my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

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

D&RGW SD40T-2

5341 - 5413

73 units delivered

Kevin Morgans' DRGW Roster

D&RGW was the only other Railroad to purchase the 'Tunnel Motor' version of EMD's SD40-2 series, receiving 5 orders over a 6 year period.

The 'merger' of D&RGW and SP in April of 1988 brought all the 'tunnel motors' under one owner.

For paint and other details, best consult the references listed below, however, the major difference between D&RGW and SP SD40T-2's is the DRGW units have shorter fuel tanks.

#5341-5373 had 81" noses and the #5374-5413 had 88" noses. As these were delivered in 5 orders there are a lot of other minor differences between them. As always, consult a photograph of the unit you wish to model to get it right.

Some units received 'Speed Lettering' paint, but still carried their original numbers.

Models available:

• N Scale:
  • in the mid 1980's Key imported from Taiwan a model of the SD40T-2. It had truck mounted pilots, but was otherwise a fine model. It was produced in undec, DRGW and SP.
  • Overland Models brass
  • Intermountain have announced an SD40T-2

• HO Scale:
  • Athearn

• O Scale:
  • Central Locomotive Works

Model References:

• Railroad Model Craftsman, May, '75 Page 33 - Plans for an SP unit...
• Railroad Model Craftsman, Sep, '88 Page 19, - Superdetailing an Athearn model.
• Model Railroader, Aug, '89 Page 75, - Superdetailing an Athearn model.

Prototype References:

• SP.....into the '90's by Joe.W.Shine, Pages 151 - 155. 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 SD40T-2's.

additional information on this page kindly supplied by Gary Smart.

N Scale information kindly submitted by Randall Jacobs.