Amtrak Photo Archive
an unofficial site

the SDP-40F Locomotives #500-549

When Amtrak started, almost everything it inherited was tired. One of the first new equipment purchased were new, state of the art locomotives.
After all. if failed, locomotives would be sold, but what would you do with new passenger cars if Amtrak failed. A three thousand horsepower locomotive, based on the popular SD-40
was built new for Amtrak by EMD in 1973-74. Unfortunately these new locomotives were plagued by derailments most were traded in. Some parts were reused on the FP-40PHR.

By 1980 there were only 68 left on the roster. A few ended their Amtrak service in work train service
In 1984 Eighteen were sold to the Santa Fe and after changing the trucks or maybe just center wheel on truck, used them for many years - 17 were in service in 1999.

Around Thanksgiving 2001, the big units started moving into storage at Kansas City and Barstow for the final time.
After another half year in storage, all 17 remaining SDF40-2's were retired on May 2, 2002.
In August, BNSF began moving the units to Topeka to be harvested of useful parts.

 

18 went to Santa Fe. ATSF picked up 18 of the SDP40Fs in exchange for 25 CF7s and 18 SSB1200s.
All but one survived long enough to receive BNSF numbers:

BNSF 6961 (ex-ATSF 5251, exx-Amtrak 511)
BNSF 6965 (ex-ATSF 5255, exx-Amtrak 526)
BNSF 6962 (ex-ATSF 5252, exx-Amtrak 615)
BNSF 6967 (ex-ATSF 5257, exx-Amtrak 622)
BNSF 6968 (ex-ATSF 5258, exx-Amtrak 628)
BNSF 6972 (ex-ATSF 5262, exx-Amtrak 629)
BNSF 6963 (ex-ATSF 5253, exx-Amtrak 630)
BNSF 6974 (ex-ATSF 5264, exx-Amtrak 632)
BNSF 6969 (ex-ATSF 5259, exx-Amtrak 633)
BNSF 6971 (ex-ATSF 5261, exx-Amtrak 634)
BNSF 6964 (ex-ATSF 5254, exx-Amtrak 635)
BNSF 6970 (ex-ATSF 5260, exx-Amtrak 638)
ATSF 5263 (wrecked/scrapped before BNSF renumbering; ex-Amtrak 639)
BNSF 6966 (ex-ATSF 5256, exx-Amtrak 640)
BNSF 6960 (ex-ATSF 5250, exx-Amtrak 643)
BNSF 6976 (ex-ATSF 5266, exx-Amtrak 644)
BNSF 6977 (ex-ATSF 5267, exx-Amtrak 645)
BNSF 6975 (ex-ATSF 5265, exx-Amtrak 649)


One, ex-Amtrak 644, ex-ATSF 5266, BNSF 6976 has been preserved in Ogden, Utah
For more on the final phase of the Amtrak SDP story, visit Evan Werkema's excellent
site about the ATSF SDPs
After the page loads, click on the image or engine number to view a larger image.
White sections are newest additions


SDP 550-599 now located here
SDP 600-649 now located here

     Location & Information  DATE   PHOTO CREDIT
500
 unknown location
delivered June 29,1973
 from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
 500
Saginaw TX
train #15 Southbound
 May 30 1974
from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
500
 probably California
 June 1974
 R.E. Lehmuth
  500
Texas Chief/Lone Star Purcell OK
November 1973
from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
500
  probably California
 June 1984
 R.E. Lehmuth
500
 back at EMD waiting to be stripped
of parts for a F-40
from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
 501
 unknown location
delivered June 20, 1973
 June 26, 1973
 R.R. Harmen

