Monday, June 17, 2024

Portland & Western SD40-2MR #3300

Portland & Western SD40-2MR #3300 at Rainier, Oregon, in April 2006
Photo by Cliff West

Portland & Western #3300 is a 3,300-horsepower SD40-3MR that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in April 1968 as Colorado & Southern #880, a 3,000-horsepower SD40. Colorado & Southern was a subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and its successor Burlington Northern, and its locomotives were painted in its parent’s colors, but they had their own numbering system. These locomotives began to be renumbered in the Burlington Northern’s main numbering system in September 1979, and this locomotive became Colorado & Southern #6340. 

Portland & Western SD40-2MR #3300 at Rainier, Oregon, in April 2006
Photo by Cliff West

The Colorado & Southern was formally merged into the Burlington Northern on December 31, 1981, and this locomotive became Burlington Northern #6340. It was retired in February 1987 and sold back to the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in April 1987. EMD added the locomotive to their lease fleet and it became EMDX #6340. 

Portland & Western SD40-2MR #3300 at Rainier, Oregon, in April 2006
Photo by Cliff West

In 1992 it was rebuilt by EMD as a 3,300-horsepower SD40-3MPR with EM2000 microprocessor controls, HTC trucks and extended range dynamic brakes and became EMDX demonstrator #2000, eventually ending up back in lease service. It was sold to the Portland & Western in August 2004.

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