MoPac Power - SCREAMING EAGLES

MoPac Diesel Power - Second Generation
SD40, SD40-2, SD40-2c

HOME Power Cabooses Rolling Stock MoW Depots

Steam	Switchers / Slugs	Streamliners	1st Gen Diesel	2nd Gen Diesel	Prime Power	Merger Era	Post Merger Era

1800s-1930s	1930s-80s	1940s	1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	Today
All	All	All	GP7 GP9 & 9m GP18 RS2, 3 &11	GP35 & 28 GP38 GP38-2 U Boats	SD40 SD40-2 SD40-2c B Boats GP15 & 50	All	All

EMD SD40-2
MoPac Diesel Power - Second Generation

MP 3264 leads mixed freight around a bend in the rocky hills of Eureka, Missouri on the final day of 1985 - Used with permission. © copyright Paul De Luca Photo.

The SD40-2 at 3,000 hp, equipped with the 645E3 16-cylinder powerplant and the HT-C (High Traction C-C) trucks made it a notable improvement over the SD40. Easy to maintain, achieving high speeds, lots of traction and plenty of muscle, the -2 series became the standard throughout the 1970s and '80s.

Perhaps no other diesel in the modern era represented the Missouri Pacific better than the EMD-built SD40-2 (SD for Super Duty). Up until then the company didn't rely too heavily on six-wheel or C-type truck locomotives, but in a matter of a few years it became the most abundant model on the system. It comes as no surprise as most all Class 1 railroads heavily purchased the -2 models. It is arguably the most popular diesel locomotive ever, out-selling all others.

MP 3145 - was built as C&EI #3145 February 1974. It was renumbered to MP 3145 in 1975. On April 22, 1987 it was renumbered to UP 4145. On August 3, 1992 it became UP B4145. To make way for the arrival of the new SD70Ms on the UP, it was again renumbered to UP 8945. MP 3145 is seen in San Antonio in 1986 after 31 cars from this train derailed causing the closure of several streets, and the evacuation of several hundred people. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

Primed with Power - the 1970's-'80's

click on the thumbnails for a larger image

the SD40-2

MODEL	BUILDER	FIRST DELIVERY	FINAL DELIVERY	TOTAL
SD40-2	EMD	8/73	12/79	232 units

MP SD40-2 #3090-3215 - diagram dated 7/1/77 - Missouri Pacific Diagram/Daryl Favignano Collection

See MOPAC DIAGRAMS for More

MP 3092 - One of only a handful of SD40's to wear Double Eagles - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP Units that wore Double Eagles
Six GP35	MP 2518, 2554, 2556, 2558, 2559, 2564
Two U30C	MP 2981, 2999
Two U23B	MP 2256, 4503
Seven SD40	MP 3010, 3011, 3023, 3039, 3044, 3051, 3064
Fourteen SD40-2	MP 3092, 3099, 3110, 3129, 3132, 3146, 3150, 3151, 3152, 3154, 3155, 3156, 3158, 3161

MP SD40-2 3093 - was built in March 1973 as MP 793. It was renumbered to 3093. The unit had the large numbers placed over the screaming eagle on the right side only. Note the original number (MP793) can still be seen on the rear number boards. It is pictured here at Sosan Yard in San Antonio in August 1985. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP 3093 - detail at Sosan Yard in San Antonio in August 1985. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP SD40-2 #3098 - is serviced in San Antonio in 1986. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP SD40-2 #3099 - with UP style numbers applied under the screaming eagle on the long hood; at Longview, Texas - J.C.T. Photo. Contact JCT for a list Train Picture CD's for sale

MoPac SD40-2 #3101 - is in San Antonio, Texas in 1987. - Steve Schuman Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

MP 3103 - Two screamin' eagle MoPac SD40-2s lead by engine #3103 (built 8/73) plus a bright blue Conrail haul Lincoln Grain cars over rolling hills of prairie grass of the Omaha sub (now called the Falls City subdivision). The shot at Paul, NE was taken by Paul De Luca, when he was an Assistant Roadmaster in Abilene, Kansas, his first field position. After twenty-one years with the MP and later the UP, Paul admits the Sub has changed a lot since that photo was taken. Paul, NE, 11/20/80 - Used with permission. © copyright Paul DeLuca Photo.

