In many respects, EMD's SD40 is nearly identical to its improved successor, the SD40-2. Both use a turbocharged, 16-cylinder 16-645E3 prime mover that produces 3,000hp. Both produce nearly the same tractive effort and speed. Even their outward appearance, except for the Dash 2 sight glass opening, are nearly identical and share many of the stock parts found on the SD45, such as the frame and 4,000-gallon fuel tank. As mentioned on the SD40-2 page, EMD made these choices in order to save on production costs while producing a superior product.By the time Conrail was created in 1976, production on the SD40 had been replaced with the upgraded Dash 2 series. As a result, Conrail inherited its entire SD40 fleet from the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Penn Central. The CNJ units came from the Baltimore & Ohio, whereas the PC units came from the Penn Central. This is all detailed below.
PRR SD40's: The oldest group of Conrail's SD40's originally came from the PRR, which took delivery of 65 SD40's (PRR 6040-6104) between February and March 1966. Like other PRR diesels at the time, the PRR SD40's arrived painted in Brunswick Green with PRR Keystones. The Pennsy primarily used these locomotives in heavy haul service across their mountainous Pennsylvania lines between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
In 1968 the Pennsylvania merged with the New York Central to form the Penn Central. Since the NYC never purchased any six-axle EMD locomotives, PC retained the PRR numbering series for the SD40's (PC 6040-6104). Former PRR 6072, however, gained a bit of fame on merger day February 1, 1968, when it was displayed in Philadelphia during the ceremonies as the first locomotive to be painted in the new PC scheme, though some might claim this to be a dubious honor. The remaining former-PRR SD40's were eventually painted in standard PC colors, except for 6070, 6093, and 6095, which received the rare red "P" and white "C" logo. Like the PRR before it, PC primarily used their SD40's on the mountain lines across PA, assigning the units to Enola for maintenance.
CNJ SD40's: The second oldest series of SD40's on the Conrail roster came from the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ 3061-3068). The history of these units is typical of northeastern railroading during the 1960's and 1970's, when many of the smaller railroads were owned by larger roads. During the late 1960's, the Baltimore and Ohio had a major stake in the CNJ, which had been failing badly for years. Because the CNJ could not afford to buy its own locomotives, B&O "donated" nine slightly-used SD40's to them in December 1967. The units arrived on CNJ property still in the traditional B&O blue scheme, but CNJ painted over the B&O markings with the "Miss Liberty" logo and renumbered the units as CNJ 3061-3069. All the units remained in this blue scheme until April 1976, except for CNJ 3067, which was repainted in 1972 into CNJ's red "Coast Guard" scheme. (Eventually, the 3067 became CR 6291, first getting a CR stencil job then a full blue repaint.) Though CNJ received nine units from B&0, only eight survived. On September 10, 1975, less than seven months before Conrail, CNJ 3069 derailed while on Erie Lackawanna rails. CNJ deemed the locomotive beyond repair and removed it from the roster. That left only CNJ 3061-3068 to be passed onto Conrail.
PC SD40's: Conrail's newest SD40's came from the Penn Central proper, which took delivery of 45 units beginning in December 1970 and ending in January 1971 (PC 6240-6284). Like the PRR before it, PC primarily used these locomotives on the Harrisburg to Pittsburgh run, assigning this series to Harrisburg for maintenance. In 1976, PC 6240-6284 were passed onto Conrail.
SD40-2R Rebuilds: In 1993, Conrail rebuilt 40 SD40's to "Dash 2" specifications. Of the 40, 30 came from Conrail predecessors, whereas the other 10 came from PAC Rail Leasing, which had purchased them from the Kansas City Southern. More information on these units, such as the rebuild program, photos, and detailed roster, can be found in the SD40-2R section.
Dispositions: By 1994 all the Conrail SD40's had either been retired or rebuilt into SD40-2R's. Check the roster page for dates retired and dispositions. 
Comprehensive EMD SD40 Roster
The roster below is comprehensive for Conrail's SD40 when they arrived from Conrail's predecessors on April 1, 1976 until their last day of service on Conrail. The roster includes each unit's first disposition when known. A special thanks to Conrail The Final Years: 1992-1997 by Withers for completing the built dates and builder's numbers.
