Nostalgia & History > UP one of a kind in '72

UP 3041 an exEMD SD40 demo unit (?), was in the middle of a consist on the SP at Black Butte, CA, in July '72.
JB

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I think they had several of these units running around. Here's the 3045 at Summit from March '78.-BMT

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3rdswitch Wrote:
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> UP 3041 an exEMD SD40 demo unit (?), was in the
> middle of a consist on the SP at Black Butte, CA,
> in July '72.
> JB

Yes a SD40X and thay still have it IIRC Richard

QU25C Wrote:

> Yes a SD40X and thay still have it IIRC Richard
>

The one that was being stored in Cheyenne was sold to NREX. There is some confussion as to what happened to it once it showed up at NREX. Some say it was repainted and turned loose as a lease unit, some say it was scrapped.

CNW6500 Wrote:
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> QU25C Wrote:
>
> > Yes a SD40X and thay still have it IIRC
> Richard
> >
>
> The one that was being stored in Cheyenne was sold
> to NREX. There is some confussion as to what
> happened to it once it showed up at NREX. Some say
> it was repainted and turned loose as a lease unit,
> some say it was scrapped.
>
>
>

yes the unit that UP had had stored at Cheyenne for a while ended up being sold to National Railway Equipment several years ago. The confusion regarding this unit however is whether or not it has been scrapped, as it was last reported at the NRE facility in Mt.Vernon,Illinois with the longhood missing. It is confirmed that its not running around as a lease unit, there are only 2 active former UP SD40X type units left one of which is HLCX SD40M-2 #6399 and the other WLE SD40-3 #3046 (one of only 2 demos with flat panel radiators). The only question that remains is whether the hulk of UP SD40X #3042 is still rusting at NRE Mt.Vernon or whether it was scrapped.
and for what its worth, IC SD40-2R #6071 is a former SD40X demo as well and is still in service. Started as EMD #434 and became GM&O #950 and finally IC #6071.

Bryan Jones

Well that is very interesting info. I obviously had no idea there were more than one? One of the great things about posting on this board. Education! Thanks.
JB

3rdswitch Wrote:
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> Well that is very interesting info. I obviously
> had no idea there were more than one.

IIRC, UP 3040-3047 were EMD 645 demos (painted black) before UP bought them.

Regards,

Rob L.

rob_l Wrote:
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> 3rdswitch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well that is very interesting info. I
> obviously
> > had no idea there were more than one.
>
> IIRC, UP 3040-3047 were EMD 645 demos (painted
> black) before UP bought them.
>
> Regards,
>
> Rob L.

As additional information, 3040 through 3047 were originally EMD 434A through 434H.

The A through F were built with canted radiators, while the G and H had vertical radiators. All were constructed on SD35-length frames.

There were two additional units:

The 434, built to the same specifications as the 434G and H. As previously mentioned, it became GM&O 950.

433A was built to GP40 specifications but with canted radiators, and was constructed on a GP35-length frame. It became IC 3075.

All of the above were used by EMD as "real time" test-bed units for the 645 engine program.