Built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, the SD40-2 is a 3,000 HP, diesel electric locomotive. It remained in production from 1972 thru 1989 and was one of the best-selling locomotives in EMD history selling more than 4,000 examples.
First introduced in January of 1972, the SD40-2 features solid state, modular electronic control systems which are an improvement over the original SD40 model. It uses the turbocharged 16 cylinder model 645 prime mover and rides on standard Flexicoil trucks.
The great reliability and versatility of the SD40-2 set the standard of the industry for several decades in operation. Even now, more than 50 years after entering service, SD-40s remain in service with major railroads throughout North America. It
This portrait features an SD40-2 of the Union Pacific Railroad. This particular locomotive started life with the Chicago & North Western railroad and became part of the Union Pacific Railroad after the two merged in 1995.