EMD SDL39

An EMD SDL39 is a 6-axle road switcher diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between March 1969 and November 1972. Power was provided by the EMD 645E3 12-cylinder engine as used in the EMD GP39 which generated 2,300 horsepower (1.7 MW). The unit was built on a short 55-foot-2-inch (16.81 m) frame with C-C export trucks, barely tipping the scales at 250,000 pounds (110,000 kg) and managing a light-footed axle-loading of just 20.8 short tons (18.6 long tons; 18.9 t) per axle.

EMD SDL39
Fepasa D-2345 at Lautaro, Chile.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGeneral Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
Serial number34272–34276, 7345-1–7345-5
ModelSDL39
Build dateMarch–April 1969 (5), November 1972 (5)
Total produced10
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo′Co′
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge,
later converted to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Length55 ft 2 in (16.81 m)
Fuel capacity1,200 US gal (4,500 l; 1,000 imp gal)
Prime moverEMD 645E3
Engine typeV12 diesel
Cylinders12
Performance figures
Power output2,300 hp (1.7 MW)
Career
Operators
Numbers
  • MILW 581-590
  • SOO 582–590
  • WC 582–590
  • FEPASA 2341-2349
LocaleUpper midwest United States and Chile

All 10 examples of this locomotive model were built for Milwaukee Road, who wanted a lightweight road-switcher to replace their fleet of 1947-built ALCO RSC-2s.

These Milwaukee Road units were numbered 581–590. The 581 was wrecked at Sacred Heart, MN in 1983, and scrapped the following year. The remaining nine units were transferred to the Soo Line Railroad when it acquired the Milwaukee Road. All were subsequently included in the sale of the Soo's Lakes States Division (most of its network in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, plus some lines in adjoining Illinois and Minnesota) to the new Wisconsin Central Limited. After the Wisconsin Central was purchased by, and merged into the Canadian National Railway, the nine units were returned to the leaser, and were sold to FEPASA, Chilean Freight Operation Concession.

References
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-026-7.
  • Sarberenyi, Robert. EMD SD39 and SDL39 Original Owners.

Media related to EMD SDL39 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons

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