| EMD SD40T-2 |
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| SP 8238, eastbound at Caliente, California, in the late 1980s |
| Power type |
Diesel-electric |
| Builder |
General Motors Electro-Motive Division |
| Build date |
June 1974 – July 1980 |
| Total produced |
312 |
| AAR wheel arr. |
C-C |
| Gauge |
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Length |
70 ft 8 in (21.54 m) |
| Fuel capacity |
4,400 US gal (16,700 l) |
| Prime mover |
EMD 645E3 |
| Cylinders |
16 |
| Power output |
3,000 hp (2,240 kW) |
| Career |
Southern Pacific (and Cotton Belt), Rio Grande, Union Pacific |
| Nicknames |
"tunnel motors" |
| Locale |
western United States |
| Disposition |
most still in service as of 2010 |
An EMD SD40T-2 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Power is provided by a 16-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine capable of producing 3,000 horsepower (2,240 kW). The Southern Pacific's locomotive features a 4,400-US-gallon (16,700 l) fuel tank and is 70 feet 8 inches (21.54 m) long. The Rio Grande's locomotive features a smaller 4,000-US-gallon (15,100 l) fuel tank. A total of 312 examples of this locomotive were built for North American railroads between April 1974 and July 1980. This locomotive, along with the SD45T-2, are popularly called tunnel motors, but are officially referred to as SD40-2s with "cooling system modifications" (and the EMD manuals so state), because they were specifically designed to be more effective when operating in tunnels. The major differences between this locomotive and its non-tunnel motor cousin, the SD40-2, are the radiator intakes and radiator fan grills located at the rear of the locomotive. The radiator air intakes in this model were located along the deck to allow more fresh, cooler air to enter and less hot exhaust fumes lingering around the tunnel's ceiling.
This locomotive model was purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad, its subsidiary Cotton Belt, and the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. At one point Southern Pacific and then later the Union Pacific owned every SD40T-2.
In 2005 most of these units were in service on the Union Pacific or various leasing companies. By 2008 none were left in service on the Union Pacific with SP or DRGW reporting marks. DRGW 5371 was the last one retired from active service in March 2008, and now resides at the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden Utah. The Union Pacific still runs many of these units in its own livery.
[edit] Original purchasers
[edit] Other owners
| Railroad |
Quantity |
Road numbers |
Notes |
| Alabama & Tennessee River |
3 |
2832, 2842, & 5387 |
2832 & 2842 still in UP yellow. 5387 still in "Bloody nose" paint lost speed lettering as of 5-10-11 |
| America Latina Logistica |
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| Buffalo & Pittsburgh |
2 |
3301 & 3302 |
Both still in KCS Grey |
| Ferrovia Central Atlantico (Brazil) |
|
|
Rebuilt as metre gauge BB40T-2s |
| GECX |
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| HLMX |
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| Kansas City Southern |
|
|
Rebuilt as SD40-3s |
| LTEX |
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| MNA (Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad) |
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| NREX |
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| New York Susquahanna & Western |
4 |
3010, 3012, 3014, 3016 |
All units wear Susquehanna "Yellow Jacket" paint. 3014 has "snoot" nose, all others have 88" noses. |
| OHCR |
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|
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| Respondek Rail Corporation (Squaw Creek Southern Railroad) |
1 |
8795 |
Former UP 8795 & SP 8246 |
| R.J. Corman |
9 |
5353, 5361, 5372, 5409, 8307, 8336, 8569, 8718, 8861 |
| Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) |
|
3001,3005 |
|
| Union Pacific |
|
|
Most if not all Retired by now |
| Wheeling & Lake Erie |
2 |
5391, 5413 |
Still in D&RGW paint |
[edit] External links
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| Six-axle road power |
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| Eight-axle road power |
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