Like it's 4 axle counterpart, the SD-40 is powered by a 16 cylinder 645 series diesel engine. Conrail inherited its fleet of 118 units from the Penn Central and Jersey Central. 110 units came from the Penn Central, 65 from the PRR (2-3/66), and 45 purchased by the PC (12/70 - 1/71). The 8 Jersey Central units were actually purchased by the CNJ's parent company Baltimore and Ohio in 1967, because the CNJ was in such bad financial condition. Like the GP-40's and SD-45's, these modern units were worked very hard in the early days of Conrail. Some units served as Horseshoe Curve Helpers from the late 1980's through the mid-1990's. After being replaced in this service in the mid-1990's by SD40-2's, 31 of these units have been rebuilt at Conrail's Altoona Shops to SD40-2 specifications and have been dubbed SD40-3's. These units continue working for in the shared assets areas, and in the lease fleets of Helm (HLMX), First Union (FURX), and others into the new millennium.
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Ex-CNJ SD40 6288 leads a big lashup on a coal train at Abrams Yard near King of Prussia, Pa. on March 17, 1980 Photo by Mike Szilagyi |
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Conrail SD-40 6292, formerly a CNJ locomotive, leads a train at Port Kennedy, Pa. in March, 1978 Photo by Mike Szilagyi |
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Thirteen years later, we see Conrail SD40 6292 eastbound at Robesonia, Pa. in October, 1991. |
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A few minutes later, Another eastbound passes led by Conrail SD-40 6318, this SD40 began its life with the PRR. This location is on the busy Harrisburg line, west of Reading, Pa. |
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Ex-PC SD-40 6261 at Bethlehem Engine Terminal late on a November, 1978 day. |
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Conrail SD-40 6256 leads an eastbound train into Allentown Yard near R tower in October, 1991. Note the "back porch" on SD40-2 6517, the second unit in the set. |