Rio Grande's SD40T-2s

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This page was last updated on October 3, 2014.

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Detail differences among D&RGW SD40T-2s.

Compiled from emails posted to the online D&RGW discussion group, along with comments compiled by Lou DiGrazia, with modifications and additions by Jim Eager and Nathan Z, and an email from Jay Barnaby, dated October 3, 2014.

All units (D&RGW 5341-5413, 73 units)

73 units in five separate orders built in 1974 to 1980

blue flag bracket centered on engineer's side of cab only

footrest under front number board immediately left of headlight

sinclair type radio antenna.

two fuel fillers on both sides, one fore, one aft

rerail frog hung beneath deck sills on both sides, two different styles used at different times: "bat wing" or "butterfly" type, then double ramp type

when retrofitted with the PTC system in the mid-1980s a sloped-top equipment cabinet was added on the walkway against the hood between the electrical cabinet filter box and the traction motor blower duct

all units were delivered with extended range dynamic braking

D&RGW 5348 and 5370 wrecked on November 22, 1994; all other units to UP

D&RGW 5350, 5351, 5352, 5368, 5378, 5380, 5387, 5388, 5393, 5394, 5397, 5399, 5412 (13 units) repainted into SP speed letter scheme.

D&RGW 5341-5355 (15 units)

Built in October 1974

EMD order number 74636

diagonal lifting slots at top corners of pilots; top corners of front pilot later notched and new lifting slots cut lower down on *some* units

front MU connection box on deck above pilot

Mars warning light mounted in nose (many units got Pyle Gyralite replacements in later years)

81in nose with ratchet handbrake

early cab subbase doors

bolted cab side window plate

delivered without vents on side of cab, but added later, usually *rearward* on engineer's side, but *rearward* on fireman's side on a few units

Nathan M3 airhorn (some units changed to Nathan P3 beginning in the mid-1980s)

early stand-off style electrical cabinet air filter box (as on the SD45T-2 model)

bolted (at top) radiator access doors (hinges at bottom)

delivered without numbers on rear flank above radiator intake screens, orange (and even *white* on a few units) stencil numbers added after delivery

square pilot, short slots on the battery box doors (Nathan Z.)

D&RGW 5356-5373 (18 units)

Built in July and August 1975

EMD order number 756046

diagonal lifting slots at top corners of pilots; top corners of front pilot later notched and new lifting slots cut lower down on *some* units

front MU connection box on deck above pilot

Mars warning light mounted in nose (same on replacements)

81-inch nose, with ratchet handbrake (D&RGW 5357 refitted in October 1979 with 88-inch nose and a Gyralite mounted on a box welded to the nose due to wreck repair.)

early cab subbase doors

bolted cab side window plate

delivered without vents on side of cab, but added later, usually *rearward* on engineer's side, but *rearward* on fireman's side on a few units

Nathan M3 airhorn (same on replacements)

older stand-off style electrical cabinet air filter box

bolted (at top) radiator access doors (hinges at bottom)

delivered with *orange* numbers on rear flank above radiator intake screens

D&RGW 5374-5385 (12 units)

Built in January 1977

EMD order number 766050

top corners of front pilot notched as delivered

front MU connection on face of pilot

Mars warning light mounted in nose (same on replacements), *not* painted black as delivered

88-inch nose, with wheel handbrake

later cab subbase doors

bolted cab side window plate

delivered with *forward* vent on fireman's side of cab, none on engineer's side

Nathan M3 airhorn (same on replacements)

later style electrical cabinet air filter box against cab wall and hood (as on the original Athearn SD40T-2)

latched radiator access doors (hinges at top)

D&RGW 5386-5397 (12 units)

Built in August 1978

EMD order number 776098

top corners of front pilot notched as delivered

front MU connection on face of pilot

Pyle Gryralite mounted *on box* welded to nose

88-inch nose with wheel handbrake

later cab subbase doors

bolted cab side window plate on most units, welded on a few units

delivered with *rearward* vent on fireman's side of cab, none on engineer's side

Nathan M3 airhorn (same on replacements)

later style electrical cabinet air filter box

latched radiator access doors (hinges at top)

D&RGW 5398-5413 (16 units)

Built in March 1980

EMD order number 786264

top corners of front pilot notched as delivered

front MU connection on face of pilot

Pyle Gryralite mounted *in* nose

88-inch nose with wheel handbrake

later cab subbase doors

welded cab window plate

delivered with *rearward* vent on fireman's side of cab, none on engineer's side

Leslie RSL-3L airhorns

later style electrical cabinet air filter box

exhaust silencer hatch with associated bulged section of dynamic brake blisters

latched radiator access doors (hinges at top)

dial fuel gauge now mounted on top of tank instead of inset in side of tank

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