EMD SD40

The EMD SD40 is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1966 and August 1972.

GMD SD40 KCSM 3029 in Caltzonzin Station

Design

Like its predecessor in EMD's catalog, the SD35, the SD40 is a high-horsepower, six-motor freight locomotive.

In 1966, EMD updated its locomotive catalog with entirely new models, all powered by the new 645 diesel engine. These included six-axle models SD38, SD40, SDP40 and SD45. All shared standardized components, including the frame, cab, generator, trucks, traction motors, and air brakes. The primary difference was the power output: SD38 = 2,000 hp (1,490 kW) from a non-turbocharged V16, SD40 = 3,000 hp (2,240 kW) from a turbocharged V16, and SD45 = 3,600 hp (2,680 kW) from a turbocharged V20.

Original Owners

856 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads, 330 were built for Canadian railroads, 72 were built for Mexican railroads, 6 were built for the Guinea-Boke Project, and 4 SD40Ms riding on 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge trucks were exported to Brazil.

Built by EMD at McCook, Illinois

Built by GMD at London, Ontario

Mexican SD40's Built by EMD at McCook, Illinois or GMD at London, Ontario

Phases are as listed by Robert Sarberenyi.

Derivatives and Experimental

GTW/CN #5945, a former GMD-built CN SD40, rebuilt to SD40-3 standards.

Last Mountain Railway SD40-3 at Aylesbury, Saskatchewan

The SD40 was succeeded by an upgraded Dash 2 version called the SD40-2. The very first test bed SD40, EMD 434, constructed on an SD35 frame in July 1964 was in active service until retired by Canadian National Railway in March 2009 and donated to the Monticello Railway Museum in July 2009, albeit having been upgraded to an "SD40-2R", as Illinois Central 6071. 18 customized SD40s were built for the Illinois Central Railroad as model SD40A, using the longer SDP45 frame, which allowed for a larger 5000 gallon fuel tank.

The SD40E is an SD50 rebuilt by the Norfolk Southern Railway and derated to 3000 HP (equivalent to an SD40-2).

A common product of rebuilding SD40s, and sometimes SD40-2s, is an SD40-3. The major addition denotes that the rebuilt unit or units as an SD40-3 is the addition of a micro-processor, and sometimes other modern components. The usual reasons for installing a micro-processor are improved traction control, and better fuel economy (via better injection control). Also, electronic control over braking systems (independent and automatic).

Versions of the SD40 modified for the Australian loading gauge were sold to WAGR and Victorian Railways as their L and C classes respectively.

SD40-Series Production Timeline

Preservation

CP SD40 #5500 is preserved at the Revelstoke Railway Museum of Revelstoke, BC. It was CP's first SD40, built in 1966 at GMD's London plant and was retired in 2001. The unit was donated to the museum in 2007. Plans are being made to restore the locomotive to its original look as it was when ordered, including a repaint into its original grey/tuscan red paint scheme, known as the Canadian Pacific "Script".

Ex-CN SD40 #5232 (built November 1971) has been purchased by The Vintage Locomotive Society on January 10, 2015, from Cando Contracting and the Central Manitoba Railway. It is being used for revenue service by Prairie Rail Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Society. The unit will likely be repainted completely black, with Prairie Rail Solutions lettering and logos, but this has not yet been finalized.

IC SD40-2R #6071, the first SD40 built, is preserved at the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, Illinois. It was originally the demonstrator for EMD, having the number #434. It was sold to the Gulf Mobile & Ohio and it became GM&O #950. The GM&O was later merged into the Illinois Central Railroad and became Illinois Central Gulf #6071, then later rebuilt into an SD40-2R for the IC. It was donated March 11, 2009. The engine is fully functional, however it needs new traction motors if it were to operate again.

In mid December, 2014, it was revealed that Norfolk Southern had set aside two SD40 units, that were retired in 2007, for preservation:

NS SD40 #1580, built as Norfolk & Westen #1580, the first SD40 of the N&W. As of August 3, 2016, the locomotive was being worked on at the Juniata Shops in Altoona for eventual service & preservation.

NS SD40 #3170, built as Southern #3170, the first SD40 of the SOU. It was restored to operating condition at the Juniata Shops in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and then sent to the NS Paint shops at the Debutts Yard in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it made its public debut February 27, 2015. It operated on the NS Piedmont Division. On May 18, 2016, it was donated to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum by Norfolk Southern.^[1]

See also

• List of GM-EMD locomotives
• List of GMD Locomotives

References

• Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter’s Guide. Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89024-026-4. 
• Sarberenyi, Robert. EMD SD40, SD40A, and SDP40 Original Owners. Retrieved on December 19, 2009
• Eck, H. C., The Modern Locomotive Handbook, 1977
• Service Department (1966). SD40 - SDP40 Operator's Manual. La Grange, IL: Electro-Motive Division of General Motors Corporation