EMD "F40PH" Series: Specs, Roster, History

Last revised: February 26, 2025

Electro-Motive's F40PH series became the face of Amtrak for more than two decades. The model was originally designed to operate in commuter and short haul service.

However, the SDP40F's failure prompted Amtrak to look elsewhere for a long-haul road locomotive. In response, EMD redesigned the F40PH. It proved so successful in all types of applications that numerous commuter agencies also purchased the model.

You can find it in service from coast to coast on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Metra (Chicago), Tri-Rail (Florida); a testament to EMD's second-generation motive power. Today, Amtrak has retired or sold its entire fleet although a few remain in service as NPCUs (Non-Powered Control Units).

Photos

Amtrak F40PH #414 exits from the small tunnel beneath Bellows Falls, Vermont with train #55, the southbound "Vermonter," on September 30, 2000. Doug Kroll photo.

Overview

In 1973/1974 Amtrak acquired its first new locomotives, a fleet of SDP40Fs totaling 150 units. They were built on the stretched frame of the FP45 but internally were essentially SD40-2s.

The new units were intended to be Amtrak's primary road power. Unfortunately, they soon developed a mysterious derailment issue which caused the carrier to lose confidence in the model.

While it was eventually discovered that sloshing water in the onboard water supply (used for the accompanying steam generator) was the cause, and EMD found a solution, Amtrak began trading in the fleet as early as 1977 on new F40PHs.

The F40PH was essentially EMD's model GP40-2 wrapped in full cowling and regeared for passenger service. Amtrak had received its first order of 30 units a year earlier, numbered 200-229, during March and April of 1976.

As Greg McDonnell notes in his book, "Locomotives: The Modern Diesel & Electric Reference," the carrier utilized these first examples in regional service out of Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New Haven (Connecticut).

A pair of Amtrak F40PH's, led by #357, exit Hermosa Tunnel with the westbound "San Francisco Zephyr" on Sherman Hill (Wyoming), circa 1982. Mike Bledsoe photo. American-Rails.com collection.

The shorter F40PH was only 56' 2" in length (16 feet shorter than the SDP40F), featured B-B trucks, and came equipped with a 500-kilowatt alternator in place of a steam generator for power and lighting of the passenger cars.

In his book, "The Contemporary Diesel Spotters Guide," Louis Marre notes EMD had to modify the model for Amtrak's impeding acquisition of new Superliner cars by enlarging the fuel tank from 1,200 to 1,800 gallons and increasing the alternator to 800-kilowatts.

Between 1976 and 1988, Amtrak acquired 220 examples of the F40PH. Following the SDP40F's failure, 123 F40PH's were built utilizing components of these traded in units.

In 1985, EMD began manufacturing what it described as the F40PH-2. However, aside from a slight increase in horsepower (3,000 to 3,200) there was no change to the model. This bump in horsepower was largely an effort to reduce the heavy load required of the HEP generator, which pulled up to 700 horsepower directly from the 645 engine.

Electro-Motive continued producing the F40PH-2 at its historic facility in La Grange/McCook, Illinois until December, 1992 when Metra #214 rolled out of the plant. In fact, this unit was the final locomotive ever produced here.

In Canada, General Motors Diesel of London, Ontario manufactured six F40PH's for GO Transit in 1978 while VIA Rail Canada acquired another 59 F40PH-2s between 1986-1989.

Data Sheets

F40PH

Entered Production	3/1976 (Amtrak #200)
Years Produced	3/1976 - 12/1992
Engine	645E3
Engine Builder	GM
Horsepower	3000/3200
Horsepower (F40PF-2M)	2000
RPM	800
Cylinders	16
Length	56' 2"
Length (F40PH-2M)	64' 3"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	15' 7 ½"
Width	10' 7"
Weight	260,000 Lbs (F40PH); 266,000 Lbs (F40PH-2M); 282,000 Lbs (F40PH-2C); 265,000 Lbs (F40PHM-2)
Fuel Capacity	1,500 - 1,800 Gallons
Air Compressor	Gardner-Denver
Air Compressor Model	WBO
Air Brake Manufacturer	Westinghouse
Air Brake Schedule	26L
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	Blomberg M
Truck Wheelbase	9' 0"
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	D77 (4), GM
Primary Generator	AR10, GM
Auxiliary Generator	GM
Alternator	GMD14
Steam Generator (Optional)	AR4125 (Vapor-Clarkson)
MU (Multiple-Unit)	Yes
Dynamic Brakes	Yes
Gear Ratio	59:15
Top Speed	95 mph - 110 mph

