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Locomotive Phases - GMD SD40-2, SD40-2(W)

sample photo

BCOL #759, a Phase 2c GMD SD40-2 seen in 2004.

For the development of the US-built EMD SD40-2 and relevant phases, see the EMD SD40-2 phases.

The transition from the GMD SD40 to the SD40-2 was generally the same as for their EMD counterparts. Most of the phase changes occurred at the same time as in EMD SD40-2 production, although a few minor changes occurred later.

Some of the features generally associated with GMD locomotive production (such as vertical corner steps and nose-mounted headlights) were more a question of railroad specifications than of differences from EMD. When GMD built several orders of SD40-2's for BN while EMD was at capacity, they were virtually identical to their US-built counterparts. Likewise, when EMD built an order of early CP SD40-2's, they were built to GMD/CP specs.

These phases are based on my own observations in combination with sources I used for US-built SD40-2 phases.

Phases - SD40-2

Phase 1a1 1a2 1b 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e1 2e2
Dates 1972-02 -
1972-12
1972-12 1973-04 -
1976-02
1977-10 -
1979-01
1979-10 -
1979-11
1980-09 -
1981-03
1982-12 -
1983-02
1983-02 -
1983-09
1984-10 -
1985-07
Blower duct Flat, wide, no ribs 2 ribs (EMD-built) No ribs Angled "laundry chute"
Cab sub-base (engineer's side) Hinged, middle latch offset toward front Middle latch offset toward rear Hinged, middle latch centered (as on early EMD SD40-2)
Cab sub-base (conductor's side) Hinged panels Panels with lift-off tabs
Battery box cover (engineer's side) Hinged, same as EMD SD40 Bolted, small louvres (as on early EMD SD40-2) Lift-off tabs
Battery box cover (conductor's side) Bolted, small louvres (as on early EMD SD40-2) Larger louvres Horizontal rib added Lift-off tabs
Cab side panel around window None Riveted, 11 rivets along top/bottom Riveted, 13 rivets along top/bottom Welded
Radiators, fans Square wire grid intakes; flat-topped fans Corrugated intakes Q-type fans
ECAFB Separated from cab (Electrical cabinet air filter box, located on the left behind the cab) Flush with cab
Stepwell corners Rounded Angled, beveled
Phase 1a1 1a2 1b 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e1 2e2
Pilots Straight upper end plate corners, straight coupler cut levers Notched upper end plate corners, raised coupler cut levers Shorter corner handrails
Short hood 81" or 102" Revised vent on engineer's side   88" or 102"
Trucks   Revised center axle shock strut
Underframe   Vertical fuel gauge added to front of fuel tank Revised fuel tank vent pipe Revised air reservoir piping on conductor's side Revised traction motor cable routing
Jacking pads Tall No casting hole Short
Inertial air intake   Ridge added along bottom (inconsistent on earlier units)
Dynamic brakes Batten strip at rear of dynamic brake housing No batten strip, dynamic brake housing moved rearward
Exhaust Raised exhaust stack Silencer with opening at rear Silencer with opening at front
Frame side sill, handrails Narrow over air reservoirs Altered handrail stanchion spacing Narrow over entire length
Phase 1a1 1a2 1b 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e1 2e2

Phases - SD40-2(W)

sample SD40-2(W) photo

CN SD40-2(W) #5250, seen in 2008.

The SD40-2(W) followed some of the same detail changes as the GMD SD40-2. However, it was not affected by changes specific to the standard cab, such as the side panel around the windows, cab sub-base, battery box covers or the length of the short hood. It also retained wire mesh radiator intakes significantly later before adopting corrugated intakes. As CN was the only buyer, there were no railroad-specific variations.

Phase 1a1 1a2 1a3 1b 2
Dates 1975.05 - 1975.07 1976.01 1978.07 - 1978.10 1979.12 - 1980.05 1980.12
CN Numbers 5241-5261, 5262-5278 5279-5293 5294-5313 5314-5323, 5324-5353 5354-5362
Hand brake Connected to 1 brake cylinder, chain around pulley below wheel Housing moved forward, straight chain below wheel, chain pipe more horizontal Connected to both brake cylinders, chain pipe more steeply angled
Handrails Horizontal jog on left side behind cab to clear door latch Rear handrail stanchions near brake wheel moved forward Vertical dip and shorter stanchion on left side behind cab to clear door latch
Cab Round sand hatches, connected windshield wipers Rectangular sand hatches Independent windshield wipers, ridge along front corners of cab roof
Rearmost hood door Welded panel with louvered bolted panel underneath Tall hinged and louvered door
Stepwell corners Rounded Angled, beveled
Jacking pads Tall No casting hole Short
Trucks   Revised center axle shock strut
Dynamic brakes Batten strip at rear of dynamic brake housing No batten strip Dynamic brake housing moved rearward
Exhaust Raised exhaust stack Silencer
Radiators, fans Square wire grid intakes; flat-topped fans Corrugated intakes, Q-type fans
Phase 1a1 1a2 1a3 1b 2

Other details

References

CNRPhotos. (2005). 5200s - SD40-2(w). Retrieved October 2014 from http://www.cnrphotos.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=10320

Unofficial EMD Homepage. (2005). SD40-2 Order Numbers. Retrieved January 2017 from http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/sd40-2.htm

van Schoonhoven, W. (2016). CPR Diesel Roster. Retrieved January 2017 from http://www.mountainrailway.com/Diesel%20Roster%20Page.htm