SD40-2s

[silicon212]

Although dash 3 was becoming available at the time, I do believe these (the SP units) were all dash 2 rebuilds.  1994, if I recall.

[WCfan]

Yep, some of the SD40M-2s that where rebuilt from SD45s still might have there "wings" on.

Wouldn't of MK rebuilt them to SD40-3 standards? As most of the rebuilt SD40s now are rebuilt with -3 standards.

[silicon212]

The SD40M-2 is actually a rebuild from Morrison Knudsen in the 90s for SP.  It was inherited by UP in the merger.

It could have been built from an SD40, SD40-2, SD45 or SD45-2.  In any case, they are electrically and mechanically an SD40-2.

[legsbluetrain]

Last week,I caught an SD40M-2 UP 2753.Yes,I said SD40M-2.That's what it said on the cab.I got it on video.

[BigJim]

I'm not an engineer so I'm just guessing.  I would think that the ability to load quickly is a major factor since that's needed for kicking cars when flat switching.

EXACTLY

[WP 3020]

Recalling some tales of 6 axle vs. 4 axle (1st gen EMD) from some Espee engineers, I remember one preferred the  SD9s over the GP9s because the GP lacked the extra breaking. Some spurs and branches required the lighter axle loading (weight distribution) of a 6 axle loco.

[Railfan1]

CSX has recently retired a few of the -2s and placed some into storage. I thought they were trading some of them in on the ES44AC(AH)s, but things must have changed.

[Railway Man]

SD40-2s were usually not built with heavy-duty power contactors because it was not contemplated they would ever be used for anything other than road service.  The heavy-duty contactors will tolerate a high cycle rate without burning or arcing.  Most GP38-2s, however, were equipped with heavy-duty power contactors, as are switch engines, because the GP38-2 was going to be a switch engine as much as a road engine. 

Other things besides weight and their habit of turning over rails on rotten ties on curves -- like you would find in an industrial spur -- that make an SD40-2 or any six-axle locomotive a poor choice for switching is that the FRA sets the maximum amount of wheel thickness variance in a three-axle truck at 3/4" (if I remember the rules correctly), whereas a two-axle truck has no such requirement.  Accordingly the SD40-2 has to have a lot more wheel truing, and because it has a stiffer truck, it's going to have more wheel wear, and thus will go through wheel sets a lot faster.

Rerailing six-axle locomotives, and dealing with that big truck in the shop, is also not much fun.

RWM

[fredswain]

That's exactly what it looks like. It's strange though. It's usually coupled in the middle somewhere (3 or 4 engine consist) and from what I have seen there is always an engineer. At least most of the time there is. I need to pay more attention.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The U-boat shell is probably a remote control master.  UP has a small fleet of them in the UPY 100 series:  http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=738635   They are coupled to locomotives that are not equipped for remote control in order to allow them to be used in remote control.

[fredswain]

The switchers in the yard near my house are typically older units. They've got 4 or 5 SW1500's, a GP-38, an SD-40-2, and a couple of old U boats. What interests me about the U boats is that the fuel tanks are removed. I have no idea why. They usually switch the yard with engines in groups of 3 or 4 and it's always a conglomerate. What is the reasoning for removing a fuel tank on an engine but having it coupled up to an engine consist for switching?

 

[route_rock]

  You guys hit the nail on the head. The 70s are slow to load. When i want to kick I want to kick NOW lol.

 Same thing with ust giving a light pin.come out to notch two on a 40 and your going to start moving right now. On the 70 ace its like a darned old GE, gotta mail the request back to the plant for power. It just slows the operation is all.

  Not to mention the fact of why I like 40's is I grew up with them. SO I prefer them (unless its hot out then give me  a comfort cab lol)

 

[EJE818]

Some places simply can't handle the size or weight of SD70s wihotu a derailment happening. That is one problem with newer engines, they can be too big for certain branch line and yard service. I would expect SD40-2s and GP38-2s to be assigned to these services until a new smaller engine is released.

[WCfan]

What makes an engine a good one to use for switching? In other words why was an SD70 bad?

If I where an engineer I don't think I'd like a SD70 for switching because of the very long hood. You can't see very well around it. For an SD70ACe, you have the large radiator that in somewhat in your way. That's my guess

.

[trainfan1221]

The SD40-2 is a classic locomotive and it is a shame it is rapidly disappearing from the landscape.  And the ones that are left seem to be used as pushers or just simply never in the lead anymore. I know as time goes on the new standards will assure that this will never be seen again.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

What makes an engine a good one to use for switching? In other words why was an SD70 bad?