F40PH-2

Entered Production	3/1985 (CalTrain #900)
Years Produced	3/1985 - 10/1989
Engine	645E3C
Engine Builder	GM
Horsepower	3000
RPM	800
Cylinders	16
Length	56' 2"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	15' 7 ½"
Width	10' 7"
Weight	260,000 Lbs - 268,000 Lbs
Fuel Capacity	1,500 - 1,800 Gallons
Air Compressor	Gardner-Denver
Air Compressor Model	WBO
Air Brake Manufacturer	Westinghouse
Air Brake Schedule	26L
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	Blomberg M
Truck Wheelbase	9' 0"
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	D77 (4), GM
Primary Generator	AR10, GM
Auxiliary Generator	GM
Alternator	GMD14
Steam Generator (Optional)	AR4125 (Vapor-Clarkson)
MU (Multiple-Unit)	Yes
Dynamic Brakes	Yes
Gear Ratio	59:15
Top Speed	95 mph - 110 mph

Production Rosters

F40PH

Total Produced = 325

Owner	Road Numbers	Serial Numbers	Order Number	Date Built
Amtrak	200-229	757099-1 thru 757099-30	757099	3/1976 - 4/1976
Regional Transportation Authority (Chicago)	100-127	766062-1 thru 766062-28	766062	9/1977 - 12/1977
Amtrak	270-279	776001-1 thru 776001-10	776001	11/1977-1/1978
Amtrak	230-254	777001-1 thru 777001-25	777001	7/1977-10/1977
Amtrak	255-269	777018-1 thru 777018-15	777018	11/1977-1/1978
Amtrak	280-293	777063-1 thru 777063-14	777063	3/1978-7/1978
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority	1000-1012	776066-1 thru 776066-13	776066	9/1978 - 11/1978
Amtrak	294-299, 310-321	777107-1 thru 777107-18	777107	6/1979-8/1979
Amtrak	300-309	786140-1 thru 786140-10	786140	4/1979-6/1979
Amtrak	322-328	787245-1 thru 787245-7	787245	9/1979-10/1979
Regional Transportation Authority (Chicago)	128-149	786293-1 thru 786293-22	786293	11/1979-1/1980
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority	1013-1017	796346-1 thru 796346-5	796346	12/1980
Amtrak	332-346	796379-1 thru 796379-15	796379	8/1980-11/1980
New Jersey Transit	4113-4129	796380-1 thru 796380-17	796380	10/1981-12/1981
Amtrak	329-331	797387-1 thru 797387-3	797387	8/1980
Amtrak	347-359	796391-1 thru 796391-13	796391	11/1980-12/1980
Amtrak	360	807038-1	807038	12/1980
Amtrak	361-390	807050-1 thru 807050-30	807050	4/1981-8/1981
Regional Transportation Authority (Chicago)	150-173	826017-1 thru 826017-24	826017	2/1983-5/1983
Amtrak	391-400	847048-1 thru 847048-10	847048	8/1985
Amtrak	401-409	877008-1 thru 877008-9	877008	11/1987-2/1988

F40PH-2

Total Produced = 90

Owner	Road Numbers	Serial Numbers	Order Number	Date Built
Caltrans	900-917	836077-1 thru 836077-18	836077	3/1985-5/1985
Caltrans	918-919	866171-1, 866171-2	866171	12/1987
Regional Transportation Authority (Chicago)	174-180	876017-1 thru 876017-7	876017	12/1988-3/1989
Regional Transportation Authority (Chicago)	181-184	886028-1 thru 886028-4	886028	7/1989-10/1989

F40PHM-2

Total Produced = 30

Owner	Road Numbers	Serial Numbers	Order Number	Date Built
Regional Transportation Authority (Chicago)	185-214	896065-1 thru 896065-30	896065	10/1991-12/1992

F40PHM-2C

Total Produced = 15

Owner	Road Number	Builder	Serial Number	Date Built
Coaster	2101-2105	Motive Power Industries	1193-01 thru 1193-05	7/1994
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)	1025–1036	Motive Power Industries	0990-01 thru 0990-12	5/1991-8/1993

