An SD40T-2 is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division having a 16-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine producing 3,000 horsepower (2,240 kW). 312 SD40T-2s were built for North American railroads between April 1974 and July 1980. This locomotive and the SD45T-2 are popularly called tunnel motors, but EMD's term is SD40-2s with "cooling system modifications" because they were designed for better engine cooling in mountainous areas. The difference between this locomotive and its non-tunnel motor cousin, the SD40-2, are the radiator intakes and radiator fan grills located at the rear of the locomotive.
This locomotive model was purchased by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and its subsidiary Cotton Belt. Southern Pacific's version has a 4,400-US-gallon (16,700 L; 3,660 imp gal) fuel tank and is 70 feet 8 inches (21.54 m) long. Rio Grande's version has a smaller 4,000-US-gallon (15,100 l; 3,330 imp gal) fuel tank.
In 2005, most of these units were owned by Union Pacific or leasing companies. By 2008, none were left in service on UP with SP or DRGW reporting marks. DRGW 5371 was the last one, retired in March 2008, and now resides at the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden Utah. Another SD40T-2 is preserved at the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad in Boone, Iowa, and in late 2017, it was announced that another Rio Grande SD40T-2 was going to be donated to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado. On August 22, 2018, UP 9871 (formerly D&RGW 5401) was moved to the museum grounds, and was since “unpatched”, painted to resemble its original appearance from 1980, which included painting the number back to 5401. Three former Rio Grande units, 5391, 5413,and 5411, are still active on the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad out of Brewster, Ohio.
| Horsepower | Wheel Arrangement | Gearing | Weight | Tractive Effort | DRGW Class | Builder |
| 3000 | C-C | 62:15 | 387022 (5341-55) 387115 (5356-73) 386628 (5374-85) 390842 (5386-97) 389464 (5398-5413) |
92331 92188 92063 93116 92772 |
DE C-C 92 | EMD |
Note: The Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide states, incorrectly, that the length of an SD40T-2 is 68' 10". The correct length is 70' 8"
SD40T-2 Detail Photos
| EMD Builder # | Purchased | Retired | Notes | |
| 5341 | 74636-1 | 10/1974 | . | Assigned UP 4035 on 07/30/99; to UP 8605 on 4/6/2000. |
| 5342 | 74636-2 | 10/1974 | 2010 | Another image of 5342 Assigned UP 4000, then UP 8570; to UP 2882 9/03/01; retired 4/12/10; to LSM Locomotives, LLC 7/10, scrapped by Chicago Heights Processing. |
| 5343 | 74636-3 | 10/1974 | 2008 | Repainted to UP 4001 on 11/23/98; to UP 8571 on 4/14/00; to UP 9863 on 01/22/07; retired 01/24/08 |
| 5344 | 74636-4 | 10/1974 | . | Assigned UP 4002 on 10/11/99; to UP 8572 on 3/10/00; renumbered to UP 2883 on 4/21/01. |
