EMD SD40-2

EMD SD40-2

EMD SD40-2
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
Model	SD40-2
Build date	January 1972 – February 1986
Total production	3,957
AAR wheel arr.	C-C (UIC: Co'Co' )
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)
Driver size	40 in (1.02 m) diameter
Wheelbase	43 ft 6 in (13.26 m) between bolsters; 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m) between axles in each truck
Length	68 ft 10 in (20.98 m) over the coupler pulling faces
Width	10 ft 3⅛ in (3.13 m) over the grabirons
Height	15 ft 7⅛ in (4.75 m)
Total weight	368,000 lb (167,000 kg)
Fuel capacity	3200-4000 US gal (12,100-15,100 L)
Prime mover	EMD 645E3
Aspiration	turbocharged
Cylinders	V16
Power output	3,000 hp (2.2 MW)

A CSXT SD40-2 waiting in Tunnel Hill, Georgia.

The EMD SD40-2 is a 3,000 horsepower (2,250 kW) model of C-C diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between January 1972 and February 1986; 3,957 examples were built, and most larger North American railroads have operated the type. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the SD40-2 was an upgraded SD40 with modular electronic control systems, HT-C trucks, and many other detail improvements. The SD40-2 is one of the best-selling diesel locomotive models of all time. Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific operate some of the largest fleets of the type.

The SD40-2 was not the most powerful locomotive type even when introduced; EMD's SD45 and SD45-2 delivered 3,600 hp (2,900 kW), as did GE Transportation Systems' U36B/C and ALCO's C636. However, the SD40-2 was significantly more reliable and economical than the higher-powered units, the latter becoming increasingly important with the oil crises of the 1970s.

The British Rail Class 59 was derived from the SD40-2.

Three cabless SD40-2Bs were also rebuilt from standard SD40-2s by the Burlington Northern Railroad in the early 1980s. The units had been in collisions and it was decided that it was cheaper to rebuild them without cabs. Canadian Pacific also owns a few SD40-2Bs. These were created by welding metal plates over the cab windows of normal SD40-2s.

Appearance and spotting features

CSXT 8007 at Yeoman Yard in Tampa, Florida.

Just as the SD38, SD40, and SD45 shared a common frame, so too did the SD38-2, SD40-2, and SD45-2. It was 3 ft (0.91 m) longer than the previous models, giving an overall locomotive length of 68 ft 10 in (20.98 meters) over the coupler pulling faces. The SD38-2 and SD40-2 shared the same basic superstructure, since they both used the same 16-645E3 engine (in naturally aspirated and turbocharged form respectively); the long hood was 18 inches (0.46 m) longer than the SD38 and SD40, but since the increase in frame length was even greater, the SD38-2 and SD40-2 were left with even larger front and rear "porches" than the earlier models. These empty areas at front and rear are distinctive spotting features to identify the Dash 2 models of both units. The SD40-2 can be distinguished from the SD38-2 by having three roof-mounted radiator fans instead of two. Another distinguishing feature of the SD40-2 as compared to the SD40 is the SD40-2's trucks (HT-C truck), which have shock absorbers on the outside of middle axle. However, this is not true of the former Conrail SD40-2s, as these were ordered with the early Flexicoil trucks as a cost-saving measure.

BNSF 7501, one of three SD40-2Bs owned by BNSF Railway.

Additional specifications

Main generator:	AR10 alternator
Traction motors:	6 × D77/78 DC
Standard gearing:	62:15

Original Owners

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
American SD40-2 orders
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway	187	5020-5192, 5200-5213	Most now in service with BNSF Railway
Burlington Northern Railroad	779	900-925, 930-961, 980, 996, 6325-6385, 6700-6799, 6824-6836, 6917-6928, 7000-7291, 7832-7940, 8000-8181
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad	20	7600-7619	Now in service with CSX Transportation
Chicago and North Western Railway	135	6801-6935	Most now in service with Union Pacific Railroad
Conrail	167	6358-6524
Clinchfield Railroad	5	8127-8132	Now in service with CSX Transportation
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad	4	6030-6033	6031 was converted into 6200, 6033 was destroyed in a collision in Flora, Mississippi on February 6, 1994
Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation	7	101-107
Kansas City Southern Railway	46	647-692
Louisville and Nashville Railroad	191	1259-1278, 3554-3612, 8000-8039, 8067-8086, 8095-8126, 8133-8162	Now in service with CSX Transportation
Milwaukee Road	90	21-30, 171-209, 3000-3040
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad	37	600-636	Most now in service with Union Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad	306	790-838, 3139-3321, 6020-6073	Most now in service with Union Pacific Railroad
Norfolk and Western Railway	162	1625-1652, 6073-6207	Some are High hood units
Oneida and Western Railroad	8	9950-9957
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad	10	4790-4799
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad	54	8040-8066, 8087-8094, 8133-8161	Now in service with CSX Transportation
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway	8	950-957
Soo Line Railroad	57	757-789, 6600-6623
Southern Railway	128	3201-3328	High hood units; now in service with Norfolk Southern Railway
Union Pacific Railroad	686	3123-3239, 3243-3304, 3335-3399, 3410-3583, 3609-3808, 8000-8002, 8035-8099
Canadian SD40-2 orders
Algoma Central Railway	6	183-188
BC Rail	17	751-767
Canadian Pacific Railway	484	5560, 5565-5879, 5900-6069
Ontario Northland Railway	8	1730-1737
Quebec, North Shore and Labrador Railroad	44	221-264
Export SD40-2 orders
Boke Project (Guinea)	3	107-109
Ferrocarriles Unidos del Sureste (Mexico)	4	601-604
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico	103	8700-8798, 13001-13004