Nostalgia & History > Burlington Northern SD40-2s -- Part 6

Here again is the Introduction to the series:
The EMD SD40-2 is a 3,000-horsepower (2,200 kW) C-C diesel–electric locomotive built by EMD from 1972 to 1989.  4,029 units were produced.  Wikipedia

The Burlington Northern had 767 of them -- the most of any railroad.  Bill Kuba captured on slide film a fair number of BN's which will greet you in the coming days.  Hope you like Cascade Green.

Second in SD40-2 ownership was UP with 686 units.

1. Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2 7197 built Sept. 1979 and seen in Burlington, IA March 24, 1984.  Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection

2. Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2 7200 built Oct. 1979 and seen in  E. Dubuque, IL Aug. 3, 1996.  Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection

3. Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2 7200 built Oct. 1979 and seen in Wyalusing, WI July 24, 1995.  Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/25 15:35 by MartyBernard.

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4. Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2 7212 built June 1980 and seen in  Minneapolis, MN May 29, 1998.  Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection

5. Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2 7228 built July 1980 and seen in  Grand Island, NE July 30, 1989.  Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection

6. Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2 7228 built July 1980 and seen in Mt. Pleasant, IA July 26, 1997.  Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection

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7. Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2 7242 built Jan. 1980 and seen in Burlington, IA Sept. 22, 1990.  Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection

8. Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2 7242 built Jan. 1980 and seen in Mt. Pleasant, IA Aug. 31, 1989.  Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection

9. Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2 7261 built Feb. 1980 and seen in Plattsmouth, NE Aug. 31, 1989.  Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection

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Thanks for posting the number of SD-40's on the BN. I knew it was a lot but not the exact number.

Sam

BN 7200 is the SD40-2 I selected from NS (NS 3553) for the New York, Susquehanna & Western fleet in 2020. 
It is now painted in an NYS&W heritage scheme as #3024. It turned out to be a super good unit.

Nice to see a photo of it in an earlier life.

Good stuff!  I love those Burlington an Mt. Pleasant photos, and the Plattsmouth bridge.  Takes me back to my youth!

Andy

train1275 Wrote:
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> BN 7200 is the SD40-2 I selected from NS (NS 3553)
> for the New York, Susquehanna & Western fleet in
> 2020. 
> It is now painted in an NYS&W heritage scheme as
> #3024. It turned out to be a super good unit.
>
> Nice to see a photo of it in an earlier life.  

The 7200's were ballasted heavier than the standard SD40-2 for coal trin service.  It doesn't surprise me it's been a good unit on the NYS&W.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:

> The 7200's were ballasted heavier than the
> standard SD40-2 for coal train service.  It
> doesn't surprise me it's been a good unit on the
> NYS&W.

One thing with it, was that it had a very distinctive exhaust sound. Even without seeing it, you could tell it from all of our other SD40-2's. Very deep and throaty.