I know SP and SSW indulged completely in SD40/45 tunnel motors, but did they have SD40's, and did they see pool or runthru service on the Rio Grande?
I know the SP had SD40's.....we have one down here. Ex SP 7371. I am sure at some point they would have done a run through or two on the DRGW.
The tunnel motor wasn't invented until the Dash 2 era. Therefore, SP had SD40s and SD45s, but not SD40-2s or SD45-2s.
Espee SD40's The Espee had 89 SD40's bought in 1966 & 1968. They were numbered in the 8400-88 number series All were rebuilt under the GRIP program in 1980-81 and renumbered in the 7300 series in order of completion. Three units 8402 8423 & 8460 were wrecked and did not go through the GRIP program. The 1968 units 8479-88 had the "L" shaped windshield. All had the classic Espee "light show" Snowplows and other Espee features. All were retired before the take over by the "Yellow Peril"
Not true, most were in service through 2000, with several lasting through 2002-2003. As for SD40-2 and SD45-2 models, the tunnel motors were SD40-2 and SD45-2 models with modified radiator sections. Internally they were the same.
Why does that give UP guys "fits"? Also, were there any SD40 car bodies in the SD40M-2 rebuild series? There were a bunch of those SD40Ms and they had all types of different outward appearances. It wouldn't be an original SP SD40, but it would look like an SD40.
Of course the real 8444 could always be painted in "Daylight" colours. Maybe SP Grey with SP Red "Wings" on the smoke lifters
