EMD SD40

{{More footnotes needed|date=June 2008}}{{Infobox locomotive

| name = EMD SD40

| powertype = Diesel-electric

| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
{{track gauge|5ft3in|lk=on}}, Brazil

| image = SP 7342 in Oakland, CA in December 1980 (31185863985).jpg

| caption = Southern Pacific 7342, an SD40R, in 1980

| aarwheels = C-C

| builder = GM Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
General Motors Diesel (GMD)

| serialnumber =

| buildmodel = SD40

| builddate = January 1966 – August 1972

| primemover = EMD 16-645E3

| enginetype = V16 diesel

| cylindercount = 16

| poweroutput = {{convert|3000|hp|abbr=on|lk=in|sigfig=3}}

| alternator = main : AR-10
auxiliary : D14

| tractionmotors = D-77

| fuelcap = {{convert|3200|usgal|abbr=on}}

| sandcap = {{convert|56|cuft|m3|abbr=on}}

| lubecap = {{convert|243|usgal|abbr=on}}

| coolantcap = {{convert|295|usgal|abbr=on}}

| totalproduction = 1,268

| maxspeed = {{convert|83|mph|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|65|ft|8|in|abbr=on}}
over the coupler pulling faces;

{{convert|65|ft|9+1/2|in}} on some units starting early 1968.

| width = {{convert|10|ft|0|in|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|15|ft|5+1/4|in|2|abbr=on}}

| locoweight = {{convert|360000|lbs|t|abbr=on}}

| driverdiameter = {{convert|40|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} diameter

| aspiration = turbocharged

| generator = (?)

| locobrakes = Independent air\
optional: dynamic brakes

| trainbrakes = Air, schedule 26-L

| locale = North America
South America
Africa

}}

The EMD SD40 is a model of 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1966 and August 1972. 1,268 locomotives were built between 1966 and 1972. In 1972, an improved version with new electronics was developed and marketed as a new locomotive, the SD40-2.

Design

Like its predecessor in EMD's catalog, the SD35, the SD40 is a high-horsepower, six-axle freight locomotive. The SD40 is a member of EMD's long-running Special Duty class of locomotives, which all are built with 6 axles.

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 = {{convert|2000|hp|abbr=on|lk=in|sigfig=3}} from a non-turbocharged V16, SD40 = {{convert|3000|hp|abbr=on|lk=in|sigfig=3}} from a turbocharged V16, and SD45 = {{convert|3600|hp|abbr=on|lk=in|sigfig=3}} 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 {{track gauge|5ft3in}} gauge trucks were exported to Brazil. They were manufactured at McCook, Illinois.

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

! Built

! Serial

! Phase

! Railroad

! Road numbers

! Quantity

! Notes

6/66

| 31766

| Ia2

| ASAB

| 506

| 1

| No d/b

3/66-5/66

| 32036-32055

| ATSF

| 1700–1719

| 20

| 1708/5008 preserved

10/71-11/71

| 5801-1 - 5801-25

| IIc

| BN

| 6300-6324

| 25

5/67

| 33161-33173

| Ic

| B&O

| 7482-7494

| 13

| Drop grabs on nose, 7482–7490 to CNJ

4/69

| 34775-34778

| IIb_

| B&O

| 7497-7500

| 4

8/66-9/66

| 32092-32100

| Ia2

| CGW

| 401-409

| 9

1/66-2/66

| 31263-31282

| Ia1

| CNW

| 867-886

| 20

| No d/b, 867 first SD40 built

4/66

| 31760-31765

| Ia2

| CNW

| 887-892

| 6

| No d/b

9/66

| 32314

| Ia2

| CNW

| 893

| 1

| No d/b

2/67

| 32686-32688

| Ib2

| CNW

| 894-896

| 3

| No d/b

7/66-8/66

| 31929-31948

| Ia2

| C&O

| 7450-7469

| 20

5/67

| 33154-33160

| Ic

| C&O

| 7475-7481

| 7

| Drop grabs on nose

4/69

| 34779-34784

| IIb_

| C&O

| 7501-7506

| 6

6/70

| 36696-36705

| IIb2

| C&O

| 7507-7516

| 10

7/70

| 36746-36755

| IIb2

| C&O

| 7517-7526

| 10

3/71

| 37204-37213

| IIc

| C&O

| 7527-7536

| 10

10/67

| 33516-33519

| IIa2

| C&S

| 875-878

| 4

| To Burlington Northern Same numbers.