MP SD40-2 #3105 - was built in 1973 as MP 805. It was renumbered to MP 3105 in the late 1970s. It was again renumbered to UP 4105. It was destroyed in a derailment in San Antonio, Texas on 11-18-88 (go to Post-Merger page for photo). Note that in this photo it is seen with MP3211 which was also destroyed in a wreck in 1997. MP 3105 is seen here crossing the diamonds at Tower 105 in San Antonio in 1985. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

Three or four-unit lash-ups were typical mainline power throughout the heartlands... usually consisting of SD40-2's with a GP thrown into the mix. Avoiding huge locomotives allowed for more flexibility on the MoP with its power. Locals were powered by one or two Geeps, or making use of a single switch engine.

MP 3126 - an SD40-2, passed by SD 40 #3010 and another unidentified SD unit - © Brian Paul Ehni photo, used with permission.

MP 3130 - A Chicago Pneumatic speed recorder marks the speed at 50 MPH. This type of speedometer used a roll of paper etched by a stylus to record the speed. They were locked with the same type of lock that appears on Coke machines and were sealed with a numbered seal just like on a boxcar. The seal number was written on the beginning of the roll and checked against the seal number whenever the roll was removed. Notice also the amp gauge below the speedo indicates the unit is loading 350 amps. If memory serves correct, this unit was the 3130. - "Tuch" Santucci Photo

MP SD40-2 3131 - was built as Texas & Pacific 832 in January 1974. The TP renumbered the unit to TP 3131 at merger time with the Missouri Pacific. When the MoPac aquired control of the T&P, it was renumbered MP 3131. It later became UP 4131. The 3131 is pictured at the Settegast Yard diesel shop in Houston, Texas in 1986. Note the unusual paint scheme - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

To accomadate a re-newed roster swelled with the additions from new and merged motive power, renumberings occured in 1974-75, bringing all locomotives into four-digits, and a third minor adjustment renumbering in 1978.

MoPac SD-40 3139 - the original "Screaming Eagle" paint scheme still graces this locomotive, shot from 1983-84, at Millington, Tennessee - Elden Baker Photo, Trainwatching at Kentucky Street

MP 3142 - A westbound Southern Pacific freight (lead unit SP 7420) passes by a trio of MoPac SD40-2 helper units on a coal train in San Antonio in 1984. When Union Pacific/Missouri Pacific first received the contract to operate coal trains to San Antonio, a push pull operation was needed to move the coal trains to the SP CPS block track. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP SD40-2 #3145 - was built as C&EI #3145 February 1974. It was renumbered to MP 3145 in 1975. On April 22, 1987 it was renumbered to UP 4145. On August 3, 1992 it became UP B4145. To make way for the arrival of the new SD70Ms on the UP, it was again renumbered to UP 8945. MP 3145 is seen in San Antonio in 1986 after 31 cars from this train derailed causing the closure of several streets, and the evacuation of several hundred people. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP 3147 - an SD40-2 shares the burden with UP 2854 at North Platte, Nebraska, not long after America's Bicentennial this day of July 18, 1976. This unit is still almost new at just two years old, being built in February, 1974. The photographer, Glen Beans has posted many of his works to ABPR - © Glen Beans Photo (349 kb)

Missouri Pacific SD40-2 #3147 - is on Union Pacific tracks in Council Bluffs, Iowa in October 1986. - Jerry Bosanek Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

MP SD40-2 #3147 - was built as C&EI #3147 in February 1974. It was renumbered to MP 3147 in 1975. On April 22, 1987 it was renumbered to UP 4147. On August 11, 1992 it became UP B4147. To make way for the arrival of the new SD70Ms on the UP, it was again renumbered to UP 8947. The 3147 is seen in San Antonio in 1985. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP 3151 - parked on the East Fuel Track with West Fuel track in foreground facing southeast. 1987 - "Tuch" Santucci Photo

MP 3151 - This unit, once sublettered for the C&EI w/ C&EI buzzsaw on the cab, now wears Double Eagles - © copyright George Elwood photo, used with permission.

MoPac SD40-2 #3153 - is an ex-C&EI unit. This unit has had the MPL buzzsaw rather than the Eagle Buzzsaw applied over the C&EI version. The 3153 is pictured in San Antonio, Texas in 1986. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP 3154 - Most in this group of former C&EI's (#3139-3163) eventually wore the hybrid Double Eagles scheme - © copyright George Elwood photo, used with permission.

