EMD SD40A

EMD SD40A
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) Model SD40A Build date 1969 – 1970 Total produced 18
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Prime mover EMD 16-645E3 Engine type V16 diesel Cylinders 16
Performance figures Power output 3,000 hp (2,240 kW)
Career Operators Illinois Central Numbers 6006 – 6023 Locale United States Disposition At least one preserved, most retired

The EMD SD40A is a model of diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1969 and 1970. 18 locomotives were built for the Illinois Central Railroad.

History

A total of 18 units were built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division exclusively for the Illinois Central Railroad between 1969 and 1970. The SD40A was designed as an EMD SD40 built on a frame of an EMD SDP45. The longer SDP45 frame allowed for a larger, 5000 gallon fuel tank.

This locomotive is powered by a 16-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine, which could provide 3,000 horsepower (2,240 kW). Illinois Central Railroad used the SD40A as a long-range road-switcher, utilizing the larger fuel tank found on the SDP45.

In 1972, the Illinois Central Railroad merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad to form the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, this resulted in all of the units being repainted into the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad's paint scheme between 1984 and 1986 but kept the "Illinois Central" lettering. They would be repainted again between 1986 and 1989, but were patched with the "ICG" lettering.

Illinois Central sold six of its SD40As to locomotive leasing companies Helm Leasing and National Railway Equipment in 1992. The rest of the fleet were rebuilt as SD40-2R locomotives, during which their dynamic brakes were uninstalled and the locomotive cabs modified. Illinois Central's successor Canadian National Railway retired its remaining SD40As for scrapping in 2010. Locomotives 6009 and 6014 were acquired by Indiana Boxcar Corporation.

Preservation

IC #6014 in its Illinois Central Gulf livery.

• Illinois Central 6014 is preserved by Railexco, and is currently undergoing restoration. The unit was purchased by Railexco in 2023 and are planning to operate the unit by the end of 2025.

Further reading

• Del Grosso, Robert C. (2001). Canadian National Railway Historical Review and Motive Power Directory. Great Northern Pacific Publications.
• Murray, Tom (1882). Illinois Central Railroad. Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-1-61060-007-1.