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EMD SD40T-2
SP 8238, eastbound at Caliente, California, in the late 1980s |
| Power type |
Diesel-electric |
| Builder |
General Motors Electro-Motive Division |
| Build date |
April 1974 – July 1980 |
| Total production |
312 |
| AAR wheel arr. |
C-C |
| Gauge |
4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| Length |
70 ft 8 in (21.5 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 2005 |
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 (21.5 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 called tunnel motors, 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 tunnels 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 Union Pacific Railroad owned every SD40T-2. As of 2005 most of these units are in service on the Union Pacific or various leasing companies. Only one with SP reporting marks and one with DRGW reporting marks are left.
[edit] Original purchasers
| Railroad |
Quantity |
Road numbers |
Notes |
| Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad |
73 |
5341-5413 |
All with 81 in or 88 in short noses. |
| St. Louis Southwestern Railway ( Cotton Belt) |
10 |
8322-8326, 8372-8376 |
"snoot noses" |
| Southern Pacific Railroad |
229 |
8230-8299, 8300-8321, 8327-8341 8350-8371, 8377-8391, 8489-8573 |
8300 series featured extended "snoot" noses for radio control equipment. |
[edit] Other owners
| Railroad |
Quantity |
Road numbers |
Notes |
| Buffalo & Pittsburg |
| Duluth Missabe & Iron Range |
18 |
400-415,417,419 |
|
| GECX |
| HLMX |
| Kansas City Southern |
| LTEX |
| NREX |
| NYSW |
| OHCR |
| RJ Corman |
|
| Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) |
|
3001,3005 |
|
| Union Pacific |
| Wheeling & Lake Erie |
