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Spotting Features of the Ten 1967 SD45's...
The initial 10 examples on the Rio Grande roster were purchased from EMD in January/February 1967.
These SD45's were numbered 5315-5324. The Rio Grande SD45's #5315-5324 were built under EMD order #7951.
The units featured 62:15 gearing and weighed 389,380 pounds. The later D&RGW SD-45 models weighed
389,294 pounds; though I do not see any reference for the difference.
The first Rio Grande SD45 is #5315 and it arrives with ten siblings to the roster in early 1967. This
1984 Joe Munson pic shows the 5315 dressed in its "large billboard" scheme, which was applied to the unit in October 1974.
This image of #5316, dated 1995, shows that unit never received
Rio Grande's "large billboard" lettering during its life. The unit features a rear brake wheel; low brake cylindars
on its trucks; cab shade; snow plow; and rather surprisingly for the date what appears to be a long out of use ACI plaque
on the step cover coming down the rear of the cab.
Above is #5318 awaiting departure from Colorado Springs in 1984 (Joe Munson photo). The lease plate
is mounted on the frame between the last pair of stanchions on the fireman's side of the unit. A re-rail frog appears is
hanging above the rear truck on the fireman's side. Also note the 3-panel radiator grilles. This D&RGW SD45
was off the roster to Morrison-Knudsen in February 1994 and never was given the "large billboard" scheme.
Take special note of 5318's trucks. Wasn't it said that all the first order SD45 models featured the
low-brakes? This picture is from 1984 and word is the Rio Grande SD45's received a ten overhaul of sorts in the late
'70s. The trucks 5318 shows here are the second order style high-brakes. It appears that some swapping happened
perhaps during maintenance visits to the Burnham Shops.
What numbers did Athearn pick for its coming Ready To Roll SD45 models dressed in Rio Grande? This
Craig Walker photo shows D&RGW #5319 in Los Angeles in 1990 late in her career. Rio Grande's
#5317 and #5324 are the other two roadnumbers included in the first batch of updated Rail Power shell SD45 models.
Here's a good "down on" shot of #5323 at Colorado Springs in 1984. (Joe Munson photo.) Notice
the combination of fan types on the radiator section, though likely not delivered with this variety it was typical in service
visits to have these changed out and thus provide odd mixes of fans. The pair of radiator fans with the "button top"
center area represent the as-delivered style fan for the first order of D&RGW SD45 models.
The horn is the as-delivered 3-chime type provided to Rio Grande. The antenna found behind the horn
is a Sinclair type model. Placement of the antenna appears to vary slightly from directly behind the horns to an off-center
placement favoring the fireman's side of the cab roof.
The unit is about fifteen years old in this picture and still wearing what appears to be its original paint
job. Notice the treadwalk appears to be black; the stripes end along the angled top edge of the nose; and the white
on the handrails stops at the first stanchion.
Also notable here is the roof vent. Found behind the dynamic brake fans and before the radiator fans,
the small square hatch is a vent that was applied to the SD45 models during service visits in the 1970s and was not part of
the as-delivered roofline of the diesel.
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