View source for EMD SD39

{{Short description|Model of diesel-electric locomotive}}
{{Infobox Locomotive
| name=EMD SD39
| powertype=[[Diesel-electric]]
| gauge={{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| image= EMD SD39 BM690.jpeg
| caption= Boston & Maine 690 (ex Illinois Terminal 2301) with Train EDRJ (East Deerfield–Rotterdam Jct) about to enter [[Hoosac Tunnel]]
| aarwheels=C-C
| builder=[[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors Electro-Motive Division]] (EMD)
| buildmodel=SD39
| builddate=August 1968 &ndash; May 1970
| length={{convert|65|ft|9+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| primemover=[[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]] [[EMD 645|12-645E3]]
| enginetype=[[V12 engine|V12]] [[Diesel engine|diesel]]
| cylindercount=12
| poweroutput={{convert|2300|hp|abbr=on|lk=in|sigfig=3}}
| totalproduction=54
| driverdiameter={{convert|40|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| aspiration=[[Turbocharger|turbocharged]]
| locobrakes=[[Railway air brake|Independent air]]; ''optional:'' [[Dynamic braking (locomotive)|dynamic brakes]]
| trainbrakes=<!-- ?? -->[[Railway air brake|Air]], schedule 26-L 
| locale=[[United States]]
}}

The '''SD39''' is a model of 6-axle [[diesel-electric locomotive]] built by [[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors Electro-Motive Division]] between August 1968 and May 1970. 54 were built for American railroads.{{sfnp|Foster|1996|p=54}}

In 1966, [[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]] replaced all their old models with new ones having the new [[EMD 645|645]] diesel. These included six-axle models [[EMD SD38|SD38]], [[EMD SD40|SD40]], [[EMD SDP40|SDP40]] and [[EMD SD45|SD45]]; the SD39 was added in 1968. All shared standard components including the frame, [[cab (locomotive)|cab]], [[Alternator#Diesel_electric_locomotive_alternators|traction alternator]], [[Bogie|trucks]], [[traction motor]]s, and [[Railway air brake|air brakes]]. The difference was the power output: SD38 = {{convert|2000|hp|abbr=on|lk=in|sigfig=3}} from a non-turbocharged [[V16 engine|V16]], SD39 = {{convert|2300|hp|abbr=on|lk=in|sigfig=3}} from a turbocharged [[V12 engine|V12]], SD40 = {{convert|3000|hp|abbr=on|lk=in|sigfig=3}} from a turbocharged [[V16 engine|V16]], and SD45 = {{convert|3600|hp|abbr=on|lk=in|sigfig=3}} from a turbocharged [[V20 engine|V20]]. 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".{{sfnp|Foster|1996|p=54}}

==Variant==
A variant was the [[EMD SDL39|SDL39]], ordered by the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific|Milwaukee Road]].  Shorter and lighter than a stock SD39, these minimized weight per axle.{{sfnp|Foster|1996|p=54}}

==Original owners==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Purchasers of the SD39 include:<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.trainweb.org/jaydeet/sd39.htm| title=EMD's SD39 and SDL39 - Original Owners| website=Trainweb| first=Robert| last=Sarberenyi}}</ref>
! Railroad
! Quantity
! Road numbers
! Notes
|-
|[[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]]
|{{center|20}}
|{{center|4000-4019}}
|All to [[BNSF]] and then sold to LTEX in 2010.
|-
|[[Illinois Terminal Railroad]]
|{{center|6}}
|{{center|2301-2306}}
|4 went to [[Guilford Rail System]], all have been scrapped.
|-
|[[Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway]]
|{{center|2}}
|{{center|40-41}}
|#40 as of August 25, 2021 used by [[Progressive Rail, Inc.]], #41 has been scrapped.
|-
|[[Southern Pacific Transportation Company]]
|{{center|26}}
|{{center|5300-5325}}
|To [[Union Pacific]] and then to leasers and shortlines.

|-
!Total !! 54 !! !!
|}

==Dash 2 Series==
On January 1, 1972, EMD debuted [[EMD Dash 2|Dash 2]] models. 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.{{cn|date=October 2023}}

== Dispositions ==
Some of the SD39 model were subsequently resold to other operators including:
[[File:Locomotora Fepasa.jpg|thumb|FEPASA 2360, an SD39-2M, in 2011.]]
* [[Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado#Freight services|FEPASA]] - 14 SD39-2s numbered 2350-2363; the last seven, 2358–2363, rebuilt as SD39-2M by [[National Railway Equipment Company|NRE]].<ref name=X2200S>{{cite journal| journal=Extra 2200 South| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZjlWAAAAMAAJ&q=TRANSAP+SD39| via=Google Books| issue=119–125| page=10| publisher=Dover Printing| date=2000| title=(untitled)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.thedieselshop.us/Chile-FEPASA.HTML| title=Ferrocarril del Pacifico S.A. - Chilean Motive Power| date=September 6, 2013| website=The Diesel Shop| access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado#Freight services|TRANSAP]] - 4 SD39-3M locomotives rebuilt by [[MPI de Mexico]] numbered D2301-D2304.<ref name=X2200S /><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.trainweb.org/tdc/html/sd39.html| title=Locomotoras EMD SD39| language=es| website=Trainweb: Tren Diesel Chile| access-date=April 13, 2017| archive-date=April 14, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414080742/http://www.trainweb.org/tdc/html/sd39.html| url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{Cite book |last=Foster |first=Gerald L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvSHlCxuyH0C&dq=EMD+SD39&pg=PA54 |title=A Field Guide to Trains of North America |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin]] |year=1996 |isbn=9780395701126}}
* {{Pinkepank diesel spotters guide 2}}
*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".

{{EMD SDs}}

[[Category:Electro-Motive Division locomotives|SD39]]
[[Category:C-C locomotives]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1968]]
[[Category:Freight locomotives]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway locomotives]]
[[Category:Southern Pacific Railroad locomotives]]

{{diesel-loco-stub}}