status on SD40-2

[Anonymous]

I can see that SD40-2 is still an icon in north american freight, and that modern locomotive manufacturers are using it almost as a measure of some sort
(like when they say: you can replace x SD40-2's with this one)

But, in reality, is its time over? How much do major railroads depend on it now in 2005? Is it slowly becoming scrap material, or is it still one of the most commonly used and relied upon locomotives in US and Canada?

[eolafan]

Don't kid yourself, the SD40-2 will be around for quite a while. We see very many of them on hot intermodals, mainline drags and locals through Eola each and every day of the week. A unit with so much success will be around as long as the GP9 has been around, and some of them are approaching fifty years old...and we still occassionally see some of them in mainline service through here.

[Anonymous]

I'm not thinking either way, I'm simply asking a question cause I'm not from US or Canada

[zardoz]

From the perspective of an engineer that operated them for 20 years:

Part of the reason that the SD40-2 is so refered to, is that it was a tremendous locomotive. They were engineered very well, they rarely failed, would pull lots of tonnage, were very comfortable, and were very predictable in how they operated.

[Anonymous]

If they do become obsolete in class 1 operation, they will go to shortlines or leasing companies.

[espeefoamer]

I think SD40-2s will be around for a long time,even on the class 1s.