EMD GP40-based passenger diesels
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EMD's popular GP40 diesel locomotive, in its "normal" configuration, was primarily used in freight service. The basic platform, however, also proved attractive to building variants for use in passenger service, which required extra components for providing steam or head-end power (HEP) for heating and lighting in passenger cars.
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[edit] GP40P
The GP40P is based on the design of the EMD GP40 locomotive. Most of these variants gave the unit flared side radiators similar to the EMD SD45. Thirteen GP40Ps numbered 3671-3683 were built in 1968 for the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) and paid for by the New Jersey DOT. The CNJ put the units in service on the Raritan Valley Line and the New York & Long Branch.
The CNJ was folded into Conrail in 1976, and in 1983, New Jersey Transit began operating passenger rail service in the state. Shortly after, the units were sent off for rebuilding. The steam generator, which had occupied the flat end of the locomotive's long hood, was replaced with a diesel HEP generator, and the units were reclassified as GP40PH. They would later be rebuilt as GP40PH-2 units.
[edit] Renumberings
The units became CR/NJT 4100-4112. Conrail rebuilt the units for NJT in 1991-1992 during which all but 4101 emerged with a different number.
| NJT (1991) | Conrail/NJDOT (1976) | CNJ (1968) |
|---|---|---|
| 4100 | 4110 | 3681 |
| 4101 | 4101 | 3672 |
| 4102 | 4104 | 3674 |
| 4103 | 4105 | 3676 |
| 4104 | 4111 | 3682 |
| 4105 | 4108 | 3679 |
| 4106 | 4100 | 3671 |
| 4107 | 4109 | 3680 |
| 4108 | 4112 | 3683 |
| 4109 | 4106 | 3677 |
| 4110 | 4102 | 3673 |
| 4111 | 4103 | 3674 |
| 4112 | 4107 | 3678 |
[edit] GP40P-2
The Southern Pacific had ordered three units on a variant called GP40P-2. The SP placed the units in San Francisco commuter service. When the SP got out of the commuter business the units found themselves working in freight service; they continue to do so today; two for the Union Pacific and one for the Indiana Harbor Belt. The UP has repained one of the units into Armour Yellow, while the other is "patched" and sports an all SP grey paint job.
[edit] GP40TC
The GP40TC was built for GO Transit in Toronto, Ontario (The 'TC' stood for 'Toronto Commuter'). After serving GO for many years (being replaced by various units including GP40-2W's and more recently, F59PH's) the units were sold to Amtrak. On Amtrak, the units were based out of Chicago and used on short-haul trains. Currently the units are used for MOW service and have been rebuilt into "GP38-H3" units by Norfolk Southern
[edit] GP40FH-2
In 1987, New Jersey Transit and Metro-North ordered a set of locomotives from Morrison-Knudsen. These units called GP40FH-2s, combine the standard cab and frame of a GP40 with the cowl from an ex-Burlington Northern F45 on the rear (some of the cowls were made by MK). A total of 21 units of this type were built; 15, numbered 4130 through 4144, were delivered to New Jersey Transit, and the remaining six, numbered 4184 through 4189, were for Metro-North.
New Jersey Transit's units are slated to be retired shortly, replaced by new PL42AC locomotives from Alstom. GP40FH-2's 4130-4134 were sent to MotivePower Industries to be rebuilt into switcher units. Metro-North has begun sending their units out for significant maintenance and upgrades. Metro-North unit 4188 has returned from its overhaul and is in service.
[edit] GP40PH-2, GP40PH-2A, GP40PH-2B
In 1991, New Jersey Transit sent its GP40PH units out for rebuilding. The units were rebuilt as GP40PH-2 locomotives and, with the exception of 4101, renumbered out of order. At this time, the units were restricted on the Newark Division and primarily kept to the Hoboken Division. By 2000, the units were often used solely for Pascack Valley Line service, as they were the only units equipped with the Speed Enforcement System equipment needed on the line. With the arrival of new PL42AC locomotives from Alstom, these units are slated to be retired in the next few years.
New Jersey Transit would later order two more sets of GP40PH-2 units; these units were rebuilt from former Penn Central GP40 units, not from GP40P units as the first order has been. The first order consisted of six units, numbered 4145-4150, and were rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen. These units, with the exception of 4148, which was rebuilt as a GP40PH-2B and renumbered after a collision, are classified as GP40PH-2A, though the units lack the "A" designation on their stenciling. The second order was handled by Conrail, and was for 19 units, numbered 4200-4218. These units are classified as GP40PH-B. A twentieth unit, formerly the GP40PH-2A numbered 4148, was also rebuilt into this class and renumbered 4219.
Metro-North ordered a single GP40PH-2 unit; numbered 4190, it is officially classified as a GP40PH-2M. The 4190 was rebuilt by Conrail.
[edit] GP40WH-2
In the early 1990s, MK was contacted by MARC to build a fleet of GP40s using basically the leftover parts of the GP40s used in the GP40FH-2 order. These units were called GP40WH-2s and featured a red nose similar to early Amtrak diesels. The rear hood sections were made from left over SD45 radiator sections from MK's SP SD40M rebuild program. These units are equiped with Trans-Lite Gyralites, #20585. Because the engines were ordered with Gyralites before the mandatory use of ditch lights, FRA exempted MARC from the "triangular light pattern" rule. The engines were delivered with Nathan Airchime K5LAR3 horns, with "snow-cone" debris covers. These covers have almost totally dissapeared, but many of the mounting rings are still attached to the mouths of the horn bells.
[edit] GP39H-2
In the late 1980s, Morrison-Knudsen rebuilt six GP40s for MARC, numbered 70 to 75. They were downgraded from 3000 horsepower to 2300 horsepower, and we equipped with Cummins HEP generators. Number 73 was the push unit for MARC #P286, which was involved in a fatal collision with Amtrak's Capital Limited on February 16th, 1996 73 was rebuilt, and continues to work for MARC In about 1996, the units recieved ditch lights on their anticlimbers, and during the late 90s, recived reflective tape around the side sills and anticlimbers.
[edit] GP40MC
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority currently owns a set of GP40 passenger diesels known as GP40MCs. These locomotives can be seen on the North Side of the MBTA system. These units also feature steps in the middle of the engineer's side of the units.
[edit] Gallery
| Photos of GP40 based passenger diesels | |||
 MARC GP40WH-2 No. 52 at Camden Station in Baltimore, Maryland |
 Metro-North GP40FH-2 4184 in Dover, NJ Pre-Overhaul |
 Metro-North GP40FH-2 4188 in Dover, NJ Post-Overhaul |
 New Jersey Transit GP40PH-2 4109:2 in Dover, NJ |
[edit] External links
| 4-axle general purpose diesel locomotives built by GM-EMD |
|---|
| BL2, GP7, GP9, GP15-1, GP15AC, GP15T, GP18, GP20, GP20D, GP28, GP30, GP35, GP38, GP38AC, GP38-2, GP39, GP39DC, GP39X, GP39-2, GP40, GP40P, GP40P-2, GP40TC, GP40X, GP40-2, GP49, GP50, GP59, GP60 |
| (See also: List of GM-EMD locomotives) |
