MRR SD45-3W 4200 "Sisyphus" V3.5 (SARR Compatible)
SERVICE HISTORY
MRR 4200 - an EMD SD45, originally delivered as Donkk & Sawyer Railway #4000 in late 1966 - was the class leader for DSR's first-ever high-output locomotive fleet. 4000 and her 399 sister units would roam the DSR system alongside the preexisting SD40s occupying the 3600 class. As flaws with the 4000 class were discovered, they were one-by-one completely rebuilt to address their reliability issues. DSR re-designated the rebuilt engines as SD45Rs. 4000 was one of the last ones to be rebuilt, almost totaling her engine from crankshaft fatigue on her massive 20-cylinder engine. The only thing that prevented an engine failure was a swift shutdown, after the crew noticed a leak in the fuel tank.
On June 8th, 1977, the DSR formally merged with their former rival, the Meier Isles Rail Company. Together, they formed the Meier-Sawyer Railroad, or MRR. By this point in time, about a quarter of the SD45s from the DSR were retired for various reasons. The remaining ~300 units would be renumbered to the 4200 series to create room for ex-MIRC power. With an abundance of locomotives, many SD45s were retired and scrapped. The early SD45Rs made up the majority of those retired at this time. However, 4200 (ex-DSR 4000) pushed on in service until 1982 when she was rebuilt into an SD45-2R and repainted into MRR's AR1 livery. After the rebuild, she quickly returned to freight service with her new colors, but was most often trailing on them as newer locomotive models offered more in the way of safety and convenience for crews.
In 1998, amidst the arrival of 200 new AC6000s, a fresh and sharp SD45-2R with the road number 4200 rolls out of the North Sawyer Maintenance Facility with a striking livery known as AR2, bearing a new MRR-exclusive tri-window, quad-headlight cab. Gone was the ancient, fouled P5 and instead a wide-font K5LA took over it's place on the long hood. Out of 400 SD45s from the DSR, 4200 was one of less than a quarter of them left. Re-designated as an SD45-3W, 4200 was the class leader for this industry-leading rebuild program. Right around the New Millenium, a new nickname started spreading about this positively ancient locomotive: Sisyphus. Crews chose Sisyphus specifically, due to 4200's past of evading the cutter's torch for over forty years (and counting) and the long and strenuous service the engine had over time been demoted to for it.
Another ~20 years later, in 2018, 4200 was back in North Sawyer in for a much-needed refresh. The unit received strobe lights above the cab for Office Car Specials, a new paint scheme (ST1b), Positive Train Control and most importantly: Official MRR recognition. Gone was the joke-nickname from crews. Instead, blue lettering spelling 'SISYPHUS' decorated the sides of the unit's cab below the road numbers. Even after 60 years in revenue service, and 30 years of punishing roles, MRR 4200 'Sisyphus' still roams the MRR system, switching industries and streaking local freights across the rolling hills time after time.
STARTUP
No weird tricks to mention, it's all plug-and-play with this unit.
DESIGNATION
SD = Special Duty
45 = 3600 BHP
-3 = 3rd Rebuild
W = North American Wide-Nose Safety Cab
EXTRA FEATURES
This locomotive is also equipped with a functional air horn, togglable strobe lights for officer specials and alternating flashing ditch lights with varying settings.
HORN
This locomotive is equipped with a 5-chime air horn which plays a C Major 6th Chord (A-=432 Hz), with Pythagorean tuning in the key of E.
Chime 1 (Bass): ~E (323.6 Hz)
Chime 2 (Low): ~G (383.6 Hz)
Chime 3 (Mid): ~A (431.5 Hz)
Chime 4 (High): ~C (511.4 Hz)
Chime 5 (Treble): ~E (647.3 Hz)