4/68

| 33918-33926

| IIb1

| C&S

| 879-887

| 9

| To Burlington Northern Same numbers. 879 to BNSF.

9/66

| 32141-32148

| Ia2

| CRR

| 3000-3007

| 8

9/68

| 34177

| IIb_

| CRR

| 3008

| 1

9/68

| 34742-34747

| IIb_

| CRR

| 3009-3014

| 6

6/71

| 37417-37422

| IIc

| CRR

| 3015-3020

| 6

6/71

| 37538-37541

| IIc

| CRR

| 3021-3024

| 4

4/70

| 36124-36129

| IIb2

| DE

| 001-006

| 6

| Numbers out of sequence

7/72

| 5817-1 - 5817-2

| III

| DE

| 013-014

| 2

7/72

| 5818-1 - 5818-3

| III

| DE

| 015-017

| 3

6/66

| 31799

| Ia2

| GM

| 10

| 1

| No d/b

2/66

| 31007-31018

| Ia1

| GM&O

| 901-912

| 12

9/66

| 32161-32169

| Ia2

| GM&O

| 913-921

| 9

8/69

| 35184-35195

| IIb_

| GTW

| 5900-5911

| 12

| No d/b

1/70

| 35831-35839

| IIb2

| GTW

| 5912-5920

| 9

9/70

| 36887-36895

| IIb2

| GTW

| 5921-5929

| 9

| No d/b

12/67

| 33244-33249

| IIa2

| IC

| 6000-6005

| 6

| No d/b

8/69

| 34939-34951

| IIb_

| IC

| 6006-6018

| 13

| SD40A: {{convert|70|ft|8|in|abbr=on}} frame,
{{convert|5000|USgal|adj=on}} fuel tank

1/70

| 35685-35689

| IIb2

| IC

| 6019-6023

| 5

| SD40A: {{convert|70|ft|8|in|abbr=on}} frame,
{{convert|5000|USgal|adj=on}} fuel tank

