Espee SD40-2 and SD40

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me if the Southern Pacific had SD40-2 locos? I have 3 Athearn SD40-2s that I want to do as Espee locos. However I have only found info on Espee SD40s . Is there any external differances? or does the dash 2 designation refer to updated internal features?
Sure appreciate some help.
[e-mail]

[AntonioFP45]

Gilliamq

Southern Pacific had SD40-2s on the roster. They were in the 8500-8600 number series. Just go to railfan.net, go to the locomotive and railroad category and do the search. Quite a few photos.

As for external differences, SP like Santa Fe and other [C):-)] western roads were notorious for making external changes "here and there" on individual models that while fun can drive researching modelers nuts! [%-)] (The Santa Fe FP45 was a good example as each unit had its own personality). Use the photos that you find as a guide. You can also e-mail Model Railroader and ask if they have any archived articles on this or similar units. In my 20 years of reading the magazine, I've seen many articles on SP power. [:D]

Peace & God Bless!

[Anonymous]

The SD40-2 has a slightly longer frame than the SD40, (the 40-2 uses the same length frame as the SD45-2) and the trucks are a little different. I believe the SD40-2 has a larger fuel tank. In addition, the SD40-2 has updated electrical compnents.

Josh Ziegler
Spokane, WA

[SSW9389]

Southern Pacific had ZERO SD40-2 units on its roster. The 8500 and 8600 SDs are rebuillds of earlier SD40, SD45, SDP45 units, not SD40-2s.

Check out Richard Percy's Espee site on railfan.net.

[AntonioFP45]

Hello SSW 9389

Checked out railfan.net again and the units are listed as SD40-2s, however, I looked closely at the photo of locomotive #8644, on the engineer's side. It does not have the sight glass on the long hood that EMD -2s come with from the factory. So you're correct in that these apparently are not "authentic" SD40-2s, even though the extended porches give that appearance. Since they're rebuilds, I bet that there are subtle differences between some of these "SD40-2 wanna bes!" Makes modeling them a challenge as engines like these will have variations within the same railroad.

But in essence, Gilliamq can then still use the Athearn SD40-2, with some minor modifying to represent a unit like #8644. Definetly needs to fill in the sight glass hole with putty!

Thanks for pointing this out! Always a new learning experience! [8D][;)]

[Anonymous]

Southern Pacific did indeed own SD40-2 locomotives.

Two units SP8632 orig.UP3013 and SP8689 orig.UP3101 were produced as SD40-2s from EMD. All of the SD40M-2 locomotives from Morrison Knudsen had dash2 electrical components and wiring. The sight glass spotting feature is overrated with rebuilds as the features inside are not consistent with the bodywork.

The SD40M-2 class contains SD40, SD45, SDP45 and some SD45 carbodies replaced with GP40 hoods and radiators. In HO the Kato SD40 and SD45 would be more accurate starting points for these "late" SP dash2 locomotives.

None of these locomotives is a match for the Athearn HO scale SD40-2 body, but all were equal to any other dash 2 locomotive to SP. Of course you could paint them SPSF merger as former AT&SF power in the merged railroads locomotive mix. Pre-merger with SF or after merger with SPSF the merger that never was could happen in your HO world.

It is your railroad in the end and a look at the espee.railfan.net site for the SD38-2 locomotives that are generally a match for the Athearn SD40-2 as far as carbody. In the "what if" realm, SP could have ordered many SD40-2 units for the lines East rather than SD40T-2. Your railroad and your choice what haistory to use.