| 5345 | 74636-5 | 10/1974 | 2001 | Retired by UP on 11/15/01 |
| 5346 | 74636-6 | 10/1974 | . | Assigned UP 4037 11/15/99; to UP 8607 on4/12/00. |
| 5347 | 74636-7 | 10/1974 | 2001 | Another shot of 5347. Retired by UP 11/28/01 |
| 5348 | 74636-8 | 10/1974 | 2000 | Wrecked on 11/22/94 at Pando, Colorado; frame o(along with the frame of D&RGW 5370) stored off its trucks at Pueblo, Colorado, until it was scrapped in about 2000. |
| 5349 | 74636-9 | 10/1974 | 2008 | Another image of 5349 Assigned UP 8608 on 12/08/04; to UP 9864 on 02/26/07; retired 01/24/08 |
| 5350 | 74636-10 | 10/1974 | 2003 | was renumbered to SP 5350 (with D&RGW reporting mark on cab side); to UP 8609 11/14/00; retired by UP on 6/27/03 |
| 5351 | 74636-11 | 10/1974 | Assigned SP 5351 (with DRGW reporting mark on cab side); to UP 4004 on 3/29/99; to UP 8574 on 3/17/00; to UP 2885 on 12/20/02. | |
| 5352 | 74636-12 | 10/1974 | 2001 | Assigned SP paint; assigned UP 4040; to UP 8610 10/05/01; retired 12/26/01; to David J. Joseph Co. 2/02, scrapped for parts in 2003. |
| 5353 | 74636-13 | 10/1974 | 2001 | Retired by UP on 8/29/01; to RJCR 5353 in 10/02. |
| 5354 | 74636-14 | 10/1974 | 2008 | Assigned UP 8612 on 12/10/04; to UP 9865 on 02/28/07; retired 01/24/08 |
| 5355 | 74636-15 | 10/1974 | 2010 | Assigned UP 4043 10/08/99; to UP 8613 4/12/00; to UP 2886 6/15/07; retired 4/12/10; to Tri State Construction at Paducah, KY 7/10, sold for scrap. |
| 5356 | 756046-1 | 7/1975 | 2001 | Assigned UP 4044; to UP 8614 1/10/03; to UP 7877 10/03/03; retired 7/16/07, to NRE (D) 7/07 |
| 5357 | 756046-2 | 7/1975 | . | Assigned UP 8615 on 12/28/99. |
| 5358 | 756046-3 | 7/1975 | 2010 | Assigned UP 4046 4/23/99; to UP 8616 3/22/00; to UP 2889 3/13/07, retired 4/12/10 |
| 5359 | 756046-4 | 7/1975 | 2009 | Assigned UP 4047 on 4/22/99; to UP 8617 on 3/20/00; to UP 2890 01/22/07; retired 12/05/08; sold at auction 6/11/09 |
| 5360 | 756046-5 | 7/1975 | 2001 | Retired by UP on 5/22/01. |
| 5361 | 756046-6 | 7/1975 | 2001 | Retired by UP 11/28/01; sold to R J Corman Railroad (RJCC) in 10/02. |
| 5362 | 756046-7 | 7/1975 | . | Assigned SP 5362 (with D&RGW reporting mark on cab side); renumbered to UP 4049 on 5/19/99; renumbered UP 8619 on 4/16/00 |
| 5363 | 756046-8 | 7/1975 | . | R# UP 2892 |
| 5364 | 756046-9 | 7/1975 | 2007 | Assigned UP 4051 on 9/22/99; to UP 8621 on 3/28/00; to UP 2893 12/28/01; wrecked 11/10/07 at Bertram, CA; retired 12/21/07 |
| 5365 | 756046-10 | 7/1975 | 2008 | Assigned UP 4052; to UP 8622 5/07/02; retired 1/24/08; to Pacific Steel & Recycling 4/09, scrapped. |
| 5366 | 756046-11 | 7/1975 | . | R# UP 2894 |
| 5367 | 756046-12 | 8/1975 | 2010 | Assigned UP 4054 11/17/99; to UP 8624 6/27/00; assigned UP 2895; to UP 2653 2/19/08; retired 4/12/10; to CIC 7/10 for parts |
| 5368 | 756046-13 | 8/1975 | 01/24/2008 | Assigned UP 4055; to UP 8625 on 9/10/05, retired 1/24/08; to HELM Financial, scrapped. |