Chicago & Eastern Illinois #3155 - is seen in it's original "as delivered" appearence, complete with a C&EI buzzsaw under the cab window. At Council Bluffs, Iowa on November 29, 1978. - Jerry Bosanek Photo/ T. Greuter Collection · (Read more about this unit at SD40-2 #3155)

MoPac SD40 #3155 - after the C&EI's merger into the MOP, she's dropped the C&EI emblem and now emblazoned with double eagles. This was one of the group of C&EI units that had the new eagle decal applied over the C&EI buzzsaw on the cab. At Longview, Texas. - J.C.T. Photo. Contact JCT for a list Train Picture CD's for sale

MoPac SD40 #3155 - a clean shot of the same unit abovefrom the rear; Loingview, Texas. - J.C.T. Photo. Contact JCT for a list Train Picture CD's for sale

MP 3160 - A view of the front porch on this 40-2 - © copyright George Elwood photo, used with permission.

MoPac SD40-2 #3166 - arrives at Sosan Yard in San Antonio, Texas with 3 other SD40-2s on a grain train in 1986. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

SD40-2 #3192 - spring 1989 at Yard Center Diesel. Notice the decal with the Screaming Eagle has faded badly. - J.D. Santucci Photo

SD40-2 #3217 - on a very dark, dreary day in February 1985. - J.D. Santucci Photo

MP 3234 -No other locomotive typified Missouri Pacific power better than the SD40-2 throughout the 1970's - Missouri Pacific Photo/Daryl Favignano Collection

MP SD402 #3235 - in the full Modern scheme of large numbers and the Eagle Buzzsaw emblem, is pictured at the Sosan Yard diesel shop in San Antonio, Texas in 1986. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP 3244 - the SD40-2 is seen at Union Pacific's sprawling North Platte yard in August, 1979. By the '70's, MoPac units could be seen often on the UP or BN (sometimes BN/MP/UP in a six-unit lashup) through Nebraska to access the Wyoming coal fields. - © copyright Chris John

MP 3249 - sits at Tower 105, waiting assignment as pull units for a coal train as a Southern Pacific freight passes nearby in 1986 - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP 3264 - at Sosan Yard, 1989 - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP 3266 - at San Antonio, Texas. 1986 - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

SD40-2 3268 - spring 1989 at Yard Center Diesel also with a badly faded Screaming Eagle decal and this unit is four years newer than the 3192. - J.D. Santucci Photo

MP SD40-2 #3271 - in Longview, Texas in 1984. - Jay Glenewinkel Collection

MP 3291 - powering through Omaha, Nebraska on May 6, 1980. - Jerry Bosanek Photo/ T. Greuter Collection ·

MP SD40-2 #3299 - in San Antonio in 1988. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

Mo-Pac SD40-2 #3303 - in Omaha, Nebraska in May 1984. - Gary Zuters Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

MP 3313 - SD40-2 at San Antonio, Texas in 1988 - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

Eagle from the long-hood of an SD40-2 Locomotive.
The large white "screaming eagle" applied to the sides of engines beginning in the mid-sixties was also called the "turbo-eagle" - only turbo-charged engines were supposed to wear the design. But a few oversights were made. GP38 MP 857, ex-KO&G (sub-lettered for TP) GP28 2001, and GP38 #2007 slipped past the standards and wore the turbo-eagle, though none of the units received turbo-charging.

3/74 - First MoPac EMD MP15DC arrives.

6/76 - First purchase of the EMD GP15-1 for Mopac.


Missouri Pacific #3234-3228-3020 on UP freight near Taylor, Texas. A red MoPac caboose brings up the end of the same train. April 1985 - © Gary Morris Photo

Featured Photographers:
Glen Beans, Paul De Luca, Jay Glenewinkel, J. C. T., Steve Rude, Daryl Favignano Collection, J.D. Santucci, Jerry Bosanek, Bob Yanosey, George Elwood, Railblazer, James E. Gilley collection, Elden Baker, Ronald Estes, Chris John, Dave Franz, and Lee Berglund

Sources:
Missouri Pacific Diesel Power by Kevin EuDaly

Every effort has been made to get the correct information on these pages, but mistakes do happen. Reporting of any inaccuracies would be appreciated.


	trainweb.org/screamingeagle l Last Update to this page: 18 April, 2008

	All images & text © 2000-2008 T. Greuter / Screaming Eagles, unless otherwise noted. All Rights Reserved.