I'm not an engineer so I'm just guessing.  I would think that the ability to load quickly is a major factor since that's needed for kicking cars when flat switching.

[fredswain]

What makes an engine a good one to use for switching? In other words why was an SD70 bad?

[route_rock]

  No the jobs were flat switch jobs. To us a trimmer job is something in a hump yard. Back n Galesburg the trimmer jobs were remote SD 40-2 ( some were SF motors and some nitpicker is going to go all postal cause it isnt a 40 well to us it is )

  I got to run a 40 on the BWWLAU the other night!! Was great even though it was hot as hell and when we got off we looked like a steam crew lol.Had it an SD60 and a GP60M in the old warbonnet scheme. When I gave her hte gas going through boulder we looked like a triple headed steam consist not diesels. SO I had a ball with that all the way to cheyenne. That Gp60 was the worst, clouds and clouds of smoke whenever youd advance the throttle and on grades my goodnes they were all puring it out.

[WP 3020]

I don't know how many BNSF had at their peak but I do know Youpee had more (well over 1,000) SD40-2s than any RR after the CN&W mergover. Anything in the 3000 series was a dynamic brake equipped SD40-2. I thought I remember hearing they had nearly or just over half the entire production. But they (wishful thinking Youpee fans) and I could be wrong.

[crpulse]

The SD40-2s wil be here a while. UP and BNSF use them for their "surge fleets", and with the expected increase in freight traffic I doubt EMD and GE will be able to build them fast enough to replace such a large fleet and keep up with demand created by the increased traffic.

[SD60M]

  Our yard power consists of an SD-40-2 and a gp 38. The other night that set was taken already and the other gp junkers were lost somewhere. So what do I get to switch with? You got it a one year old SD-70 ACe. Not fun in the least.Granted I could have puled the yard around but pinning the cars ws a pain in the rear.

Was that a trimmer job by chance? From what i have seen BNSF Tennessee Yard uses a SD40-2 and GP38-2 for trimmers and one SD40-2 is a UNPATCHED BN whiteface! I got a tour from a friend that works for them. Any way getting back to SD40's BNSF uses alot around here on the Thayer South and Birmingham Subs on all trains but coal, alot are FURX but some are still BNSF.

[wctransfer]

Someday for me is everyday. Today I caught a good amount of them that I didn't have on my roster yet. Im not going to wait till' the last minute to really appreciate them.

Alec

[MILW205]

theres so many SD-40's out there i doubt my children (who range from 20 to 3) will be missing them....heres a unit in Owosso MI around 1993...the TSBY was contracted to rebuild this one and others...the day i took this shot there was 3 more under load tests parked outside behind 4 TSBY units either to dampen the sound or keep prying eyes away...point is they're still being rebuilt and will be around long after im gone

 

 

Today's SD40-2's are yesterday's F-units.  Someday, we'll all be chasing around the last of 'em.

[csxengineer98]

they will slowly faid them off the rosters as the EPA clean air restrictions get tighter and tighter as time rolls on...

the major railroads getting tax breaks to buy new engins that are lower emistions engins and ones that get better fuel milage becouse of the "green" movement they will either be rebuilt with emistions equipment to meet the newer emistions standerds (which could cost more in the long run then to just buy new "clean" power from EMD GE and the new comers to the market that make gensets and other low emistions power)... its all about the bottom line when it comes to anything with the carriers..and when the expeces of upgradeing..fuel costs.. and they have made purches of what they think is a is the magic number of new units on the proporty to fill the power needs..you will see more and more of them being retired... 

csx engineer 

[Stevo3751]

If it's true, it will take serveral years for the Class 1s to trade them all in because there are still a lot left.

[J. Edgar]

theres so many SD-40's out there i doubt my children (who range from 20 to 3) will be missing them....heres a unit in Owosso MI around 1993...the TSBY was contracted to rebuild this one and others...the day i took this shot there was 3 more under load tests parked outside behind 4 TSBY units either to dampen the sound or keep prying eyes away...point is they're still being rebuilt and will be around long after im gone

 

[sanvtoman]

NS still uses high hood units in Toledo as switch units. I think they are numbered 3100 or so and up. Some are former Southern units i think.

[route_rock]

  Our yard power consists of an SD-40-2 and a gp 38. The other night that set was taken already and the other gp junkers were lost somewhere. So what do I get to switch with? You got it a one year old SD-70 ACe. Not fun in the least.Granted I could have puled the yard around but pinning the cars ws a pain in the rear.

[blade]

if i recall corectly i belive that either cn or cp are retiering the sd40-2's i belive they are bieng donated or at one or two to museums.actually i love the sd40-2 it is one of my favorite diesel engines.