Railroads Illustrated (Or is it CTC Board) in their latest issue has a big spread on the SD40-2. And yes, UP uses pure SD40-2 sets an aweful lot. Particularly in Illinois and on the former C&NW lines. You'll notice the second unit in the consist is of Northwestern Heritage. In fact, I didn't see a single gen 3 loco on a Manifest or intermodal on the genva sub when I was there last year. They only made it on coal trains. Supposedly, the CNW SD40-2s have some special equipment that most of the gen 3 stuff doesn't have.
SD40-2's Such an unusual find these days. I can recall when the SD40-2's and U-30-C's were replacing the last of the FUnits and early Geeps and hood units from Alco and Baldwin. We were lamenting the end of the first generation diesels and the complaint that all we would see would be the SD40's and U-30's was often heard. Get your photos while you can because time gets away quickly and with it yesterday's locomotives.
I rarely see the old Sd40-2's anymore on mainline freights...but on the many locals that populate Las Vegas...that is the almost exclusive power set you are likely to see.
DGNO uses two SD40-2s on rock train power from Denison to Royse City, TX, mated with other 6-axle power as the SP SD45 and SD45T-2. On BNSF, about the only place to see a deuce is prt of the rock train power consists- they run everything from GEVOS to GP60Ms to GP38s to deuces. Need to get out & chase UP some more, but so far all I've seen in the way of six-axle power are the GEs and SD70Ms (and their ACe cousins)
UP around soCal, I've only really seen SD4x power in Colton. But, BNSF will send anything up Cajon and up tehachapi. I've seen 40-2s, GP60m, GP35s. Obviously, 99% of it is some form of widecab GE, but they'll send anything they can get out of the diesel pit. They aren't shy about it. It's always nice to see a Yellow and Blue Warbonnet down here as I maintain my stance that as much as I like all the flavors of Heritage paint, they all look equally out of place in SoCal whereas they fit in up north.
Hi guys. I shot these two Union Pacific SD40-2's sitting all by themselves here on the Blair cargill track today. Here is the link. UNION PACIFIC SD40-2 fun photos on webshots
They're in the minority these days in SoCal, on account of UP's huge fleet of SD70s and GEVOs, and the desire to keep them in the basin on account of their lower emissions. Still, SD40-2s do show up, like this Operation Lifesaver example I shot recently: http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=71751
From last year, somewhere between Elmhurst and Geneva Mixed manifest led by 2 SD40-2s. And as that one passes, another comes the other direction, again, duel SD40-2s.
