EMD SD40T-2

An SD40T-2 is a 6-axle road switcher diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division having a 16-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine producing 3,000 horsepower (2,240 kW). 312 SD40T-2s were built for North American railroads between April 1974 and July 1980. This locomotive and the SD45T-2 are popularly called tunnel motors, but EMD's term is SD40-2s with "cooling system modifications" because they were designed for better engine cooling in mountainous areas.[1] The difference 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.

EMD SD45T-2 vs SD40T-2 radiator fan motor access doors

EMD SD40T-2
SP 8238, eastbound at Caliente, California, in the late 1980s
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Division Build date June 1974 – July 1980 Total produced 312
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Length 70 ft 8 in (21.54 m) Width 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) Height 15 ft 7.5 in (4.763 metres) Loco weight 368,000 lb (167,000 kg) Fuel capacity 4,400 US gal (16,700 l; 3,660 imp gal) Prime mover EMD 645E3 Engine type V16 diesel Cylinders 16
Performance figures Power output 3,000 hp (2,240 kW) Tractive effort 409 kN (92,000 lbf) (starting) 365 kN (82,000 lbf) (continuous)
Career Operators Southern Pacific (and Cotton Belt), Rio Grande, Union Pacific Nicknames "tunnel motors" Locale western United States Disposition most still in service as of 2010

This locomotive model was purchased by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and its subsidiary Cotton Belt. Southern Pacific's version has a 4,400-US-gallon (16,700 L; 3,660 imp gal) fuel tank and is 70 feet 8 inches (21.54 m) long. Rio Grande's version has a smaller 4,000-US-gallon (15,100 l; 3,330 imp gal) fuel tank. After merging with Rio Grande, the Southern Pacific and later Union Pacific owned every remaining SD40T-2.

In 2005, most of these units were owned by Union Pacific or leasing companies. By 2008, none were left in service on UP with SP or DRGW reporting marks.[2] DRGW 5371 was the last one, retired in March 2008, and now resides at the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden Utah. Another SD40T-2 is preserved at the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad in Boone, Iowa, and in late 2017, it was announced that another Rio Grande SD40T-2 was going to be donated to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado. On August 22, 2018, UP 9871 (formerly D&RGW 5401) was moved to the museum grounds, and was since “unpatched”, painted to resemble its original appearance from 1980, which included painting the number back to 5401. Three former Rio Grande units,5391,5413,and 8795 are still active on the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad out of Brewster, Ohio.

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.	8278 damaged beyond repair and sold for parts, then scrapped.

Other owners

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
Alabama & Tennessee River	3	2832, 2842, & 5387	2832 & 2842 still in UP yellow. 5387 still in "Bloody nose" paint lost speed lettering as of 5-10-11
America Latina Logistica
Fort Worth and Western Railroad	3	2015-2017, 3252
Buffalo & Pittsburgh	2	3301 & 3302	Both still in KCS Grey
Everywhere West Leasing Co.	1	8702	currently in EWG colors.
Ferrovia Centro Atlântico (Brazil)			Rebuilt as 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ^3⁄8 in) metre gauge BB40T-2s
GECX
HLMX
Indiana & Ohio	3	IORY 4070, 4071, and 4072	All wear RailAmerica red and gray
Kansas City Southern			Rebuilt as SD40-3s
LTEX
MNA (Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad)
NREX	1 conformed	Ex-SP 8317	Given from SP after 1989 Cajon Pass Runaway
New York Susquahanna & Western	4	3010, 3014, (3012 and 3016 have been rebuilt into SD33ECO's)	All units wear Susquehanna "Yellow Jacket" paint. 3014 has "snoot" nose, all others have 88 in (2.24 m) noses.
OHCR
Respondek Rail Corporation (Squaw Creek Southern Railroad)	1	8795	Sold to WE Former UP 8795 & SP 8246
R.J. Corman	9	5353, 5361, 5372, 5409, 8307, 8336, 8569, 8718, 8861
Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA)		3001,3005
Tri-City Railroad (TCRY)	1	37
Wheeling & Lake Erie	2	5391, 5413, 8795	WE 5391 and 5413 are still in D&RGW paint, WE 8795 wears UP colors, Ex-Squaw Creek
Independent Locomotive Service (ILSX)	1	1343	Former UP 2906, UP 4429, & SP 8371

References

1. January 1, Chris Guss |; 2018. "Tunnel (motors) from the past | Trains Magazine". TrainsMag.com. Retrieved 2019-02-13.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
2. "Tunnel Motors, SD45T-2/SD40T-2". American-Rails.com. Retrieved 2019-02-13.

External links

• EMD SD40T-2's at rrpicturearchives.net