10/66-11/66

| 32101-32114

| Ib1

| KCS

| 600-613

| 14

| Some equipped with Locotrol

8/68

| 33958-33965

| IIb_

| KCS

| 614-621

| 8

| Some equipped with Locotrol

6/70

| 35493-35498

| IIb2

| KCS

| 622-627

| 6

| Some equipped with Locotrol, numbers out of sequence

3/71

| 35840-35847

| IIc

| KCS

| 628-635

| 8

| Some equipped with Locotrol

3/71

| 38363

| IIc

| KCS

| 636

| 1

6/66-9/66

| 32088-32091

| Ia2

| L&N

| 1225–1228

| 4

4/69

| 34758-34762

| IIb_

| L&N

| 1229–1233

| 5

4/70

| 35948-35952

| IIb2

| L&N

| 1234–1238

| 5

8/70-9/70

| 36809-36818

| IIb2

| L&N

| 1239–1248

| 10

5/71

| 38203-38212

| IIc

| L&N

| 1249–1258

| 10

1/68-2/68

| 33771-33784

| IIb1

| MP

| 720-733

| 14

| No d/b

2/69

| 34504-34523

| IIb_

| MP

| 734-753

| 20

| No d/b

1/70

| 35725-35740

| IIb2

| MP

| 754-769

| 16

| No d/b

3/71-4/71

| 37543-37562

| IIc

| MP

| 770-789

| 20

| No d/b

3/67-4/67

| 32968-32987

| Ib2

| MP

| 700-719

| 20

| No d/b

5/66-6/66

| 31899-31928

| Ia2

| NW

| 1580–1609

| 30

| High short hood

5/71

| 35605-35619

| IIc

| NW

| 1610–1624

| 15

| High short hood

12/70-1/71

| 36896-36926

| IIb2

| PC

| 6240-6270

| 31

1/71-2/71

| 36997-37010

| IIb2

| PC

| 6271-6284

| 14

| To Conrail same numbers; Various units wrecked and retired

2/66-3/66

| 31285-31349

| Ia12,Ia2

| PRR

| 6040-6104

| 65

| To Penn Central same numbers.

4/69-5/69

| 34889-34898

| IIb_

| SOO

| 736-745

| 10

| No d/b

3/70

| 36099-36102

| IIb2

| SOO

| 746-749

| 4

| No d/b

5/71

| 37425-37431

| IIc

| SOO

| 750-756

| 7

| No d/b

4/71

| 37355-37370

| IIc

| SOU

| 3170-3185

| 16

| High short hood; To Norfolk Southern same numbers

12/71-1/72

| 7375-1 - 7375-15

| III

| SOU

| 3186-3200

| 15

| High short hood: To Norfolk Southern same numbers

1/66-5/66

| 31491-31569

| Ia1,Ia2

| SP

| 8400-8478

| 79

| Numbers out of sequence

4/68-6/68

| 33671-33680

| IIb_

| SP

| 8479-8488

| 10

10/66-12/66

| 32400-32434

| Ib1

| UP

| 3048-3082

| 35

4/66

| 31414-31438

| Ia2

| UP

| 3000-3024

| 25

4/66

| 31575-31589

| Ia2

| UP

| 3025-3039

| 15

8/71-9/71

| 37639-37653

| IIc

| UP

| 3083-3097

| 15

9/71-10/71

| 37904-37928

| IIc

| UP

| 3098-3122

| 25

8/66

| 32134-32138

| Ia2

| WM

| 7470-7474

| 5

11/68

| 34104-34105

| IIb_

| WM

| 7495-7496

| 2

7/69

| 34967-34971

| IIb_

| WM

| 7445-7449

| 5

Built by GMD at London, Ontario

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

! Built

! Serial

! Phase

! Railroad

! Road numbers

! Quantity

! Notes

10/71

| A2561-A2563

| AC

| 180-182

| 3

9/67

| A2246-A2253

| CN

| 5000-5007

| 8

10/67-12/68

| A2260-A2327

| CN

| 5008-5075

| 68

| No d/b . 5062 destroyed in the 1986 Hinton train collision .

5062 wrecked and retired in 1986.

| 2/69-11/69

| A2335-A2369

| CN

| 5076-5110

| 35

| No d/b . 5104 destroyed in the 1986 Hinton train collision .

5104 wrecked and retired.

| 11/69-12/69

| A2370-A2391

| CN

| 5111-5132

| 22

12/69-4/71

| A2392-A2434

| CN

| 5133-5175

| 43

| No d/b

4/71-11/71

| A2493-A2542

| CN

| 5176-5225

| 50

| No d/b

11/71-12/71

| A2588-A2602

| CN

| 5226-5240

| 15

| No d/b

7/66

| A2133-A2164

| Ia2

| CP

| 5500-5531

| 32

| Nose brakewheel

12/66

| A2177-A2209

| CP

| 5532-5564

| 33

7/68

| A2328-A2333

| QNSL

| 200-205

| 6

6/71

| A2543-A2557

| QNSL

| 206-220

| 15

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

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

! Built

! Serial

! Phase

! Railroad

! Road numbers

! Quantity

! Notes

4/67

| 32228-32231

| RFFSA

| 3701-3704

| 4

| Brazil, {{track gauge|5ft3in}} Broad gauge

5/68

| 33385-33403

| NdeM

| 8503-8521

| 19

3/68

| 33895-33897

| NdeM

| 8500-8502

| 3

12/71

| 38893-38932

| III

| NdeM

| 8536-8575

| 40

8/72

| 37894-37899

| BOKE

| 101-106

| 6

| Companie de Bauxite du Guinea

1/72

| A2603-A2612

| NdeM

| 8576-8585

| 10

| Low-nose headlight, bell between number boards

Phases are as listed by Robert Sarberenyi. {{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}