| 5369 | 756046-14 | 8/1975 | 04/12/2010 | Assigned UP 4056 on 5/13/99; to UP 8626 on 5/18/00; to UP 2697 on 5/14/08; retired 4/12/10; to LSM Locomotives, LLC 7/10; scrapped by Chicago Heights Processing. |
| 5370 | 756046-15 | 8/1975 | 2/17/1995 | Wrecked on 11/22/94 at Pando, Colorado; frame (along with the frame of D&RGW 5348) was stored off its trucks at Pueblo, Colorado, until scrapped in about 2000; cab was used briefly at the AAR test track near Pueblo, but was returned to Pueblo where it sat in a local salvage yard. |
| 5371 | 756046-16 | 8/1975 | 12/05/2008 | Assigned UP 8627 (never applied); was the last remaining former D&RGW unit still in full D&RGW black and gold paint; retired by UP on 12/05/08; stored at Cheyenne as part of UP's Heritage Fleet pending possible preservation; donated to Ogden Union Station; arrived at Ogden on 8/17/09 |
| 5372 | 756046-17 | 8/1975 | 2001 | . |
| 5373 | 756046-18 | 8/1975 | 2001 | . |
| 5374 | 766050-1 | 1/1977 | . | R# UP 2897 |
| 5375 | 766050-2 | 1/1977 | . | R# UP 8630 |
| 5376 | 766050-3 | 1/1977 | 2003 | Assigned UP 4061; to UP 8631 on 10/31/01; retired 10/13/03; to GECX 8631 on 1/27/04; to HELM Financial; assigned HLCX 6143; to America Latina Logistica (Brazil) 10/8 as ALL 9534 |
| 5377 | 766050-4 | 1/1977 | 2003 | Assigned UP 4062; to UP 8632 on 9/02/03; retired 10/13/03; to GECX 8632 on 1/27/04; to HLCX 6144 on 8/27/07; to America Latina Logistica (Brazil) in 2008 as ALL 9518 on 1/09 |
| 5378 | 766050-5 | 1/1977 | 6/18/1983 | Assigned SP 5378 (with D&RGW reporting mark on cab side); renumbered to UP 8577 on 4/16/02. |
| 5379 | 766050-6 | 1/1977 | 10/13/03 | Assigned UP 4063 on 4/27/99; to UP 8633 on 5/27/00; retired 10/13/03. |
| 5380 | 766050-7 | 1/1977 | 2003 | To DRGW 5380 in SP speed lettering paint; to UP 4064 8/06/99; to UP 8634 5/09/00; retired 10/13/03; to GECX 8634 1/30/04; to HELM Financial; assigned HLCX 6146; to America Latina Logistica (Brazil) as ALL 9513 12/08 |
| 5381 | 766050-8 | 1/1977 | . | R# UP 2899 |
| 5382 | 766050-9 | 1/1977 | 2010 | Assigned UP 4008 on 9/30/99; to UP 8578 on 3/09/00; to UP 2900 4/27/05; retired 4/12/10; to Hilliard Enterprises |
| 5383 | 766050-10 | 1/1977 | 2003 | Assigned UP 4066 on 9/30/97; to UP 8636 on 4/26/00; retired 10/13/03; to GECX 8636 on 01/27/04; to HLCX 6148 on 02/21/06; to America Latina Logistica 9527 in Brazil |
| 5384 | 766050-11 | 1/1977 | 2003 | To UP 8637 on 5/13/02; retired by UP on 10/13/03; to GECX 8637 on 2/08/04; to HLCX 6151. |
| 5385 | 766050-12 | 1/1977 | 2003 | |
| 5386 | 776098-1 | 8/1978 | 2000 | . |
| 5387 | 776098-2 | 8/1978 | 2001 | . |
| 5388 | 776098-3 | 8/1978 | 2003 | .. |
| 5389 | 776098-4 | 8/1978 | 2003 | . |
| 5390 | 776098-5 | 8/1978 | . | R# UP 8583 |
| 5391 | 776098-6 | 8/1978 | 2002 | Retired by UP as DRGW 5391 12/00; to Larrys Truck Electric 4/02; to WE 5391 |
| 5392 | 776098-7 | 8/1978 | 2001 | . |
