The EMD GP40 is a 4-axle diesel-electric

locomotive A locomotive is a rail transport, rail vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, Push–pull train, push–pull operation has become common, and in the pursuit for ...

built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between November 1965 and December 1971. It has an EMD 645E3 16-

cylinder A cylinder () has traditionally been a three-dimensional solid, one of the most basic of curvilinear geometric shapes. In elementary geometry, it is considered a prism with a circle as its base. A cylinder may also be defined as an infinite ...

engine generating . The GP40 is longer than its EMD 567D3A-engined predecessor, the GP35, and distinguished visually by its three 48-inch radiator fans at the rear of the long hood, while the GP35 has two large fans and a smaller one in between. It was built on a frame; the GP35 was built on a frame - as was the GP7, 9, 18, and 30. The difference in length can be seen in the GP40's ten handrail stanchions compared to the GP35's nine. 1,187 GP40s were built for 28 U.S. railroads; 16 were built for one Canadian carrier, Canadian National; and 18 were built for two Mexican carriers, Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico and Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México. 60 units were built with high-short-hoods and dual control stands for Norfolk & Western Railway. Two passenger versions, the GP40P and GP40TC, were also built, but on longer frames to accommodate

steam generators A steam generator is a form of low water-content boiler (steam generator), boiler, similar to a flash steam boiler. The usual construction is as a spiral coil of water-tube boiler, water-tube, arranged as a single, or monotube boiler, monotube, c ...

and HEP equipment. On January 1, 1972, the GP40 was discontinued and replaced by the GP40-2, which has a modular electrical system and a few minor exterior changes.

Images

File:DME loco.jpg, A

Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City. Before its purchase, it was the largest Class II railroad in the United States, operating across South Dakota and southern Minnesot ...

GP40 running

long hood forward The long hood of a hood unit-style diesel locomotive is, as the name implies, the longer of the two hoods (narrower sections of the locomotive body in front and behind of the cab) on a locomotive, particularly American-type freight locomotives. ...

File:WAMX_4037.jpg, A GP40 of

Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad is a Railroad classes, Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United Stat ...

heritage, now owned by Webb Asset Management File:HATX 519 EMD GP40.jpg, A GP40 owned by Helm Locomotive Leasing File:Sulphur Springs January 2016 5 (LTEX GP40 No. 3000).jpg, A GP40 owned by Larry's Truck & Electric (LTEX) File:BNSF 3004 Lincoln, NE 3-21-11.JPG, Ex-Burlington Northern GP40M no. 3004 at Lincoln, Nebraska in 2011

Original owners

GP40P GP40TC

Rebuilds

GP40N

Union Pacific has rebuilt 129 of their GP40's and GP40-2's into GP40N's at their Jenk's shop. These units received a microprocessor control system to increase adhesion, control options, and extend the life of the locomotive.

GP22ECO

The GP22ECO is a locomotive built from recycled GP40/GP40-2 parts. The frame, trucks, and carbody are refurbished, while the 16-645 engine is replaced with a new 8-710-ECO engine. The electrical system is replaced with a modern microprocessor-based system. Horsepower is reduced to 2,150 due to the smaller engine.

Preservation

* Baltimore & Ohio #3684 is preserved at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

. *

Penn Central The Penn Central Transportation Company, commonly abbreviated to Penn Central, was an American class I railroad that operated from 1968 to 1976. Penn Central combined three traditional corporate rivals, the Pennsylvania, New York Central and the ...

#3118 (ex-Conrail, ex-DRGW) was purchased by the Austin Steam Train Association in 2024. The locomotive is currently in its Horizon Rail livery and numbered 3134. The engine has also been updated with a microprocessor, making it a GP40-3.

References

Bibliography

External links

* GP40 GP40 B-B locomotives Diesel–electric locomotives of the United States Railway locomotives introduced in 1965 Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States Standard-gauge locomotives of Canada Standard-gauge locomotives of Mexico Diesel–electric locomotives of Canada Diesel–electric locomotives of Mexico Baltimore and Ohio locomotives Canadian National Railway locomotives Chesapeake and Ohio locomotives Chicago, Burlington and Quincy locomotives Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad locomotives Illinois Central locomotives Milwaukee Road locomotives New York Central Railroad locomotives Norfolk and Western Railway locomotives Soo Line locomotives Western Pacific Railroad locomotives {{diesel-loco-stub