Builder's Date
CR # Former Prior Built Number Removed Disposition
===================================================================================
6240 PC 6240 --- ---- 12/70 36896 09/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6986
6241 PC 6241 --- ---- 12/70 36897 01/96 renumbered CR 0800
6242 PC 6242 --- ---- 12/70 36898 01/96 renumbered CR 801
6243 PC 6243 --- ---- 12/70 36899 10/95 renumbered CR 0802
6244 PC 6244 --- ---- 12/70 36900 04/91 renumbered to CR 6449?
6245 PC 6245 --- ---- 12/70 36901 ??/?? burned in Juniata, PA
6246 PC 6246 --- ---- 12/70 36902 10/95 renumbered CR 803
6247 PC 6247 --- ---- 12/70 36903 10/95 renumbered CR 0804
6248 PC 6248 --- ---- 12/70 36904 01/96 renumbered CR 805
6249 PC 6249 --- ---- 12/70 36905 10/94 renumbered CR 0806
6250 PC 6250 --- ---- 12/70 36906 07/80 wrecked & scrapped
6251 PC 6251 --- ---- 12/70 36907 07/93 renumbered CR 607
6252 PC 6252 --- ---- 12/70 36908 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6984
6253 PC 6253 --- ---- 12/70 36909 12/81 wrecked & scrapped
6254 PC 6254 --- ---- 12/70 36910 ??/?? EMD 6407
6255 PC 6255 --- ---- 12/70 36911 01/96 renumbered CR 0808
6256 PC 6256 --- ---- 12/70 36912 01/96 renumbered CR 0809
6257 PC 6257 --- ---- 12/70 36913 01/96 renumbered CR 810
6258 PC 6258 --- ---- 12/70 36914 02/94 renumbered CR 608
6259 PC 6259 --- ---- 12/70 36915 ??/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6960
6260 PC 6260 --- ---- 12/70 36916 10/95 renumbered CR 0811
6261 PC 6261 --- ---- 12/70 36917 01/96 renumbered CR 0812
6262 PC 6262 --- ---- 12/70 36918 07/93 renumbered CR 609
6263 PC 6263 --- ---- 01/71 36919 08/94 renumbered CR 0813
6264 PC 6264 --- ---- 12/71 36920 10/95 renumbered CR 0814
6265 PC 6265 --- ---- 12/71 36921 ??/?? ?
6266 PC 6266 --- ---- 12/71 36922 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6989
6267 PC 6267 --- ---- 12/71 36923 ??/?? ?
6268 PC 6268 --- ---- 12/71 36924 08/94 EMD 6426
6269 PC 6269 --- ---- 12/71 36925 08/94 EMD 6408
6270 PC 6270 --- ---- 12/71 36926 10/94 EMD 6427
6271 PC 6271 --- ---- 12/71 36997 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6992
6272 PC 6272 --- ---- 12/71 36998 08/94 EMD 6400
6273 PC 6273 --- ---- 12/71 36999 08/94 EMD 6409
6274 PC 6274 --- ---- 12/71 37000 07/93 renumbered CR 610
6275 PC 6275 --- ---- 12/71 37001 09/95 HLCX 5032
6276 PC 6276 --- ---- 12/71 37002 ??/?? ?
6277 PC 6277 --- ---- 12/71 37003 07/93 renumbered CR 602
6278 PC 6278 --- ---- 12/71 37004 08/94 EMD 6412
6279 PC 6279 --- ---- 12/71 37005 09/95 HLCX 5033
6280 PC 6280 --- ---- 12/71 37006 07/93 renumbered CR 603
6281 PC 6281 --- ---- 12/71 37007 01/96 HLCX 5031
6282 PC 6282 --- ---- 12/71 37008 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6990
6283 PC 6283 --- ---- 12/71 37009 08/94 EMD 6413
6284 PC 6284 --- ---- 12/71 37010 08/94 HLCX 6062
6285 CNJ 3061 B&O 7482 05/67 33161 09/94 EMD 6425
6286 CNJ 3062 B&O 7483 05/67 33162 09/95 VMV 12/96: HLCX 5035
6287 CNJ 3063 B&O 7484 05/67 33163 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6996
6288 CNJ 3064 B&O 7485 05/67 33164 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6981
6289 CNJ 3065 B&O 7486 05/67 33165 08/94 EMD 6429
6290 CNJ 3066 B&O 7487 05/67 33166 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6999
6291 CNJ 3067 B&O 7488 05/67 33167 08/94 EMD 6417
6292 CNJ 3068 B&O 7489 05/67 33168 08/94 EMD 6410
6293 PC 6040 PRR 6040 02/66 31285 07/93 renumbered CR 601
6294 PC 6041 PRR 6041 02/66 31286 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6994
