Locomotive Phases - EMD SD38, SD39, SD40, SD45
These phases are based on the SD45 roster compiled by David Thompson, with added details based on what I have observed. I have relabelled Thompson's Phase 2b1 as a variation of Phase 2a (Phase 2a3) since the single change in this phase (U-shaped nose grabirons) actually appeared on some earlier units as well. However, there are still two Phase 2b variations, since I have added a subphase for revised traction motor cable routing that appeared in the middle of Phase 2b.
These phases are very similar to those for the GP38 through GP40.
Phases
| Phase | 1a1 | 1a2 | 1a3 | 1b1 | 1b2 | 1c | 2a1 | 2a2 | 2a3 | 2b1 | 2b2 | 2c | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | 1965-12 - 1966-03 | 1966-02 - 1966-03 | 1966-03 - 1966-10 | 1966-10 - 1967-03 | 1967-01 - 1967-06 | 1967-06 | 1967-07 - 1967-08 | 1967-11 - 1968-02 | 1967-10 - 1968-06 | 1968-07 - 1970-02 | 1970-02 - 1971-02 | 1971-03 - 1971-10 | 1971-11 - 1971-12 |
| Cab sub-base doors | Smooth | Ribs on conductor's side | Ribs on both sides | Ribs made full-width (rather than ending before door edges) | |||||||||
| Handbrake | Short hood | Long hood end (SD38, SD39, SD40); Long hood, engineer's side (SD45) | |||||||||||
| Rear hood doors (SD45) | 1-2-4-1 grouping (same as SD40, with added door) | 1-2-2-2-1 grouping (rearmost door on right shortened for handbrake) | |||||||||||
| Truck brake cylinders | Low-mounted | 3 low, 1 high | All high | ||||||||||
| Fans | Flat center cap | Open-top | |||||||||||
| MU receptacle housing | Short, wide, angled side | Tall, narrow, angled bottom | |||||||||||
| End plate | Small tabs at bottom steps, end plates do not extend below steps | Angled extensions at bottom steps, end plate extends to bottom of pilot | Straight edges (as on Dash-2 units) | ||||||||||
| Footboards | Flat plate on side extending behind pilot end plate (as on SD35) | Beveled plate on side flush with pilot end plate (as on Dash-2 units) | |||||||||||
| Fuel tank supports | Triangular brace | Pentagonal brace (rectangle with angled corner) | |||||||||||
| Phase | 1a1 | 1a2 | 1a3 | 1b1 | 1b2 | 1c | 2a1 | 2a2 | 2a3 | 2b1 | 2b2 | 2c | 3 |
| Electrical cabinet air filter box | No (unless subsequently added) | Yes | |||||||||||
| Short hood grabirons | Top-mounted, straight | Bottom-mounted, U-shaped (appeared on some units starting with Phase 1c) | |||||||||||
| Radiator intake subscreen | Diamond mesh | Square wire grid | |||||||||||
| Rear traction motor cables | Split and cross underframe | Similar routing to front | |||||||||||
| Dynamic brake roof vent | No (unless subsequently added) | Yes (additional side vent on SD45 only) | |||||||||||
| Blower duct | Flat | Two horizontal ribs | |||||||||||
| Front taper on dynamic brake housing | Short, angled | Longer, nearly straight | |||||||||||
| Handrail stanchions | bottoms not lined up | revised front corner handrails (SD38, SD39, SD40); bottoms lined up (inconsistent on SD45) | |||||||||||
| Phase | 1a1 | 1a2 | 1a3 | 1b1 | 1b2 | 1c | 2a1 | 2a2 | 2a3 | 2b1 | 2b2 | 2c | 3 |
Other details
- The last orders of Phase 2b2 SD40's (PC 6240-6284) feature Phase 2c-style handrails.
- Depending on the thickness of the end plates (0.75" or 1.5") the overall length is either 65' 8" or 65' 9.5".
- Standard fan arrangement used tall radiator fans and a lower dynamic brake fan. Some units had lowered radiator fans, or a dynamic brake fan raised on a rim.
- Sanding nozzle routing varied, either under or through the brake beams.
References
Sarberenyi, R. EMD's SD45 and SDP45- Original Owners. Retrieved January 2017 from http://www.trainweb.org/jaydeet/sd45.htm
Unofficial EMD Homepage. (2004). SD40 Order Numbers. Retrieved April 2010 from http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/sd40.htm
Unofficial EMD Homepage. (2006). SD45 Order Numbers. Retrieved April 2010 from http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/sd45.htm