SD40 - CNRHA

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CN SD40 family — types

The SD40 is a popular locomotive in North America. It is used in large numbers by many railways. The SD40 puts out 3000 HP, has six-wheel C-C trucks, and has a top speed of about 65 miles per hour (105 km per hour).

The CN SD40 family can be divided into five main groups:

the original SD40s: 5000-5240. These are all narrow cab units. Some, but not all, have dynamic brakes. There is a variation on the rear headlights: some have a single light while some have a dual over and under arrangement.
the SD40-2s: 5241-5363. These are all wide cab units and have single rear headlights. Not all have dynamic brakes.
the UP SD40s: 5364-5387. These narrow cab units were purchased from UP and rebuilt to CN standards. Not all have dynamic brakes. The all have dual side by side rear headlights.
the ex-CP locomotives: 5388-5395. These narrow cab locomotives with dynamic brakes are still painted in various variations of CP colours.
the rebuilt SD40s: 6000-6028. These were rebuilt from other narrow cab CN SD40s. Their distinguishing feature is the longer short hood that contains a larger washroom and special impact bracing. They all have narrow cabs, dynamic brakes, and dual over and under rear headlights.

This is CN 5143, a narrow cab SD40 built in 1970. It has the normal size front hood (compared to the rebuilt SD40s), and has the bell on the front of the cab above the windows. It has a single rear headlight.

CN 5309 is a standard wide cab SD40-2. This particular locomotive is somewhat different than most SD40s in that the numbers on the number board are in a different font (compare to 6014 and 5143 on this page); this is a common feature of SD40s that belong(ed) to Ontario Hydro.

CN 5370 is a former UP locomotive rebuilt to CN specifications. Note that there is no bell centred above the cab as do most CN SD40s (compare with CN 5198 in rear of photo). Also note that the brake wheel on the left hand side of the short hood has been converted to a brake ratchet system. All the ex-UP SD40s have dual side by side rear lights — these are the only CN SD40s to have these sort of lights.

These photos are of 5391, 5392, 5393 and 5395. Notice the difference in the ex-CP paint schemes. 5392 does not have the CN noodle; the others do.

This is CN 6014, rebuilt from CN 5045 in 1995. It has a longer front hood than the standard SD40; this has a larger washroom and improved crash bracing. The bell (barely visible in the photo of the front end of the locomotive) is below the cab on the left hand side. The rear headlight is a dual over-and-under model, like the original SD40s from which the 6000-series was built.