502

 Chicago IL

 June 1973

  from the
collection of
JL Hunt

502
 probably California
 Jan 1976
 R.E. Lehmuth

502

 Fullerton CA

 June 1977

 Bill Hakkarinen

502
 delivered June 20, 1973
 November 1978
 from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
502
Los Angeles CA
LAUT
 September 1980
 R.E. Lehmuth
  502
Texas Chief/Lone Star Purcell OK
August 1973
502
 Chicago IL
 July 1973
 from the
collection of
JL Hunt
  502 Texas Chief/Lone Star Purcell OK September 1973 from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
503
Los Angeles CA
LAUT
July 2,1973
 Kent Anderson
    503 the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Norman, OK, October 1973.    
503
 Raton NM
 Jan 4, 1974
 Bruce Barrett
503
 Raton NM
 June 23, 1973
 R.R.Harmen
503
 Cleburne TX
 April 10,1977
James Holder
504
 San Diego CA
 August 1973
 from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
504
 Raton NM
 August 1973
 R.R.Harmen
504
 Salt Lake City UT
Oct 12, 1974
unknown
505
 Raton NM
 June 23, 1973
 R.R.Harmen

505

 Ft Worth TX

 August 1976

 Gary Morris

506
 Raton NM
 June 23, 1973
 R.R.Harmen
  506 Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Norman, OK October 1973  
507
 Chicago IL
April 2, 1977
Raymond Lackemyer
  507 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Purcell, OK, October 1973    
    507 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Purcell, OK, October 1973 TREES    
508
 August 1973
 from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
 

509

sold to EMD early 1981
as their test bed #218

 Paul Hunnell

  509 509 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Purcell, OK, December 1973 December 1973  
  509 509 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Purcell, OK, December 1973 December 1973  
510
 Ft Worth TX
  August 6, 1973
 from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
510  probably California    R.E. Lehmuth
510 San Diego California    R.E. Lehmuth
511  Chicago IL  April 5, 1980  Mike Abalos

511

 Chicago IL
became ATSF 5251 after being sold to ATSF retired and scrapped 2002
by BNSF

 July 23, 1985

 Paul Hunnell
512 Ft Worth TX
leading the southbound
Lone Star		   May 28, 1974  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
512  Fullerton CA  March 1975  R.E. Lehmuth
    512 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Norman, OK, March 1975  
521 and AMTK 512 with the "Lone Star" departing Houston TX
 October 31, 1976
 Bryan Flint
512  Las Angeles CA
 LAUT		  September 1980  R.E. Lehmuth

512

 Cleburne TX
on the Lone Star
yes, it does snow in Texas!

 January 1978

 Gary Morris
 512 Chicago IL Sept 24, 1979  Glen Beans
513  Raton NM  June 3, 1974  R.R.Harmen
513    September 1973  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
513  Denver CO  May 12, 1979 John Tudek
 513      from the
collection of
Albert Phleep

