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

sample photo

BCOL #759, a Phase 3a 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. In March 2025 I revamped my phases for EMD-built SD40-2's, and in the process I relabelled my former GMD Phase 2c, 2d, 2e1 and 2e2 as Phases 3a through 3d.

Phases - SD40-2

Phase 1a1 1a2 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 3c 3d
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
(right 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
(left side)
Hinged Lift-off tabs
Battery box cover
(right side)
Hinged, same as EMD SD40 Bolted, 2 small louvres (as on early EMD SD40-2) Latched,
lift-off tabs,
2 x 2 louvres
Battery box cover
(left side)
Bolted, 2 small louvres (as on early EMD SD40-2) Larger louvres Horizontal rib added Latched,
lift-off tabs,
2 x 2 louvres
Cab side panel around window None Riveted, 11 rivets along top/bottom Riveted, 13 rivets along top/bottom Welded
Phase 1a1 1a2 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 3c 3d
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" 81" or 102"
Small rectangular vent
on right side (102" only)
88" (BCOL Phase 3a) or 102"
Larger rectangular vent
Rectangular vent moved rearward
Radiators, fans Square wire grid intakes; flat-topped fans Corrugated intakes Q-type fans
Stepwell corners Rounded Angled, beveled Notched bottom corners
ECAFBElectrical cabinet air filter box, located on the left behind the cab
Separated from cab Flush with cab
Trucks   Revised center axle shock strut
Jacking pads Tall No casting hole Short
Underframe   Vertical fuel gauge added to front of fuel tank Revised fuel tank vent pipe Revised air reservoir piping on left side MU shutoff valves moved from behind steps to above truck
Phase 1a1 1a2 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 3c 3d
Traction motor cables #1 motor cables on left side,
#2 motor cables on right side,
both routed to near fuel tank
Revised rear
left cable routing
#2 cables on left side,
#1 and #2 cables
routed under cab
Revised front left (#1) cable routing
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,
lift rings moved closer to fans
Exhaust Raised exhaust stack Silencer with opening at rear Silencer with opening at front
Frame side sill, handrails Side sill 8" tall at ends,
5" over air reservoirs
Revised left-side handrail stanchion spacing Side sill 5" over entire length
Phase 1a1 1a2 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 3c 3d

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.

When I first made these phase descriptions back in the mid-2000s, I limited "Phase 2" to units with corrugated radiator intakes in an attempt to bring the details in line with EMD SD40-2 production. However, that left the first four phases grouped tightly together as Phases 1a1, 1a2, 1a3, and 1b. In March 2025, while revamping SD40-2 phase descriptions, I relabelled them as Phases 1, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3 - which makes more sense for the sequence of detail changes and is a closer match with the timeline for standard-cab units.

Phase 1 2a 2b 2c 3
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
Cab Round sand hatches,
connected windshield wipers
Rectangular sand hatches Independent windshield wipers,
ridge along front corners of cab roof
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
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,
lift rings moved closer to fans
Exhaust Raised exhaust stack Silencer
Radiators, fans Square wire grid intakes; flat-topped fans Corrugated intakes, Q-type fans
Phase 1 2a 2b 2c 3

Other details

Modifications

CN made a number of modifications to these units over the years:

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