F40PH-2C

Total Produced = 26

Owner	Road Numbers	Serial Numbers	Date Built
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority	1050-1067	846003-1 thru 846003-18	7/1987-11/1987
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority	1068-1075	876016-1 thru 876016-8	2/1988-5/1988

F40PH-2M

Total Produced = 4

Owner	Road Numbers	Serial Numbers	Date Built
Speno Rail Services	S1-S2	816021-1, 816021-2	3/1982
Speno Rail Services	S3-S4	846066-1, 846066-2	11/1985

F40PH-3C

Total Produced = 6

Owner	Road Number	Builder	Serial Number	Date Built
Altamont Commuter Express	3101	Motive Power Industries	0297-01	11/1997
Altamont Commuter Express	3102	Motive Power Industries	0297-02	11/1997
Altamont Commuter Express	3103	Motive Power Industries	0297-03	12/1997
Altamont Commuter Express	3104	Motive Power Industries	0297-04	8/2000
Altamont Commuter Express	3105	Motive Power Industries	0297-05	5/2001
Altamont Commuter Express	3106	Motive Power Industries	0297-06	12/2006

F40PH-2C

Total Produced = 6

Owner	Road Number	Builder	Serial Number	Date Built
Caltrain	920-922	Motive Power Industries	0498-1 thru 0498-3	12/1998
Tri-Rail (Florida)	807-809	Motive Power Industries	0691-01 thru 0691-03	1993

F40PHM-2C

Total Produced = 5

Owner	Road Number	Builder	Serial Number	Date Built
Coaster	2101-2105	Motive Power Industries	0498-1 thru 0498-3	12/1998

F40PHL-2

Total Produced = 5

Owner	Road Number	Builder	EMD Serial Number	MPI Frame Number	Date Built
Tri-Rail (Florida)	801-805	Motive Power Industries	34694, 34702, 34704, 34716, 34720	7145-61, 7145-69, 7145-71, 7145-83, 7145-87	1988

General Motors Diesel Division (GMDD)

F40PH

Total Produced = 6

Owner	Road Numbers	Serial Numbers	Date Built
Government of Ontario Transit ("GO Transit")	510-515	A3495-A3500	4/1978-5/1978

F40PH-2

Total Produced = 59

Owner	Road Numbers	Serial Numbers	Date Built
VIA Rail Canada	6400-6419	A4597-A4616	11/1986-1/1987
VIA Rail Canada	6420-6429	A4695-A4704	7/1987-8/1987
VIA Rail Canada	6430-6458	A4831-A4859	4/1989-7/1989

Amtrak F40PH #229 with a "San Diegan" at the former Santa Fe station in San Diego, California on August 5, 1976. Carl Sturner photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Variants

F40PH-2M

Built for the SPENO rail-grinding service these locomotives looked nothing like a traditional F40PH. The cab was flush with the front of the frame with no nose. It utilized a 2,000 horsepower 16-cylinder, non-turbocharged 645E prime mover without onboard HEP equipment.

F40PH-2C

Featured Cummins-produced HEP equipment and was 8' 1" longer than a standard F40PH. EMD produced 16 for MBTA while Motive Power produced three a piece for Tri-Rail and Caltrain.

F40PHM-2

Featured a full cowl carbody with the nose flush with the front of the frame and sported angled windshields. Thirty were built for Metra in 1992, the last locomotives produced at EMD's La Grange/McCook facility.

F40PHL-2

While not a traditional F40PH model these units were rebuilt from GP40s by Morrison-Knudsen for Tri-Rail in 1988 and designated F40PHL-2.

Sources

Marre, Louis A. and Pinkepank, Jerry A. Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide, The: A Comprehensive Reference Manual To Locomotives Since 1972. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1989.

Marre, Louis A. Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide, The: A Comprehensive Reference Manual To Locomotives Since 1972, Including Rebuilding, Upgrading, And Leasing Programs (2nd Edition). Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1995.
McDonnell, Greg. Locomotives: The Modern Diesel & Electric Reference, 2nd Edition. Buffalo: Boston Mills Press/Firefly Books, 2015.

Solomon, Brian. EMD Locomotives. Minneapolis: MBI Publishing Company, 2006.

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