The Lionel SD40T-2 ‘Tunnel Motor’ is now on the rails. For those of us with a few SD40s and SD40-2s in our collections, this model provides a great variation and a touch of color in a consist.
It’s safe to say these are popular engines with hobbyists. Lionel offered the SD40T-2 in its 2022 Volume II catalog, and not so long ago in the 2017 Volume II catalog.
Sometimes it seems like every new release in the O gauge hobby is a large steam or diesel engine that needs a lot of real estate to run properly. However, these engines at home on O-31, provided there’s enough clearance on the inside of the curve. That means these powerful haulers with their colorful paint schemes can operate on some pretty compact layouts.
Learn more about EMD locomotives, including the SD40 and variants.
The Lionel SD40T-2 ‘Tunnel Motor’
This release offers the latest Lionel electronics allowing users to operate this locomotive with Legacy, TMCC, Bluetooth, or conventionally.
The models feature some road name-specific detailing. For instance, the SP units do not have ditch lights; certain engines offer red lighting on the nose; roof details also vary by road number. Certain cab numbers from the same road name have variations in paint detailing, including warning stripes when compared to another cab number from the same railroad. This is not an exhaustive list of the specific differences.
All models have see-through vents on the sides and legible warning signs. Additionally, they include LED headlights, fan-driven smoke units, updated diesel sounds, front and rear ElectroCouplers, and hand-painted crew figures in the cab.
Multiple models
Lionel’s latest release of this model includes six variations, each with three road numbers. Two of them are powered and one is an unpowered Superbass unit. The offerings (Superbass models end in “9”): Santa Fe (Nos. 2333371, 2333372, 2333379); Southern Pacific “bloody nose” (2333381, 2333382, 2333389); Southern Pacific “Kodachrome” (2333391, 2333392, 2333399); Susquehanna (2333401, 2333402, 2333409); Southern Pacific “Black Widow” (2333411, 2333412, 2333419); and Western Pacific (2333421, 2333422, 2333429).
There were also a few custom runs with this release. One from Mr. Muffin’s Trains of Atlanta, Ind., which did three road numbers in a Denver & Rio Grande Western scheme with Union Pacific patch-out. Also, an R.J. Corman scheme from Gryzboski’s Trains in Scranton, Pa. These models MSRP for $649.99 with Superbass units at $599.99. The previous release from 2017 MSRP-ed for $599.99.
Some history
The SD40T-2 or “tunnel motor,” as it was popularly called, was developed by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division over a six year stretch starting in 1974. This variation was designed for railroads with significant tunnel systems.
The difference between these units and a normal SD40 can be seen by the squared-off rear part of the locomotive and short porch. As you look closer, you can see that the ventilation systems and cooling fans are lower on the rear sides of the engine. The location of these intakes allowed cooler air near track level to be pulled into the carbody, rather than hot air and exhaust higher up.
The need for these cooling modifications was evident on the Southern Pacific, which purchased a whopping 229 units from EMD, as well as an additional 10 for the subsidiary St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt). The D&RGW purchased 73 units as well. Many of these units made it to ownership by Union Pacific; that’s the reason for the “patch-out” schemes.
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