EMD GP40
by
Mike Gerenday
As we begin to close the Diesels of the Alaska Railroad overviews, we're going to take a look at a class of locomotives earning their keep since the 1970s.
The GP40-2 was built by EMD between 1972 and 1986. The GP40-2 used a 16cyl 645E3 producing 3,000hp. Most major railroads including short lines employed these locomotives with many still in service today.
During the 1970s the ARR rostered F units, GP7L and ALCO locomotives, many showing their age. It was also during this time that one of Alaska's biggest construction projects took place, the Trans Alaska Pipeline.
The Alaska Railroad needed more powerful locomotives to haul the many trains of supplies and material for the Trans Alaska Pipeline, so in 1975 the first of three orders of GP40-2 locomotives arrived. Trading in most of the secondhand Rio Grande/Great Northern F units to EMD, 3000 to 3005 were put into service. 3000 was later renumbered to 3006. (the 0 can be seen under the 6 on the cab sides.) 3007-3011 in 1976, and 3012 to 3015 in 1978.
The first two orders of the 3000s wore the black and yellow freight scheme, while the last order came in the then standard Bold Alaska scheme. Over the years some of the 3000s were repainted to the Bold Alaska scheme. With the advent of the new SD70MACs in 2000, some of the 3000s were re-built and re-painted in the now standard scheme. As of 2020 there are only three in their original black and yellow scheme, 3001, 3003, and 3006. 3012 was the last 3000 in the Bold Alaska scheme and was re-painted in 2014.
In 1983, five ex-Conrail GP40U locomotives were purchased and all but one were retired/sold by 2000. 3018 became a parts source for the other 3000s and was scrapped in 1996. A good portion of 3018's cab was used in the repair of 3008 after a wreck, that's why 3008 does not have a L shape front window.
There are several 3000s that are HEP equipped and are used on busy summertime passenger trains, 3009, 2010, 3011, 3013, 3014, and 3015. Some were fitted with the HEP generators sometime in the late 1980s early 1990s while the rest were re-built with them in the 2000s. The rest are non HEP equipped.
The GP40-2 locomotives can be found all across the railbelt on freight trains, coal trains, work trains and passenger trains. With their re-builds/repairs it's safe to say they'll be around for a while yet. To learn more on the EMD GP40-2, click here.
Page created 1/2/21 and last updated 1/2/21