my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

D&RGW GP40-2

3094 - 3130

37 units delivered

see also: DRGW GP40-2 #3129 walkaround

Rio Grande's first order of 12 GP40-2's was delivered in April of 1972 as #3094 - 3105.
December of 1972 saw another 10 delivered as #3106 - 3115.
September of 1974 saw yet another 12 delivered as #3116 - 3127, a lone unit #3128 was delivered in November of 1974 to replace wrecked GP40 #3063.
Two more units #3129 and #3130 were delivered in March of 1983 as wreck replacements, (for GP30 #3025 and GP40 #3058).

Rio Grande GP40-2's four orders exhibit some differences:

• All DRGW GP40-2's ride on the older Blomberg B's instead of the more standard Blomberg M's,
• #3113 - 3115 all have an unusual exhaust silencer, see 7/1998 RMC for modeling details,
• #3122 has corrugated radiator screens,
• #3129 and #3130 have 'Free Flow' blower ducts, 'Q' fans, large anticlimber etc, see 11/1990 RMC for modeling details,

Models available:

• N Scale:
  • Atlas

• HO Scale:
  • Athearn

• O Scale:
  • Central Locomotive Works

Model References:

• Railroad Model Craftsman Nov. '90 Page 60 - HO Scale kitbashing article for #3120 and #3130 units.
• Railroad Model Craftsman July '98 Page 54 - N Scale kitbashing article for #3113.

Prototype References:

• SP.....into the '90's by Joe.W.Shine, Pages 142 - 145. Has photo's of these units.
• 1995 Southern Pacific Motive Power Annual by Bill Shippen.
• Southern Pacific Rails - a motive power finale by Peter Limas has a number of images and data concerning DRGW GP40-2's.