EMD SD40-2

The Electro Motive Division SD40-2 is a six-axle, 3,000 hp diesel locomotive built from 1972 to 1986. It is an upgrade of the original EMD SD40; being part of EMD's "Dash 2" line.
Many have been built (with over 4,000 built, and another 1,000 custom rebuild or build; including the original SD40 units being upgraded or rebuild to "Dash 2" standards), were purchased by many railroads, and are still currently in use.
==History==
The EMD SD40-2 is an upgrade to the original SD40 only with modular electronics and other features.
There have been customized versions of the SD40-2: the SD40-2F, a cowl-type unit built only for the Canadian Pacific; the SD40-2W, built with a wide cab; and many other variants as opposed to the original (as listed below).
Many have been built and many still exist as of today, but are slowly in the process of being retired from service on US Class 1 railroads such as BNSF and Union Pacific. CN has been retiring and scrapping many of its SD40-2's and has been buying used Dash 8's to fill the vacancies. However, Norfolk Southern Railroad still has a handful in service.
==Specifications==
The EMD SD40-2 uses a 16-cylinder 645E3 (645 series) engine from EMD which is turbocharged. It has the fuel capacity of either 3,200 or 4,000 US gallons, has a width of 10 ft 3 1⁄8 in (3.127 m), has a height of 15 ft 7 1⁄8 in (4.753 m) over the rails, and weighs 368,000 lb (170 tons) to 409,000 lb (204.5 tons) depending on the model.
==Preservation==
* The first SD40-2 to be preserved was Union Pacific 9950, donated to the Western American Railroad Museum in Barstow, CA. 9950 started life as Missouri Pacific 3320
* Chicago & Northwestern SD40-2 #6847 was donated to the Illinois Railway Museum in 2009. It was the last remaining SD40-2 on Union Pacific's roster that was still in C&NW colors
* Union Pacific SD40-2 #3105 was donated to the LA Fairplex to go in place of Union Pacific Big Boy locomotive #4014. #3105 also started life on the Missouri Pacific, and was unique for being one of the few Missouri Pacific locomotives to be equipped with dynamic brakes.
* In 2018, Canadian Pacific SD40-2 #5903 was donated to the Canadian Railway Museum in Delson, Quebec, making it the first SD40-2 to be preserved in Canada
* In 2020, Norfolk Southern donated SD40-2 #6162 to Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. in Ravenna, Kentucky. The locomotive was originally built for the Norfolk & Western Railroad, and was one of the few locomotives built for the N&W to feature a low nose.
* In 2022, Dieselmotive of California saved Milwaukee Road SD40-2 #156 from scrap and moved it to the Oklahoma Railroad Museum. The 156 was once Milwaukee Road's bi-centennial unit, and will reportedly be restored back to operation and be cosmetically restored back into it's bi-centennial paint scheme.
==Versions==
There are many different versions and/or variants of the SD40-2. (Aside from the original SD40.)
*SD40-2F (CP Rail full-cowl carbody version; known as "Red Barns" by enthusiasts)
*SDP40F  (Amtrak)
*SD40-2B (Rebuilt cabless version)
*SD40T-2 (Built for the SP and the Rio Grande; has special type of cooling system for transversing tunnels and sheds)
*SD40M-2 (Morrison-Knudsen rebuilds of pre-Dash 2 SD40's or SD45's.)
*SD40E  (NS rebuilt SD50's with SD40-2 components and prime movers)
*SD40-2R (SD40-2 Life Extension Program by UP Jenks Shop)
*SD40N (SD40-2 Rebuild Program by UP Jenks Shop)
*SD40-2W (CN; wide-cab Canadian built variant)
*SD40-2-LNG (Experimental LNG powered SD40-2 used on the BN/BNSF from 1991-1996.) One unit sold to Brazil, while on other unit is now NS #3528.
* SD40-2W-LNG (CN LNG test locomotives, the program has ended and the two units are stored.)
==Trivia==
*KCS (Kansas City Southern) #637 was the very first SD40-2 ever built, but was unfortunately scrapped (unlike IC #6071, the first SD40).
*The SD40-2 is considered to be one of the most popular locomotives of many railfans, and is easily distinguishable from other types of power due to the frame "porches" both front and rear.
*Burlington Northern, Union Pacific, Canadian Pacific, and Conrail had the largest fleets of SD40-2's out of all North American Class 1 railroads.
*Several SD40-2s have been built with "snoot" style noses, which are extended hoods on the front of a diesel locomotive meant for housing special radio control components for Locotrol.
*The D&RGW was one of the only US Class 1 railroads to not purchase the SD40-2 during its production..
*NS rebuilt several of their SD40-2 units into SD38-2 designated units for yard and local train service, but are in the process of being converted back into SD40-2 units as of early 2013.
*Two CN (Canadian National) SD40-2W units were converted to use natural gas, and are part of an experiment or program to conserve fuel consumption and make fuel spending more economical for the railroad. (Program has ended)
* BN had two units modified for use as "Dual" fuel units, meaning they could run off diesel fuel carried on board in the fuel tank, or off Refrigerated Liquified Methane from a tender. Units were modified with flared radiators like SD45s and painted in a special paint scheme.
* BN 6330 was an SD40C, repowered by a CAT prime mover. Unit was equipped with SD45 style flared radiators to handle the increased cooling capacity needed for the big CAT prime mover.
*NREX SD40-2 #9402 was originally an SD45T-2. The unit has a larger rear porch as the result of an accident it was involved in at some point in time giving it a disproportionate appearance.
==Gallery==
*Gallery
==Sources==
thumb|right|300px|Start-up of an EMD SD40-2's engine.http://www.altoonaworks.info/pics/contributor/g-carry/gerry_1.jpg
http://utahrails.net/articles/up-fast-forties.php
http://utahrails.net/articles/up-final-four-sd40-2.php
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=151008
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