6295 PC 6042 PRR 6042 02/66 31287 09/94 EMD 6419
6296 PC 6043 PRR 6043 02/66 31288 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6985
6297 PC 6044 PRR 6044 02/66 31289 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6973
6298 PC 6045 PRR 6045 02/66 31290 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6971
6299 PC 6046 PRR 6046 02/66 31291 01/96 HLCX 5036
6300 PC 6047 PRR 6047 02/66 31292 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6892
6301 PC 6048 PRR 6048 02/66 31293 09/95 VMV 12/96: HLCX 5037
6302 PC 6049 PRR 6049 02/66 31294 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6995
6303 PC 6050 PRR 6050 02/66 31295 01/96 HLCX 5038
6304 PC 6051 PRR 6051 02/66 31296 01/96 HLCX 5039
6305 PC 6052 PRR 6052 02/66 31297 06/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6975
6306 PC 6053 PRR 6053 02/66 31298 09/95 HLCX 5040
6307 PC 6054 PRR 6054 02/66 31299 08/94 EMD 6420
6308 PC 6055 PRR 6055 02/66 31300 01/96 HLCX 5041
6309 PC 6056 PRR 6056 02/66 31301 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6993
6310 PC 6057 PRR 6057 02/66 31302 02/94 renumbered CR 605
6311 PC 6058 PRR 6058 02/66 31303 ??/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6974
6312 PC 6059 PRR 6059 02/66 31304 10/93 renumbered CR 611
6313 PC 6060 PRR 6060 02/66 31305 ??/93 rebuilt CR 6972
6314 PC 6061 PRR 6061 02/66 31306 09/95 HLCX 5042
6315 PC 6062 PRR 6062 02/66 31307 08/94 EMD 6414
6316 PC 6063 PRR 6063 02/66 31308 08/94 EMD 6418
6317 PC 6064 PRR 6064 02/66 31309 08/94 EMD 6423
6318 PC 6065 PRR 6065 02/66 31310 08/94 HLCX 6061
6319 PC 6066 PRR 6066 02/66 31311 08/94 EMD 6401
6320 PC 6067 PRR 6067 02/66 31312 09/95 HLCX 6063
6321 PC 6068 PRR 6068 02/66 31313 05/94 renumbered CR 606
6322 PC 6069 PRR 6069 02/66 31314 01/96 HLCX 5044
6323 PC 6070 PRR 6070 02/66 31315 08/94 EMD 6415
6324 PC 6071 PRR 6071 02/66 31316 08/94 HLCX 6069
6325 PC 6072 PRR 6072 02/66 31317 ??/?? wrecked 06/06/75. to CR??
6326 PC 6073 PRR 6073 02/66 31318 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6991
6327 PC 6074 PRR 6074 02/66 31319 09/94 EMD 6428
6328 PC 6075 PRR 6075 02/66 31320 08/94 EMD 6421
6329 PC 6076 PRR 6076 02/66 31321 08/94 EMD 6424
6330 PC 6077 PRR 6077 02/66 31322 ??/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6977
6331 PC 6078 PRR 6078 02/66 31323 08/94 EMD 6402
6332 PC 6079 PRR 6079 02/66 31324 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6998
6333 PC 6080 PRR 6080 02/66 31325 ??/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6987
6334 PC 6081 PRR 6081 02/66 31326 09/95 HLCX 5045
6335 PC 6082 PRR 6082 03/66 31327 ??/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6976
6336 PC 6083 PRR 6083 02/66 31328 09/95 HLCX 5046
6337 PC 6084 PRR 6084 03/66 31329 ??/?? wrecked 02/04/76. to CR??
6338 PC 6085 PRR 6085 03/66 31340 10/94 EMD 6422
6339 PC 6086 PRR 6086 03/66 31341 08/94 EMD 6416
6340 PC 6087 PRR 6087 03/66 31342 01/96 HLCX 6064
6341 PC 6088 PRR 6088 03/66 31343 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6997
6342 PC 6089 PRR 6089 03/66 31344 ??/?? wrecked 05/17/78
6343 PC 6090 PRR 6090 03/66 31345 08/94 renumbered EMD 6403
6344 PC 6091 PRR 6191 03/66 31346 07/93 renumbered CR 600
6345 PC 6092 PRR 6192 03/66 31347 08/94 EMD 6404
6346 PC 6093 PRR 6193 03/66 31348 ??/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6983
6347 PC 6094 PRR 6194 03/66 31349 02/94 renumbered CR 604
6348 PC 6095 PRR 6195 03/66 31350 09/95 IMRL 205
6349 PC 6096 PRR 6196 03/66 31351 04/88 scrapped
6350 PC 6097 PRR 6197 03/66 31352 01/96 HLCX 5048
