PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO:

The EMD SD40-2 is a 3,000-horsepower (2,200 kW) C-C diesel-electric locomotive built by EMD from 1972 to 1989.

The SD40-2 was introduced in January 1972 as part of EMD's Dash 2 series, competing against the GE U30C and the ALCO Century 630. Although higher-horsepower locomotives were

available, including EMD's own SD45-2, the reliability and versatility of the 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 made it the best-selling model in EMD's history and the standard of the industry for several

decades after its introduction. The SD40-2 was an improvement over the SD40, with modular electronic control systems similar to those of the experimental DDA40X.

Peak production of the SD40-2 was in the mid-1970s. Sales of the SD40-2 began to diminish after 1981 due to the oil crisis, increased competition from GE's Dash-7 series and the introduction

of the EMD SD50, which was available concurrently to late SD40-2 production. The last SD40-2 delivered to a United States railroad was built in July 1984, with production continuing for

railroads in Canada until 1988, Mexico until February 1986, and Brazil until October 1989.

SD40-2s are still quite usable nearly fifty years after the first SD40 was made, and many SD40s and locomotives from the pre-Dash-2 series (GP/SD 40s, 39s and 38s, and even some SD45s)

have been updated to Dash-2 specifications, possibly including downgrading from 20-645E to 16-645E engines, including, certainly, Dash-2 electrical controls, although the pre-Dash-2 frames

cannot accommodate the somewhat similar HTC truck in the space allocated to the Flexicoil C truck (the frame is not long enough). Most SD40-2s which remain in service have by now been

rebuilt "in-kind" for another 30 to 40 years of service, although a few (under 30) have been rebuilt to incorporate a 12-cylinder EFI-equipped 710G engine.

LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

    Fully assembled and ready-to-run
    Four road numbers
    Coupler cut levers with loops
    Trainline and MU hoses with silver ends
    "Mushroom" nose vent on right side
    Separately applied wire grab irons
    Antiglare panel
    Standard late Dash-2 4-window cab without louvers or roof seam
    See through cab windows
    Sliding cab side windows
    Welded ECAFB
    See-through dynamic brake and radiator fans
    Fine scale handrails
    Frame mounted bell
    Detailed 4000 gallon fuel tank
    Separately applied air tanks
    Speed recorder attached to appropriate axle per prototype (except undecorated)
    McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers
    Highly-detailed, injection molded body
    Painted and printed for realistic decoration
    Bi-directional constant lighting so headlight brightness remains consistent
    All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
    All-wheel electrical pickup
    5-pole motor with flywheels and multi-link drivetrain for trouble-free operation
    Compatible with ATHG63839 Genesis motor retrofit kit
    Window packaging for easy viewing
    Interior plastic blister safely holds the model for convenient storage
    DCC Ready 8 and 9 pin Quick Plug™ technology
    Available also with factory installed RTR Sound by Soundtraxx
    Nickel plated, blackened machined wheels
    Wheels with RP25 contours operate on Code 55, 70, 75, 80, 83, 100 rail
    Replacement parts available including motor brushes
    Minimum radius: 18"
    Recommended radius: 22"

ROADNAME AND ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:
Chicago & North Western

    All road numbers
        Chicken wire grills
        No anticlimber
        Early battery boxes
        Early Extended dynamic brakes
        S-3 horn on cab
        Large Sinclair radio antenna
        Cab mirrors
        Cab side vent
        Prime stratolight beacon; flashes in DCC on RTR sound version
        81" nose with early ratchet brake and CNW Gong Bell
        MU stands front and rear
        Late-style cut levers
        Early speed recorder
    #6910 & 6922:
        Special decoration for C&NW "Falcon Service" intermodal trains
        Era 1976+
    #6898 & 6913:
        Standard C&NW paint
        Era 1975+