 514

 Pasadena CA

 July 4, 1973

 from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
    514 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Purcell, OK, October 1973    
514  unknown  July 21,1983  R.E. Lehmuth
514  Los Angeles CA
 LAUT		  February 1976  R.E. Lehmuth
515    August 1973  R.E. Lehmuth
    515 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Purcell, OK, December 1973    
 515  Ft Worth TX
#16 northbound		 December 28, 1973   from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
515 Ft Worth TX
#16,103s		  May 22, 1979  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
    516 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Purcell, OK, September 1973    
516    April 1979  R.E. Lehmuth
516  Fort Worth TX  November 5 1977  Mel Lawrence
518  Chicago Area?  September 2, 1973  George Cockle
518  Fullerton CA  December 22, 1974  Dick Leonhardt
519  Chicago IL  April 2, 1976  James Claflin
 519 Ft Worth TX
train #15 southbound		    May 9, 1976  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
 519 Ft Worth TX
train #15 southbound		 May 30, 1976  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
 519 Ft Worth TX
train #15 southbound		 May 30, 1976  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
 519 Ft Worth TX
train #15 southbound		   May 30, 1976  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
519  Rosenburg TX
at Tower 17 on the
eastbound Sunset Ltd		  November 1979  Gary Morris
520 Ft Worth TX  Aug 6, 1973  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
520 San Dieago CA   October 3, 1973 from the
collection of
Jim Hebner 
520  Chicago IL  Sept 18,1976  Paul Hunnell
521  Barstow CA  March 24,1974  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
522  Chicago IL Sept 1, 1973  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
522 Joliet IL Aug 16, 1977   from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
523 Chicago IL Aug 31, 1973   from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
523  Saginaw TX
leading the Lonestar
southbound		  May 29, 1974  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
523  Fullerton CA March 1975  R.E. Lehmuth
523 California?  January 1979  R.E. Lehmuth
524  La Junta CO  August 11,1979 R. Green
525  Chicago Area  September 14,1973  George Cooke
525 Temple TX
southbound Lone Star		  March 1976  Gary Morris
525 California?   June 1978 from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
    526 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, Purcell OK November 1973  
526 California?   August 1981  R.H. Lehmuth
526  Fort Worth TX    Joseph Testagrose
526 Barstow CA?      from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
    527 with the Texas Chief/Lone Star, taken at Purcell, OK, September 1973    
527 Los Angeles Union Station
In helper service on with the Transcontinental Steam Excursion pulled by 4449 in American Freedom Train scheme		  May 1977  Steve Mahan
528  Fort Worth TX
northbound		  August 25, 1973   from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
528  probably California  April 1976  R.H. Lehmuth
  529  Chicago IL
Archer Ave		 September 1974   David Wagner
530  unknown   unknown  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
530 Houston TX
on the Sunset Ltd at West Jct		  May 1978  Gary Morris
530  Houston TX
Tower 26 - The eastbound Sunset Limited on the Southern Pacific coming off the
passenger main near the Hardy St. Shops. The SP line to Shreveport
starts at the long gone Tower 26 on the right.		 June 1978    Gary Morris
531  sold/traded in to EMD
became EMD 268		    
532  Seattle WA  Sept 28, 1974  Claude Prutton
533  Seattle WA  April 1976  George LaPray
 no photo yet  534      
Joliet IL
leading the Lone Star 
July 11, 1979
from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
Rosenberg Tx
on the Eastbound with the Sunset Ltd -- a few miles west of Rosenberg and Tower 17 on the SP Sunset Route (about 40 miles west of Houston).  
April 1978
Gary Morris
 Minneapolis MN
 Feb 3, 1974
 unknown
Vancouver WA
April 1974
Cliff West
 

Vancouver WA
with train 11
April 1974
Cliff West
Seattle WA
August 3, 1974
Mel Lawerence
Los Angeles CA
Train #14 departing
 unknown 
Randy Handley
California? 
June 197?
 R.H. Lehmuth

Seattle WA
on train 7
October 1973
Cliff West
 California? 
 September 1980
 R.H. Lehmuth
 Burlington IA
 April 1979
 from the
collection of
Clint Chamberlin
 San Jose CA
 unknown
 Joseph Testagrose
 Pasco WA
 Sept 20, 1977
 Claude Prutton
   
540 Cleveland OH
Cuyahoga River		  unknown  George Elwood
 no photo yet  541      
 no photo yet  542      
543  Ft Lauderdale FL  April 1974  Joseph Testagrose
 544 Auburngale FL
leading train #93
southbound		 Aug 16, 1974  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
 545      
 no photo yet  546      
 no photo yet  547      
 548  Wenatchee WA Sept 21, 1977  Claude Prutton
 no photo yet  549      

In 1984, 18 were sold/swapped to the AT&SF for SBB1200s and CF-7s
They were rebuilt at the ATSF San Bernardino Shops Jan-May 1985 and placed into service

 Amtrak #
 ATSF #
  Amtrak #
 ATSF #
 511
 5251
 633
5259
 526
 5255
 638
5260
 628
 5258
 643
5250
 632
5264
 649
5265
 635
5254
 622
5257
 640
 5256
 630
5253
 645
 5267
 634
5261
 615
 5252
 639
5263
 629
5262
 644
5266

BNSF retired them and stripped them for parts in 2002
One Survives - 644

They were rebuilt at the ATSF San Bernardino Shops Jan-May 1985 and placed into service

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Contributions welcome and credited.

Most of the photos on this site are from original photos/slides or submissions.
Some photos are from the web - I have tried to get permission to use on all of them, but a few may have slipped through. Please, let me know if that has happened.

 

 

This archive was first accessed August 1996
Updated May 7, 2020