The Model 40: EMD's Industrial Switcher

The Model 40 was possibly an attempt by Electro-Motive Division to gauge the market potential for small industrial locomotives; GE and other builders had already reacted to the government's 39,000-pound locomotive rule by introducing new compliant models. Production ran from 1940 until 1943 with only 11 built. The 40-ton EMD was driven by two 6-cylinder Detroit Diesel series 71 engines, which generated a combined 300-horsepower to the railhead . The two-axle, rigid-frame locomotive featured a standard EMD cab placed squarely on the center of the carbody platform with a 26'-1" span between coupler faces. The first and last of the "pint-size" switchers were built for EMD; one as Demonstrator #1134 and the other as shop switcher for EMD's Cleveland Plant. Defense Plant Corp. (DPC) purchased four of 40s for Government-owned, Contractor-operated war-time productions facilities.The height of construction came in 1942 when the U.S. Army and Navy purchased seven of the dual-engined center-cabs. Interestingly, even though production was limited; nearly half of the EMD critters found homes in Museums and on a tourist line. EMD's model 40 is not likely to be confused with any other builders' locomotive.

Spotting features:

  • Standard-size EMD switcher cab centered on 26-foot frame
  • Stub-nose hood at each end
  • First three units built with a thin frame
  • All other 40s built with thick frame which increased overall weight to 44 tons.
  • S/N 2288 only Model 40 to receive stairwell steps -- (may have been added by an owner)


Revised: 7 July 3 2022
Serial Number 1134 - EMD Demonstrator Builder photo (from internet)
Sydney & Louisburg (ex-EMD #1134) (Unindentified slide / R. Craig Collection)
Devco Railway #20 (ex-Sydney & Louisburg 20) David Othen photo / courtesy of Craig Library in Nova Scotia) Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: August 1940
  • Phase 1 with thin frame
  • Distinctive features:
    • Only model 40 with ladder-step at frame end and another at opposite end near cab
    • Small battery box door with 3 louver sets, later replaced by two tall louvered doors (date unknown)
  • Ownership track: McKinnon Indus. #19 (1963) >> Four Star Collieries (10/1969) >> Sydney & Louisburg 20 (19xx >> Devco Railway #20 (1991)
  • Present status: Museum of Industry at Stellarton, Nova Scotia
Serial Number 1308 - DPC (for U.S. Rubber Co)

Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: November 1941
  • Phase 1 with thin frame
  • Ownership track:: Old Ben Coal #2 (On-going research has uncovered no additional owners)
  • Present status: Scrapped
Serial Number 1309 - DPC (for U.S. Rubber Co)

Penn-Dixie (ex-U.S. Rubber) Photo: xxxxxxxx / xxx Collection)
Maxson Corporation (ex-Penn-Dixie) Photo: Bob Anderson CHS Co-op (ex-Maxson) Photo: Jeff Terry
Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: November 1941
  • Phase 1 with thin frame
  • Distinctive features:
    • Only one ladder at frame end
    • Adjustable shutter-type radiator, shutters removed leaving chicken-wire mesh (date unknown)
    • Small battery box door with 3 louver sets, later replaced by two tall louvered doors (date unknown)
  • Ownership track: Penn-Dixie Cement no # >> Maxson Corp. >> CHS Farm Co-Operatve
  • Present status: Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Serial Number 1834 - DPC #1 (for Holabird Depot) Photographer unknown
U.S. Army 7403 (ex-USA 1) Photo courtesy of: Military Railway Service
Buffalo Slag #36 (ex-USA 7403) Thomas J. Starr photo Cushing Stone (ex-Buffalo Slag) Robert Kaplan photo)
Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: April 1942
  • Phase 2 (thick frame) - 40 tons
  • Ownership track:: U.S. Army 7403 >> Buffalo Slag 36 >> Cushing Stone 264
  • Present status: Stands derelict at Amsterdam, New York
Serial Number 1835 - DPC #2 ( for American Steel Foundries)

