BR 45 - Introduction

In March 2025 I stumbled upon a model of the BR 45.

I always found it impressive machines and the model immediately appealed to me for its striking "Fotoanstrich", or works grey livery (see Interlude). What really drew my attention though was the fact that the model lay in the "loop-of-sloop bak", in proper English: the run-or-scrap box. I picked it up and noticed the price tag of only €25. That really aroused my interest.

The card in the box clearly stated it had a motor defect, but changing a motor is not the most difficult of jobs. Usually the seller's assessment of the problems of a model is very basic. It does not run? Oh well, the motor will be at fault. But these days motor defects are very rare. The model was clearly used and I suspected other trouble might turn up. But hey, that is part of the fun: fault finding and correcting.

I asked the seller if the pricing wasn't a mistake but no, he was dead serious. It is a ridiculous price, even as static model it was a bargain, but I do understand the seller's reasoning. Of course this was a model out of a collection and any time spent on getting this model to run is expensive. So it was basically worthless. Any price made on selling it was pure profit.

I did not hesitate and only minutes later I walked away with this very impulsive and equally unexpected purchase.

Interlude builder's photos

Back in the day of of black and white photography steam locomotives were hard to picture well. So to show off the details of new build locomotives many builders painted them in various light tones of grey. After taking the official builder's photos the loco would then be painted in the colours of the customer before delivery.

An example: South Australian railways Class 400 in works livery at Société Franco-Belge, 1952

Status of the project

19 April 2025

Project completed

6 April 2025

Well I got it running, sort of. I am distinctly unhappy about its performance so there is still a lot to do. I am currently awaiting parts to arrive. 

24 March 2025

For now it sits in my display cabinet, above a Dutch class 5500 for comparison.

45: 26.000 kg tractive effort

5500: 5,200 kg tractive effort