EMD SDP40

Not to be confused with the EMD SDP40F.

EMD SDP40
Kansas City Southern Railway 3057
Specifications
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
Model	SDP40
Build date	June 1966 – May 1970
Total produced	20
AAR wheel arr.	C-C
UIC classification	Co'Co'
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Trucks	Flexicoil C2L
Wheel diameter	40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve	274 ft (84 m)
Length	65 ft 8 in (20.02 m) over the coupler pulling faces
Width	10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
Height	15 ft 5 1⁄4 in (4.705 m)
Locomotive weight	370,000 lb (170,000 kg)
Fuel type	diesel
Fuel capacity	1,800 US gal (6,800 l; 1,500 imp gal)
Lubricant capacity	243 US gal (920 l; 202 imp gal)
Coolant capacity	295 US gal (1,120 l; 246 imp gal)
Water capacity	2,200 US gal (8,300 l; 1,800 imp gal)
Sandbox capacity	56 cu ft (1.6 m3)
Fuel consumption	167 US gal (630 l; 139 imp gal) per hour
Water consumption	45 US gal (170 l; 37 imp gal) per hour
Prime mover	EMD 16-645-E3
Engine RPM range	315-900
Engine type	Two-stroke diesel
Aspiration	Mechanically-assisted turbocharger
Displacement	10,320 cu in (169,100 cm3)
Alternator	AR-10
Traction motors	D-77
Cylinders	V16
Transmission	Diesel-electric transmission
Top speed	83 mph (134 km/h)
Power output	3,000 hp (2,240 kW)
Train heating	Steam generator
Locomotive brake	Independent air; optional: dynamic brakes
Train brakes	Air, schedule 26-L
Career
Locale	North America

An SDP40 is a 6-axle passenger diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) between June 1966 and May 1970.

Design

Like its predecessor in EMD's catalog, the SDP35, the SDP40 is a high-horsepower freight locomotive with equipment for passenger train service.

In 1966, EMD replaced all their production units with those powered by their 645 diesel. They included six-axle models SD38, SD40 and SD45, in addition to SDP40.

Both SD40 and SDP40 models were similar enough to have an operator manual that's published to cover both.

At the time most passenger locomotives needed to provide steam to the passenger cars for heating, cooking, and sometimes cooling. They needed a higher gear ratio for faster running, the graduated-release feature on the air brakes, and type F tight-lock couplers to keep equipment together in the event of a derailment. To fit a steam generator to the freight-only SD40, the designers had to move the machinery forward about 2 feet (0.61 m) on the frame, add a compartment behind the radiators for the boiler, and divide the fuel tank into fuel and water sections.

Appearance

Earlier passenger diesels, like EMD E8, ALCO PA, FM Erie-built and Baldwin Sharknose locomotives, were streamlined cab units designed for visual appeal and the appearance of speed. The SDP40 instead has the "boxy" appeal of most road-switcher locomotives of the time. This design, for passenger locomotives, was eventually overtaken by cowl units like the GE U30CG and EMD FP45, SDP40F and F40PH, which all lacked side walkways.

Visually, the locomotive is a hood unit distinguished only by the shape of its rear end behind the radiators, with its flat end having no number boards, shuttered boiler air intake on each side, extra exhaust stacks over the boiler, cantilevered walkway around the flat end, and very steep rear steps. EMD applied this same end to the passenger SDP35, SDP45, and GP40P locomotives, as well as the freight DD35, DDA40X and SD40T-2.

Amtrak's SDP40F locomotive, although sharing several mechanical specifications, is visually a much different locomotive. It had a full-width carbody, similar to the FP45. It was also 6 feet (1.8 m) longer than the SDP40.

Original Owners

Great Northern Railway (GN) purchased the first six SDP40s in 1966, to replace older F-units on their Western Star and smaller regional trains. Options included Vapor OK-4740 steam generators, water-transfer capability between units, 59:18 gearing for a top speed of 83 mph, and Type-F couplers. These were followed in 1967 by eight more powerful SDP45 locomotives ordered for the Empire Builder. After the startup of Amtrak in 1971, Great Northern's successor Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) converted the locomotives to freight service.

