trainiax wrote:*** GP40-2 phases
Phase 1 - 1972.04 - 1975.05
-Battery box in front of cab: Bolted, small louvers
-Battery box under cab: Hinged
Phase 2a - 1976.01 - 1978.12
-Battery box in front of cab: Bolted, large louvers
-Battery box under cab: Lift-off tabs
-ECAFB: Flush with cab
-Steps: Version 2
-Radiator intakes: Corrugated
-Short hood: 88" length, vent on right side
-Cab side panel: Bolted, 13 bolts along top/bottom
-Pilot/ends: Notched upper end plate corners, raised coupler cut lever, front anticlimber (2 versions, depending on railroad)
-Rear upper pilot/drop step area: Version 2, outward-facing handrail stanchion supports
Phase 2b - 1979.01 - 1979.11
-Cab side panel: Welded
Phase 2c - 1979.12 - 1981.03
-Battery box in front of cab: Horizontal rib added (some railroads)
-Radiator fans: Q-type
-Exhaust: Raised silencer, opening at rear
Phase 2d - 1981.05 - 1982.07
-Short hood: Bolted hatch added on top
Phase 3 - 1983.03 - 1986.12
-Battery box in front of cab: Latched, lift-off tabs
-Blower duct: Angled, narrow, no ribs, raised walkway ("laundry chute")
-Exhaust: Raised silencer, opening at front
-Frame side sill: Narrow over entire length
Phases on the GP38-2 are similar to the GP40-2, except that the GP38-2 has an additional phase at the beginning. Very early GP38-2's retained the long radiator intake and wider-spaced fans of the GP38, while later units (accounting for most of production) had closer-spaced fans and shorter radiator intakes.
Some of the differences between the "non Dash-2" and "Dash-2" units are pretty well-known, but there are many more obscure differences that are less well-known. If you compare, say, an early GP40 with a late-production GP40-2, there is hardly a single piece of sheetmetal that is shared between them and they almost look like two completely different models.
In the items highlighted in red...
EMD GP40's (Or SD's for that matter) have never had batteries mounted
under the cab. Under the cab on the right side is the air brake rack. On the left side is simply an access door to the under cab compartment. It's where you usually find the event recorder, Equl reservoir, etc.
And on the red highlighted exhaust stack. Turbocharged EMD's always have the turbo at the rear of the prime mover which will always put the exhust stack at the front of the locomotive, rear of the prime mover.
And for things like battery doors, the type of doors were not always standard. Many railroads opted for louvers, some wanted the large "mailslot" type holes to allow easy battery top washing. Some wanted doors, others wanted bolt on hatches. You cannot accuratley class the age of a loco based on things like access doors. Uncoupling levers, cab vents, nose lengths, nose access hatches and pilots were also items that were specific to a customer. And some railroads, nameley the Canadian roads had even more oddball features that can further confuse things.
The only way to be certain that what you are seeing is in fact a GP40 or a GP40-2 is to #1, see the back cab wall. A DASH 2 model will always have the long horizontal access door mounted halfway up the wall that holds all the control cards.
OR, #2, look on the right side long hood a little more then halfway back. If you see an oval window in one of the access doors, then more then likley it is a DASH 2 model.
As for ID-ing Guilford units, it's simple. Guilford owns ZERO GP38's of any kind. All there GP40's are numbered in the 300 series and they are all standard GP40's, NOT DASH 2 units.
As for GP40-2's, easier still. They are all numbered in the 500 series and all have the "wide body" style Canadian cab. While these are not
classed as simple GP40-2's because of the specialized features, they are based on that model and use the same mechanical and electrical systems of the standard GP40-2. The major differences are the CN Designed traction control system, Rear hood mounted batteries, Dofasco trucks, class lights, snow steps, lift rings, single rear headlight, no rear number boards and all the other typical CN items.
