With Santa Fe being no stranger to EMD and looking for new and more reliable motive power, they ordered 20 SD40’s in 1966 (along with 90 SD45’s that same year). This gave them the chance to test both models side-by-side in different assignments. Initially delivered in the 1700 class, they were quickly renumbered to the 5000 class just 4 years later. Our version depicts the early 1970’s era with the “Pin Stripe” paint scheme and familiar rooftop Stratolite beacon.
In 1966, EMD updated its locomotive catalog with entirely new models, all powered by the new 645 diesel engine. The SD40 had 3,000 hp from a turbocharged V16. 856 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads, 330 were built for Canadian railroads, and 72 were built for Mexican railroads.