM catalogs of the early/mid
'70s, the EMD FP-45 stayed in the company's roster through the early '80s after arriving on the scene in mid 1977.
The
FP-45 models found on this page differ from those found on the neighboring page under the FP-45C -Lima heading. The
Lima-made FP-45s were the first sold by AHM and did not remain in the catalog terribly long. By the mid '70s, AHM had
apparently switched from the Lima-Italian FP-45 to the Mehano Yugoslovian-made FP-45 seen here.
This second FP-45 model is distringuished from the Lima FP-45 by the open front and rear pilots, which
are attached to the shell and not the trucks in this example. This FP-45 also has steps included on the shell, not cast
on the trucks, coming down from the cab.
At its introduction in the middle of 1977, the retail price for
this model was $17.98. Non-powered examples originally sold for $7.98. Non-powered examples are noted in AHM's
stock numbering with a "D" added to the end of the number. The 1980 AHM Catalog lists this model with a $24.98 suggested
retail price.
Prior to joining the AHM line, this FP-45 was found in the Life-Like catalog in the early '70s.
Life-Like's diesel roster in their early days included a number of Yugoslovian made locos: Alco Century 628 and
415, plus this EMD FP45 model. You may click on the image of the Life-Like B&O FP45 above for further information.
Since this version of the FP45 disappeared from AHM's line and the company itself vanished from the
market in the late '80s, this European made FP45 has survived. IHC (International Hobby Corp.) recently imported
a run of the Mehano produced FP45 diesels, though they are currently not available from IHC. If you click on the Santa
Fe FP45 below, you'll go to Mehano's site that details this loco. Mehano has made improvements to this model, since
its early '70s debut. The current Mehano FP45 diesels include all-wheel drive with a revised chassis and trucks.
The model also appears to have lost the pair of holes along the body side that allowed the underframe to snap into the shell.
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