SD39-2 Diesel Locomotive

Prototype Information

EMD produced the SD39-2 between 1975 and 1980 as a modernized, mid-range freight locomotive. It served as the Dash 2 successor to the original SD39 and retained the 12-cylinder, turbocharged 645E3 engine. This powerplant produced 2,300 horsepower, offering a balance of fuel economy and six-axle pulling power. Like other locomotives in the Dash 2 line, it featured improved modular electronics and a redesigned cooling system. These upgrades made the locomotive more reliable and easier for shop crews to maintain compared to earlier models.

Sales remained modest, with only 40 units built, largely because railroads preferred the higher horsepower of the SD40-2. The Santa Fe purchased the vast majority of the production run to handle heavy tonnage on secondary lines and steep mountain grades. Despite the low production numbers, the SD39-2 earned a reputation for efficiency and durability. Many of these units continued to serve for decades, often moving to the BNSF Railway after the 1996 merger. Today, some still operate on short-line railroads or in specialized industrial service.