EMD SD39

The SD39 is a model of 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between August 1968 and May 1970. 54 were built for American railroads.Template:Sfnp

In 1966, EMD replaced all their old models with new ones having the new 645 diesel. These included six-axle models SD38, SD40, SDP40 and SD45; the SD39 was added in 1968. All shared standard components including the frame, cab, traction alternator, trucks, traction motors, and air brakes. The difference was the power output: SD38 = Template:Convert from a non-turbocharged V16, SD39 = Template:Convert from a turbocharged V12, SD40 = Template:Convert from a turbocharged V16, and SD45 = Template:Convert from a turbocharged 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".Template:Sfnp

Variant

A variant was the SDL39, ordered by the Milwaukee Road. Shorter and lighter than a stock SD39, these minimized weight per axle.Template:Sfnp

Original owners

Purchasers of the SD39 include:

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

Dash 2 Series

On January 1, 1972, EMD debuted 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.

Dispositions

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

File:Locomotora Fepasa.jpg

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

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

References

• 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".