6351 PC 6098 PRR 6198 03/66 31353 07/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6988
6352 PC 6099 PRR 6199 03/66 31354 ??/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6980
6353 PC 6100 PRR 6100 03/66 31355 ??/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6978
6354 PC 6101 PRR 6101 03/66 31356 09/95 HLCX 5049
6355 PC 6102 PRR 6102 03/66 31357 ??/93 rebuilt as SD40-2R CR 6979
6356 PC 6103 PRR 6103 03/66 31358 04/94 EMD 6405
6357 PC 6104 PRR 6104 03/66 31359 10/94 EMD 6430
SD40 Renumbering Roster
During the early 1990's, Conrail began receiving new C40-8W's, placing them in the 6200 series. Since some SD40's that had not been rebuilt or sold off remained on roster, they were temporarily renumbered.SD40's that had been stored inoperable at the time, even though many were later reactivated, were renumbered into the 600 series, placed into Conrail's leasing arm, repainted solid blue with CRL markings. These units apparently remained on Conrail property until late-1994, and then they were shipped to Helm Leasing. To make matters confusing, Helm painted out the 'L' from the 'CRL' markings on the cab sides (because CRL reporting marks were already owned by Chicago Rail Link) and then leased them back to Conrail, where they continued operating during the 1990's.
Those SD40's that were active or operable, on the other hand, were renumbered into the CR 800 series and never placed into the leasing arm. Several units in the 800 series were prefixed with "0" to either avoid confusion with Amtrak's 800-series F40's or to comply with Conrail's computer system, which was accustomed to 4-digit road numbers. Number 807 never had a locomotive assigned to it, therefore a CR 807 locomotive does not appear on the roster.
Unit # Former Prior Previous Built Builder's Date Disposition
Date Number Removed
=================================================================================
CRL 600 CR 6344 PC 6091 PRR 6191 03/66 31346 07/93 to HLCX 5015
CRL 601 CR 6293 PC 6040 PRR 6040 02/66 31285 07/93 to HLCX 5016
CRL 602 CR 6277 PC 6277 --- ---- 12/71 37003 07/93 to HLCX 5017
CRL 603 CR 6280 PC 6280 --- ---- 12/71 37006 07/93 to HLCX 5018
CRL 604 CR 6347 PC 6094 PRR 6194 03/66 31349 02/94 to HLCX 5019
CRL 605 CR 6310 PC 6057 PRR 6057 02/66 31302 02/94 to HLCX 5020
CRL 606 CR 6321 PC 6068 PRR 6068 02/66 31313 05/94 to HLCX 6214
CRL 607 CR 6251 PC 6251 --- ---- 12/70 36907 07/93 to HLCX 5021
CRL 608 CR 6258 PC 6258 --- ---- 12/70 36914 02/94 to HLCX 5022
CRL 609 CR 6262 PC 6262 --- ---- 12/70 36918 07/93 to HLCX 5023
CRL 610 CR 6274 PC 6274 --- ---- 12/71 37000 07/93 to HLCX 5024
CRL 611 CR 6312 PC 6344 PRR 6059 02/66 31304 07/93 to HLCX 5025
CR 0800 CR 6241 PC 6241 --- ---- 12/70 36897 08/94 to EMD 6406
CR 801 CR 6242 PC 6242 --- ---- 12/70 36898 01/96 to HLCX 5035
CR 0802 CR 6243 PC 6243 --- ---- 12/70 36899 10/95 to IHB 4001
CR 803 CR 6246 PC 6246 --- ---- 12/70 36902 10/95 to ?
CR 0804 CR 6247 PC 6247 --- ---- 12/70 36903 10/94 to EMD 6431
CR 805 CR 6248 PC 6248 --- ---- 12/70 36904 01/96 to HLCX 5026
CR 0806 CR 6249 PC 6249 --- ---- 12/70 36905 10/94 to EMD 6432
CR 0808 CR 6255 PC 6255 --- ---- 12/70 36911 01/96 to ?
CR 0809 CR 6256 PC 6256 --- ---- 12/70 36912 01/96 to HLCX 5027
CR 810 CR 6257 PC 6257 --- ---- 12/70 36913 01/96 to HLCX 5028
CR 0811 CR 6260 PC 6260 --- ---- 12/70 36916 10/95 to HLCX 5029
CR 0812 CR 6261 PC 6261 --- ---- 12/70 36917 01/96 to HLCX 5030
CR 0813 CR 6263 PC 6263 --- ---- 01/71 36919 08/94 to EMD 6411
CR 0814 CR 6264 PC 6264 --- ---- 01/71 36920 10/95 to HLCX 5031