One SDP40, former GN 323, was temporarily renumbered BN 1976 and painted in red, white and blue for the United States Bicentennial in 1976.

NdeM's 14 units were ordered with ten in 1968 and four in 1970. In 1998, the government of Mexico privatized the NdeM, and the locomotives were split between two successor companies. Eight went to TFM, which was later purchased by Kansas City Southern Railway and became KCSM. The remainder six went to Ferromex.

Roster

• Phases refer to SD40s in general.

Wrecks

On August 23, 1979, BN 6399 was the lead unit of train 23 when it ran head-on into train 182 at Maiden Rock, WI. 6399 was repaired and returned to service, as were the four units of the other train. The three trailing GP40 units were destroyed.

Rebuilds

• FNM 13099 was rebuilt by the San Luis Potosi shops, but the original locomotive number is unknown. The steam generator air intake was plated over during the rebuild.
• FXE 3227 appears to have been rebuilt from an SDP40, but the original locomotive number is unknown. The steam generator air intake was plated over during the rebuild, but it retained the full compartment and vertical rear steps.
• MRL 290 was wrecked in 1988, and subsequently sold to MRL. It is listed in rosters and lettered as an SDP40-2XR. Its steam generator air intake was plated over during the rebuild, but it retained the full compartment and vertical rear steps.
• GCFX 3093 sources suggest was remanufactured by Alstom to SD40-2 specifications. Much of the steam generator compartment was removed to permit installation of compliant rear switching steps.
• KCS 1319 was rebuilt by EMD in London, ON during August 2009 into an SD22ECO, keeping its external appearance.
• KCS 1320 was rebuilt by EMD in London, Ontario during August 2009 into an SD22ECO, keeping its external appearance.

Preservation

BNSF donated 6327 - former GN 325 and their last SDP40 in service - to the Minnesota Transportation Museum in May 2009.

See also

• GP40P
• List of GM-EMD locomotives
• List of GMD Locomotives

References

• Moran, Miles (1975). "And Passenger Service Too". Railroad Modeler 5 (8): 40–47. 
• Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter’s Guide. Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89024-026-4. 
• Shine, Joseph W. (1992). Great Northern Color Pictorial - Volume 2: Division Assignment, Second Generation Diesels, The Big Sky Blue Era. La Mirada, CA: Four Ways West Publications. ISBN 0-9616874-7-9
• Strauss, John F. Jr. (1998). Great Northern Color Pictorial - Volume 5: Rocky's Robe of Many Colors. La Mirada, CA: Four Ways West Publications. ISBN 1-885614-22-5
• Sarberenyi, Robert. EMD SD40, SD40A, and SDP40 Original Owners. Retrieved on August 27, 2006
• The UNofficial EMD Homepage. Retrieved on May 1, 2009
• EMD's SD40, SD40A, and SDP40 - Original Owners. Retrieved on May 5, 2009
• Great Northern Empire - GN EMP SDP40 Roster. Retrieved on May 5, 2009
• KCS NAFTA Rosters. Retrieved on May 5, 2009
• Service Department (1966). SD40 - SDP40 Operator's Manual. La Grange, IL: Electro-Motive Division of General Motors Corporation
• Progress Rail KCS loco scrapping observed. Retrieved on June 13, 2009
• SD22ECO rebuilds 1319 and 1320 observed. Retrieved on August 27, 2009
• F. Hol Wagner, Jr.; Dave G. Chornell, eds. (1981). "BN Developments: 1977-80". Burlington Northern 1977-80 Annual (P.O. Box 17111, Denver, Colorado 80217: Motive Power Services) 7: 100. 
• Erickson, Ron (June 2010). "Great Northern Automatic Heater Cars 1965-1968". The Great Northern Goat (Great Northern Railway Historical Society) 143 (Reference Sheet 360). 
• EMD SD 6 WHEEL TRUCKS-DATA. Retrieved on July 25, 2010