Electro Motive SD40-2

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The SD40-2 was one of the best selling locomotives in North America.  It was based on the earlier SD40.  3,957 units of SD40-2 were produced by General Motors Electro Motive Division in LaGrange, Illinois and General Motors Diesel in London, Ontario between 1972 and 1989.  The modular design with a moderate 3,000 horsepower (2,240 kilowatt) turbocharged V16 16-645-E3 diesel engine of the SD40-2 had made the SD40-2 very reliable and more economical than locomotives with higher horsepower from the same era.



The SD40-2 is a 6-axle locomotive (like the other EMD “Special Duty” units) and it is equipped with DC traction motors.  Many railroads still have these locomotives in active service today.  SD40-2 is one of the locomotives included in EMD ECO Repower Programme to meet the EPA Tier 2 emission standard.  For the many of you who know a lot more about the SD40-2 than me and who have had personal experience with it, please kindly leave your own thoughts and experience you would like to share in the comments section, thank you.

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