Derivatives and Experimental

File:EMD SD40 KCSdeM 3029.jpg 3029 in Caltzonzin Station]]

File:GTWLocoNo.5945.jpg

File:Mobil Grain Locomotive.jpg

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 5,000 gallon fuel tank.

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

The SD40 was succeeded by an upgraded Dash 2 version called the SD40-2.

SD40 rebuilds

After having been succeeded by the more modern SD40-2, a large number of SD40 have been upgraded with more modern equipment. The main difference between rebuilt SD40 and genuine SD40-2 is that the latter use a longer frame and has longer front and rear porches, while the rebuilt SD40 have a shorter frame.

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). This may include some SD39, SD45 and SD45-2 rebuilt to SD40-2 standards.

The SD40R is a rebuilt of all the Southern Pacific's SD40 between 1980 and 1981.{{Cite web|url=http://espee.railfan.net/spsd40r.html|title=Southern Pacific SD40R Info Page|last=Richard.A.Percy|website=espee.railfan.net|access-date=2017-08-14}}

The SD40M-2 was a rebuild done by Morrison Knudsen for two railroads, the Southern Pacific, using 97 SD45s, 30 SD40s and 6 SDP45s,{{Cite web |last=Richard.A.Percy |title=Southern Pacific SD40M-2 Info Page |url=http://espee.railfan.net/spsd40m-2.html |access-date=2017-08-14 |website=espee.railfan.net}} and the Canadian Pacific, using another three SD40s and seven SD45s.{{Cite web |title=DRGW SD-45 Roster - RGMHS.ORG % |url=http://rgmhs.org/resources/drgw-sd-45-roster/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=RGMHS.ORG |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=DRGW.Net {{!}} D&RGW EMD SD45 Roster |url=https://www.drgw.net/info/SD45 |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.drgw.net}}

The SD40-2XR designates 15 SD40 and a SDP40 rebuilt to Dash-2 standards for Montana Rail Link.{{Cite news|url=https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,3911658|title=Athearn RTR MRL SD40-2XR|work=Trainorders.com Discussion|access-date=2017-08-14}}{{Better source needed|date=May 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedieselshop.us/MRL.HTML|title=Montana Rail Link|website=www.thedieselshop.us|access-date=2017-08-14}}

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

= SD40-series production timeline =

DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy

ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:30

Period = from:01/01/1966 till:01/01/1990

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

PlotArea = right:30 left:0 bottom:50 top:5

Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)

id:line value:black

id:bg value:white

PlotData=

width:20 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:powderblue from:01/01/1966 till:08/31/1972 text:SD40 (Jan 1966 - Aug 1972, 1,268 units produced)

bar:2 color:powderblue from:06/01/1966 till:05/31/1970 text:SDP40 (June 1966 - May 1970, 20 units produced)

bar:3 color:powderblue from:01/01/1969 till:01/01/1970 text:SD40A (1969 - 1970, 18 units produced)

bar:4 color:powderblue from:01/01/1972 till:10/31/1989 text:SD40-2 (Jan 1972 - Oct 1989, 3,957 units produced)

bar:5 color:powderblue from:06/01/1973 till:08/31/1974 text:SDP40F (June 1973 - Aug 1974, 150 units produced)

bar:6 color:powderblue from:04/01/1974 till:07/31/1980 text:SD40T-2 (Apr 1974 - July 1980, 312 units produced)

bar:7 color:powderblue from:05/01/1975 till:12/31/1980 text:SD40-2W (May 1975 - Dec 1980, 123 units produced)

bar:8 color:powderblue from:04/01/1978 till:05/30/1978 text:SD40-2S (Apr 1978 - May 1978, 5 units produced; Nov 1980, 4 units produced)

bar:8 color:powderblue from:11/01/1980 till:11/30/1980

bar:9 color:powderblue from:06/01/1979 till:07/01/1979 text:SD40X (1979, 4 units produced)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1966

