The General Motors EMD model SD45 remains among my favorite diesels.

During my years in California, I exposed countless color slides of SD45s in action on both Southern Pacific and Santa Fe.

This Kodachrome is a memorable image that shows an SP SD45E in near silhouette as it leads a light helper set downgrade in the Tehachapis near Marcel, Calif. This view emphasizes the locomotive’s characteristic flared radiator intakes, which are among the SD45’s noteworthy external features.

I like the geometric play of the signal code lines and the soft background of tapered hills fading into the morning mist.

Tracking the Light Posts Daily!