| 5393 | 776098-8 | 8/1978 | . | R# UP 8586 |
| 5394 | 776098-9 | 8/1978 | 2002 | Repainted SP gray/red with D&RGW reporting mark on cab side; retired by UP on 02/28/02; to KCS 6102; to KCS 3170; to BPRR 330 |
| 5395 | 776098-10 | 8/1978 | . | R# UP 8588 |
| 5396 | 776098-11 | 8/1978 | 2010 | Assigned UP 4019 on 01/20/99; to UP 8589 on 3/21/00; to UP 2901 on 5/24/05; retired 4/12/10; to LSM Locomotives, LLC 7/10, scrapped by Chicago Heights Processing. |
| 5397 | 776098-12 | 8/1978 | 2001 | |
| 5398 | 786264-1 | 3/1980 | 2000 | Assigned UP 4021, then UP 8591; retired by UP on 12/19/00; to NREX 5398 in 11/01 |
| 5399 | 786264-2 | 3/1980 | . | R# UP 8592 |
| 5400 | 786264-3 | 3/1980 | 2002 | Another image of 5400... Assigned UP 4023; to UP 8593 on 4/18/01; retired by UP on 02/28/02; to LTEX 8593; to Progress Rail Services; to Ferrovia Centro Atlantico (Brazil) in 2010 |
| 5401 | 786264-4 | 3/1980 | 2010 | Assigned UP 4024; to UP 8594 6/30/05; to UP 9871 6/01/07, retired 4/12/10; donated to Colorado Railroad Museum at Golden, CO 7/10; stored at Coors facility in Golden until moved to museum property on 8/22/18. |
| 5402 | 786264-5 | 3/1980 | 2/7/1989 | Wrecked on Tennessee Pass, 2/1989 National Rail Equipment Corporation (NREX) #5402, ~6/1991 Leased to CP Rail, 5/1993 [Bill Miller, CP Rail News Editor, CTC Board] Sold to CP Rail #5449, 6/1994 [Bill Miller, CP Rail News Editor, CTC Board] Relettered STLH #5449, 1/1998 [Bill Miller, CP Rail News Editor, CTC Board] Sold to East Coast Motive Power, 1999 [Bill Miller, CP Rail News Editor, CTC Board] Rebuilt Alstom (Montreal) to FURX 3021, 2/2000 [Bill Miller, CP Rail News Editor, CTC Board] |
| 5403 | 786264-6 | 3/1980 | 2009 | Assigned UP 4025 11/99 (not released for service); to UP 8595 12/02/99; to UP 2933 1/22/07; retired 3/11/09; to American Steel & Trading LLC 6/09, scrapped by Houston Locomotive Group at Georgiana, AL. |
| 5404 | 786264-7 | 3/1980 | 2000 | Assigned UP 4026, then UP 8596; retired by UP on 6/27/00 |
| 5405 | 786264-8 | 3/1980 | 2001 | Retired by UP on 7 February 2001. |
| 5406 | 786264-9 | 3/1980 | 2000 | was retired by UP on 29 November 2000; Another shot of 5406. |
| 5407 | 786264-10 | 3/1980 | . | Assigned UP 8599 on 09/04/2001. |
| 5408 | 786264-11 | 3/1980 | 1989 | Wrecked 2/07/89 near Pando, CO, retired 2/07/89, to NRE (D) 6/91, scrapped. |
| 5409 | 786264-12 | 3/1980 | 2001 | Assigned UP 4030, then UP 8600; retired by UP on 8/22/01; to R J Corman 5409 in 10/02 |
| 5410 | 786264-13 | 3/1980 | 2008 | Assigned UP 4031; to UP 8601 on 8/20/01; to UP 9873 on 4/27/07; retired on 1/24/08; to HELM Financial 4/09 |
| 5411 | 786264-14 | 3/1980 | . | Assigned UP 4032 on 10/16/1999; renumbered to UP 8602 on 03/15/2000. |
| 5412 | 786264-15 | 3/1980 | 2001 | |
| 5413 | 786264-16 | 3/1980 | 2001 | Assigned UP 8604, retired by UP on 12/13/01; sold 4/02 to LTEX; resold 10/02 to WE 5413 |