TextData =

fontsize:L

textcolor:black

pos:(370,30) # tabs:(0-center)

text:"SD40-Series Production Timeline"

Preservation

• Ex-Canadian National SD40 #5232 (built November 1971) has been purchased by The Vintage Locomotive Society on January 10, 2015, from Cando 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 has been repainted completely black, with Prairie Rail Solutions lettering and logos. It is VLSX 5232.

• Canadian Pacific SD40 #5500 is preserved at the Revelstoke Railway Museum in 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".

• Chesapeake and Ohio #7534 has been donated by CSX Transportation to the C&O Historical Society in Clifton Forge, Virginia. This engine is well known in the railroad enthusiast community as it ran on CSX right up to the late-2000s still wearing some of it original C&O paint and lettering, and was the very last SD40 on CSX's roster. The engine was meant to be used on the Buckingham Branch Railroad, which also operates out of Clifton Forge, however the unit spends quite a bit of time at the Historical Society's museum.

• Illinois Central SD40-2R #6071, the first SD40 built, is preserved at the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, Illinois. It was originally EMD demonstrator #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.

• Kansas City Southern de México SD40 1343 (as PRLX 3066) is owned by the Coastal Pines Technical College in Waycross, Georgia and is used to train kids that are looking to work for CSX

• Louisville and Nashville #1230 is owned by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum but will be put to work on the museum's for-profit subsidiary, the Tyner Terminal Railroad, switching the Volkswagen plant. It will eventually be restored to one of its earlier L&N liveries.{{Cite web |last=Franz |first=Justin |date=2024-06-20 |title=L&N SD40 Returns to Tennessee |url=https://railfan.com/ln-sd40-returns-to-tennessee/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Railfan & Railroad Magazine |language=en-CA}}

• Ex-Santa Fe #5007 (built 1966 as ATSF 1707) is preserved at the Western America Railroad Museum in Barstow, California. It's currently numbered GN 6307, after being donated to the museum by BNSF.{{Citation |last=Sloan |first=Steve |title=GN 6307 at Barstow |date=2021-04-14 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevesloan/51264154722/ |access-date=2024-03-09}}

• Santa Fe #5008 (built 1966 as ATSF 1708) is preserved at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, Missouri.

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 for the Norfolk and Western, was donated to the Roanoke Chapter NRHS on 3/25/24.
NS SD40 #3170, built as Southern #3170, the first SD40 bought by the Southern. 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 Coastal Division. On May 18, 2016, it was donated to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum by Norfolk Southern.{{cite news|title=Norfolk Southern donates Southern SD40 to TVRM|url=http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2016/05/19-norfolk-southern-donates-southern-sd40-to-tvrm|access-date=2016-05-19|work=Trains Magazine|date=2016-05-19|url-access=subscription }}

• Union Pacific #7362 (built 1966 as SP #8475) is used on North Platte Community College's North Campus as a training locomotive.{{Cite web |title=North Platte Community College |url=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4220029 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.rrpicturearchives.net}}

• Western Maryland #7471 is owned by Precision Locomotive Leasing and currently leased to the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan. It was formerly owned by George's Creek Railroad.

Western Maryland #7496, still in CSX livery was donated to Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in April 2025.

References

{{Pinkepank diesel spotters guide 2}}
Sarberenyi, Robert. [http://www.trainweb.org/jaydeet/sd40.htm 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

SD40

Category:C-C locomotives

Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of the United States

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1966

Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines

Category:Freight locomotives

Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States

Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of Canada

Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of Mexico

Category:Broad gauge locomotives in Brazil

Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of Canada

Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of Mexico