GP40 Diesel Locomotive

Prototype Information

The EMD GP40 hit the rails in 1965 as a 3,000-horsepower four-axle road-switcher. Its 16-cylinder 645E3 engine gave railroads more power than the GP35 while keeping the flexibility to handle fast freights and general road service. The longer hood with three rear radiator fans made it instantly recognizable.

EMD built over 1,200 GP40s between 1965 and 1971. Conrail, Baltimore & Ohio, Southern, and Grand Trunk Western put them to work across main lines.

Many GP40s ran well into the 1990s and 2000s, with hundreds rebuilt into GP40-2s or GP40-3s for continued service. Dozens still operate on regionals and short lines today, proving the GP40’s durability and lasting impact in EMD’s second-generation lineup.