One of the more interesting aspects of the MK Rail/Espee SD40M-2 rebuild program was that many of the units actually had 16 cylinder 645 engines that were essentialy "chopped" 20 cylinders. MK developed a manufacturing process where they cut part of the crankase off and rebuild the prime movers into an "almost new" 16 cylinder configuration..
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
I think the designation was SD40M-2 or something. MK had also rebuilt GP40's into GP40M-3's. Some went to the Texas Mexican Railway in 1998 but were sold by 2003 because the crews disliked the varations of the units. What I mean by that is some GP40's were older than others and had internal/external differences. When it came to the MK SD40M-2's, the V20 was removed, fans were reconfigured, electrical system rebuilt, trucks modified (I believe the flexicoil trucks had asbestos) and controls rebuilt.
"Look away...look south"
It began life as an SD45, but was rebuilt using a 16 cylinder prime mover during a rebuild by Morrison-Knudsen (now MPI) for SP in the mid 90s and is basically an SD40-2 now.
On a recent trip to the Roseville, Ca. locomotive facility, I spotted an oddity- U.P. 2665, an ex S.P. SD45 still lettered for that road, but with U.P. reporting marks (not so odd). On the cab below the locomotive # however, the markings state that this is an SD40-2. I'm curious if anyone knows, is this an SD40-2 in an SD45 body or is this a railroad mistake? I took a couple photos and can email them to anyone if interested....
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.