EMD SD39

EMD SD39
Boston & Maine 690 (ex Illinois Terminal 2301) with Train EDRJ (East Deerfield–Rotterdam Jct) about to enterHoosac Tunnel
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Division(EMD) Model SD39 Build date August 1968 – May 1970 Total produced 54
Specifications Configuration: ​ •AAR C-C Gauge 4 ft8+1⁄2in(1,435 mm)standard gauge Driverdia. 40 in (1,016 mm) Length 65 ft9+1⁄2in (20.05 m) Prime mover EMD12-645E3 Engine type V12diesel Aspiration turbocharged Cylinders 12 Loco brake Independent air;optional:dynamic brakes Train brakes Air,schedule 26-L
Performance figures Power output 2,300hp(1,720 kW)
Career Locale United States

TheSD39is a model of 6-axlediesel-electric locomotivebuilt byGeneral Motors Electro-Motive Divisionbetween August 1968 and May 1970. 54 were built for American railroads.

In 1966,EMDreplaced all their old models with new ones having the new645diesel. These included six-axle modelsSD38,SD40,SDP40andSD45;the SD39 was added in 1968. All shared standard components including the frame,cab,traction alternator,trucks,traction motors,andair brakes.The difference was the power output: SD38 = 2,000hp(1,490 kW) from a non-turbochargedV16,SD39 = 2,300hp(1,720 kW) from a turbochargedV12,SD40 = 3,000hp(2,240 kW) from a turbochargedV16,and SD45 = 3,600hp(2,680 kW) from a turbochargedV20.The SD39 had the smallest prime mover and therefore had the most unused space above the frame, inside the hood between the main generator and electrical cabinet, and outside in large end "porches".

Variant

A variant was theSDL39,ordered by theMilwaukee Road.Shorter and lighter than a stock SD39, these minimized weight per axle.

Original owners

Purchasers of the SD39 include:

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway	20	4000-4019	All toBNSFand then sold to LTEX in 2010.
Illinois Terminal Railroad	6	2301-2306	4 went toGuilford Rail System,all have been scrapped.
Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway	2	40-41	#40 as of August 25, 2021 used byProgressive Rail, Inc.,#41 has been scrapped.
Southern Pacific Transportation Company	26	5300-5325	ToUnion Pacificand then to leasers and shortlines.
Total	54

Dash 2 Series

On January 1, 1972, EMD debutedDash 2models. No official SD39-2s were built, though the model was catalogued. Some SD39s were rebuilt to Dash 2 specifications, however, and received the SD39-2 designation. Also, BNSF has re-designated some of their SD40-2 locomotives as 'SD39-2s'; it is unknown at this time what mechanical changes have been made to these locomotives.

Dispositions

Some of the SD39 model were subsequently resold to other operators including:

FEPASA 2360, an SD39-2M, in 2011.

• FEPASA- 14 SD39-2s numbered 2350-2363; the last seven, 2358–2363, rebuilt as SD39-2M byNRE.
• TRANSAP- 4 SD39-3M locomotives rebuilt byMPI de Mexiconumbered D2301-D2304.

References

• Foster, Gerald L. (1996).A Field Guide to Trains of North America.Houghton Mifflin.ISBN9780395701126.
• Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973).The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide.Milwaukee, Wisconsin:Kalmbach Publishing.ISBN978-0-89024-026-7.
• Trains Magazine Article December 1968, "A Market Oriented Catalog" by Wallace A. Abbey. The same article appears in Kalmbach's Our GM Scrapbook pages 82–83 subtitle, "Little diesel, big job".