Calumet Steel (ex-ASF) xxxJohn Eagan photo
Calumet Steel (ex-ASF) xxxBill Slone photo Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: April 1942
  • Phase 2 (thick frame) 44 tons
  • Ownership track: American Steel Foundries >> Lipsett Steel (Lauria Bros) >> Calumet Steel >> Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
  • Present status: Recently conveyed to Little Railroad of Central Ohio for Restoration
Serial Number 2284 - U.S. Army 7952

Newport Steel 1 Craig Rutherford photo
Professional Locomotive Services (ex-Newport Stl) Craig Walker photo Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: 22 August 1942
  • Phase 2 (thick frame) 44 tons
  • Other Owners: Acme Newport Steel #1 >> Newport Steel #1 >> Interlake Steel 1 >> PLS #300
  • Status: Restored at Professional Locomotive Service
Serial Number 2285 - U.S. Army 7953

American Creosote Works 1 (ex-USA 7953) Phototographer unknown / Allen Stanley collection
Coastal Sand & Gravel (ex-ASW 1) Mike Palmieri photo Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: 29 August 1942
  • Phase 2 (thick frame) 44 tons
  • Other Owners: Gulf South Warehousing >> American Creosote Works n# >> Coastal Sand & Gravel (1964)
  • Status: Stands derelict
Serial Number 2286 - U.S. Army 7954

Walkersville Southern 101 (ex-USA 7954) Photo courtesy 0f Walkersville Southern
Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: 29 August 1942
  • Phase 2 (thick frame) 44 tons
  • Other Owners: U.S. Army 7954 (Maynard Ammo Storage Depot >> Sanderson & Porter Construction 7954 >> Harbor Roundhouse Museum >> Walkerville Souuthern (2002)
  • Present status: Walkersville Southern (excursion trains - active)
Serial Number 2287 - U.S. Navy #65-00204

Harley-Davidson (ex-USN 65-00204) "Hardhat Max" photo
AMF Industries (ex-Harley Davidson) Robert Graham photo at York, PA on 18 August 1979 West Penn Power (ex-AMF Industries) Mike Walsdorf photo
Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: 27 September 1942
  • Phase 2 (thick frame) 44 tons
  • Other Owners: Harley-Davidson ("Big Bill") >> AMF Industries #1 >> West Penn Power n#
  • Present status: Agriculture & Industrial Museum of York County
Serial Number 2288 - U.S. Navy #4 Photographer unknown
U.S. Navy #56-00323 (ex-USN 4) Thomas Hirsch photo
McDonnell-Douglas (US Navy #56-00323) Thomas Hirsch photo Traveltown #1 (ex-McDonnell-Douglas) Charles Freericks photo
Crystal Springs & Cuehanga Valley #521 (ex-Traveltown #1) Charles Freericks photo Additional Locomotive Background
  • Build date: 5 September 1942
  • Phase 2 (thick frame) 44 tons
  • Stairwell Steps at each end (date added unknown)
  • Other Owners: Navy Torpedo Station (Goat Island, R.I.), Naval Air Station (San Diego) #4 >> Douglas Aircraft n#
  • Present status: Traveltown Museum (Exhibited as "Charlie Atkins" #52)
Serial Number 2289 (??) - EMD Cleveland Plant switcher) Craig Rutherford 		Additional Locomotive Background
  • Serial number: 2289(? )
  • Build date: April 1943
  • Other Owners: EMD (Chicago Plant switcher)
  • Present status: Scrapped
Technical Data
  • Engine: Detroit Diesel 6-cylinder D71 (2)
  • Total Horsepower: 300, with a 30 mph max speed
  • Trucks: Rigid frame, two-axle, with a 13'-0" wheelbase and 45" wheels
  • Traction Motors: EMD (2), with a total locomotive weight of 82,000 lbs.
  • Air Brake: Westinghouse 14EL
  • Main Generator: EMD D7
  • Total Length: 26'-01", with a 13'-2.5" cab Heighth
Reference Sources:
  • Critters, Dinkeys and Centercabs by Jay Reed
  • "Early Diesel and Electric Locomotives," Rail Heritage Publications
  • Extra 2200 South Newsletter (issues 16, 45 & 53)
  • Flickr.com
  • TrainOrders.com

Original upload: 2 February 2021

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