CSX Family Extravaganza!

Dec 01, 2021

Written by Gary Dolzall

Electro-Motive’s 20-cylinder “Dash-2” titan, the SD45-2, comes to Train Simulator in a dozen CSX family liveries!

As the biggest and most powerful locomotive in Electro-Motive’s landmark “Dash 2” line of diesels, the 3,600-horsepower SD45-2 deserves a big show – and it’s getting just that with DTM’s upcoming DLC that includes the locomotive in no less than a dozen liveries of CSX and its predecessors!

In the upcoming EMD SD45-2 pack, renowned developer DTM will be presenting the potent SD45-2 in these memorable liveries:

CSX YN3b (current scheme)
CSX YN3 (blue and yellow)
CSX YN2 (yellow, blue, and gray “Bight Future”)
CSX YN1 (blue and gray with yellow nose)
CSX “Gray ghost” (CSX-G)
CSX blue and gray (CSX-S)
Seaboard System gray, red, and yellow
Family Lines gray, red, and yellow
Seaboard Coast Line black, yellow, and silver
Clinchfield black and yellow
Erie Lackawanna gray and maroon (unbranded)
Conrail blue (unbranded)

The upcoming Train Simulator EMD SD45-2 faithfully re-creates the husky locomotive which was introduced in 1972. Powered by EMD’s unique 20-cylincer 645-series diesel powerplant, the SD45-2 was a refinement of the SD45 that had been introduced in 1966. As compared to its predecessor, the SD45-2 featured the improved electronics of the Dash-2 line and addressed the main-bearing and crankshaft problems that had plagued the big 20-cylinder powerplant in the SD45. At 70-feet, 8-inches long, the SD45-2 was nearly five feet longer than the SD45, which allowed EMD to utilize vertically mounted radiators on the Dash-2 rather than the SD45’s trademark flared radiators.

Four railroads – Seaboard Coast Line, Clinchfield, Erie-Lackawanna, and Santa Fe – were original buyers of the SD45-2 and through mergers and sales, the husky diesel went on to appear in numerous other notable railroad liveries, including Family Lines, Seaboard System, Conrail, and giant CSX (which inherited the SD45-2s originally owned by SCL and Clinchfield as well as a number of ex-Erie Lackawanna units which had joined the Conrail roster). During its tenure on CSX, the SD45-2 could be found system wide and late in their careers the ex-Erie Lackawanna units were regulars on the Chemical Coast routes in New Jersey.

Although the SD45-2 has been retired from regular service by CSX within the past few years, the railroad retains one unit (numbered HLS1 and wearing YN3 livery) as a load test unit at its famed Huntington (West Virginia) shops and CSX SD45-2 8954, originally a Seaboard Coast Line diesel, is restored in YN3b livery and preserved at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Georgia.

Along with its multiple liveries, the upcoming DTM SD45-2 captures many of the distinctive details of the big diesel. Erie Lackawanna’s SD45-2s were notable for their massive 5,000-gallon fuel tanks and the model will be included with both standard and 5,000-gallon tanks. And the diesel is provided in standard and snow-dressed versions.

There’s even more! Joining the SD45-2 in this pack will be CSX’s distinctive modern 16600-class platform caboose (in CSX and Family Lines liveries), a bay-window caboose in four liveries (CSX, Family Lines, and two unbranded liveries), 60-foot ribbed-side and waffle-side boxcars in CSX and Seaboard System liveries, 100-ton coal hoppers in four liveries (CRR, Chessie, SBD, and CSX), 2-bay covered hopper in two CSX liveries, 111A type tank car in four colors, and a flatcar with waste containers in three colors! Rounding out the pack is a selection of four career scenarios on the Clinchfield: Elkhorn City – St. Paul route (route available separately). In addition to the Clinchfield route, the SD45-2 will be authentically suited for use on more than ten popular Train Simulator routes, including the CSX Hanover, B&O Mountain Subdivision, Miami-West Palm Beach, and NS Coal District routes!

Coming soon to Train Simulator, the titan-sized SD45-2 pack recalls and brings to life the entire service career of the potent EMD SD45-2, from its early days serving Seaboard Coast Line and Clinchfield right through its years of service for CSX! – Gary Dolzall

Among the dozen liveries included in the remarkable upcoming SD45-2 DLC are six authentic CSX liveries (above and below) that represent the railroad’s visual images from its early days in the 1980s through contemporary times. Note: Screenshots depict content while in development.

The famed predecessors of CSX which operated the SD45-2 are also represented in this monumental pack, including the Clinchfield, Seaboard Coast Line, Family Lines, and Seaboard System (above), plus unbranded versions of Erie-Lackawanna and Conrail colors (below).

And there’s even more – much more – featured in the upcoming SD45-2 pack, including CSX’s distinctive 16600-class platform caboose in CSX and Family Lines liveries (above), and a modern bay-window caboose in four liveries (below).

The potent SD45-2 was built to haul tonnage, and you’ll be ready to do just that with the upcoming pack from DTM which includes two styles of boxcars, a 100-ton hopper in four liveries, 2-bay covered hopper in two CSX liveries, tank cars, and flats with waste containers.

In the formative years of CSX, one could find multiple liveries serving together and such is the case at Dante, Virginia as SD45-2s in Seaboard System, Family Lines, and CSX gray await the call (above). As engineer of the 3,600-horsepower diesel, you’ll take the controls in the SD45-2s realistically re-created cab (below).

A trio of snow-dressed CSX SD45-2s are southbound on the Clinchfield on a brisk winter day. The upcoming pack from DTM includes four scenarios on the Clinchfield: Elkhorn City – St. Paul route (route available separately), and the units featured in this upcoming pack can be authentically put to work on more than ten Train Simulator routes!

Coming soon to Train Simulator, the titan-sized SD45-2 pack recalls and brings to life the entire service career of the powerful EMD SD45-2, from its early days serving Seaboard Coast Line and Clinchfield right through its years of service for CSX!

Stay up to date with the upcoming CSX SD-45, releases and more for Train Simulator 2022 by following @railsimulator on Twitter and Facebook.