History of the EMD F40C: Milwaukee Road and Metra's Six Axle Commuter Locomotive

The EMD F40C was a common sight on Chicago's Milwaukee District commuter lines, operating from the mid 1970's to the early 2010's. Today, thirteen of these locomotives have been scrapped, and Metra has only kept two in storage. Watch and learn about the history and specifications of this locomotive!
Special thanks to Daniel S. Dawdy of Ribbon Rail Productions for sharing with me special footage of the F40Cs.
Correction: Original horn was a Prime 920, an RS3L copy. • Ray Weart Collection: ...
Works Cited:
Audio:
Lebowitz, Dan: • Video
Moyer, Chris: www.locomotiveh...
Quincas Moreia: • Video
Images:
Bengt 1955: flic.kr/p/6jATWB
Bernard, Marty: www.rrpicturear...
Circus City Decals: d2j6dbq0eux0bg...
Gage, Bruce: www.rrpicturear...
Garver, Craig: flic.kr/p/2kkUpYQ
Kantola, Matthew: www.rrpicturear...
Karsini: commons.wikime...
katherine of chicago: flic.kr/p/6rKkii
Putz, Gerard: www.rrpicturear... , www.rrpicturear... , www.rrpicturear... , www.rrpicturear..., rrpicturearchiv...
Langford, Weston: www.westonlang...
Vermande, Tim: www.rrpicturear... , rrpicturearchiv...
vxla: flic.kr/p/87Xrqi , flic.kr/p/881AdJ , flic.kr/p/8vh9KC
Zeiler, Chuck: www.rrpicturear...
Information:
Diesel Shop: www.thediesels...
McDonnell, Greg: Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives
Metra: metra.com/news...
Railroad Fan: railroadfan.co...
Train Orders: www.trainorder...
Videos:
Andy S: • Metra F40C #611 at Ben...
Dawdy, Daniel S: • Metra F40c's In Rosell... , personal collection.
tracksidefan: • Trackside - Rememberin...

[@classicalman114]

Correction regarding the air horns: they were equipped with Prime 920s, not s3ls. Albeit the former was basically a carbon copy of the latter. Refer to the second clip of this recording as an example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5mkZamnrpVngpo

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

Thank you for the correction. I’ll make an annotation for the air horn

[@user-gn5bo6jp1q]

EMD f40c meeted 1 time on with RTA EMD F40Ph

[@arrowlock]

F40Cs also had Nathan P5 horns

[@classicalman114]

@@arrowlock Yes they did, they all received them eventually as replacements.

[@bryanphillips6666]

The genius of the SD series keeps on giving

[@q.h.s5051]

When I was young I couldn’t tell the difference between the F40PH, SDP 40F, or this fella. I did take notice of the giant grates and the different front end on the SDP and F40C. Now doing so much research and listening to stuff like this in the past 3 years it helps for sure. Thank you

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

Thank you for your comment! Glad I could help. I didn’t know the difference as a kid either. All I knew was that these units had massive silver panels. I figured they were grills for cooling. Learning later on that they were a bizarre attempt at styling was a head scratcher. It’s all part of the fun of digging up railroading history!

[@RailBrothersProductions]

I really hope that Illinois Railway Museum gets one of these locomotives as I remember them operating between 2009 and 2012 on the Milwaukee district West line and I'd love to see them Preserved.

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

I hear ya, one of these should be preserved. I think there’s a good chance that a unit will end up at the Illinois Railway Museum, but it hasn’t happened yet!

[@RailBrothersProductions]

@@bigshouldersrails1318 if one of them does get preserved which one do you think would have a better chance 611 or 614?

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

I honestly don’t know, it all depends on the condition of the two locomotives. I’d assume whichever one is in better shape would go to IRM, assuming only one would go if Metra made that decision.

[@railroading]

Im hoping that if one goes into preserveance, then the other would be rebuilt and put back into service

[@B52Stratofortress1]

@@railroading A one off locomotive that shares no other parts with the fleet doesn't make economic sense unfortunately

[@pacificostudios]

Thanks! I never heard of this type of loco, and yet I probably rode behind one at least once on a visit to Chicago.

[@superbaddy4]

I have a big fascination for these engines. I like their side panels, engine noises, and their big, brawny, imposing aesthetic. A nice change from the usual F40s, F59s, and MPIs I'm used to. Another engine I appreciate is the Morrison Knudsen F40PHL-2, which are basically the exact same thing as these, but with four axles. They even have in common that the only remaining specimens are sitting inoperable in a deadline right now. Just like how the Chicago folks want to savor 611 and 614, the South Florida folks want to savor TRCX 802, 803, and 805.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Another great video!

[@s_e-LBR]

Oh hi there

[@Buick_GSX]

When i went to chicago earlier this year, I saw a few of these that they had in storage at the Western Avenue yard. I'm surprised the ones that remain are still mothballed and not retired and scrapped

[@Mr.E723]

I’ve been able to spot the two that remain a few times in the yard when riding the UP-W. If they’re not gonna do anything with them then they really need to donate at least one to the Illinois Railway Museum

[@iatif1995]

Metra is actually getting new six axle locomotives. They are the EMD SD70MACHs.

[@terrywallace1327]

Somebody!please save these two girls from being scrapped!

[@brianfalzon6739]

Yes, the R&N can have 614 and the Conway Scenic Raiilroad can have 611!

[@BossSpringsteen69]

The horns were Prime 920's. When the 920's are in tune they can sound very close to a Leslie.

[@polandball_art8152]

I can remember when they used to operate through my hometown of glenview, Illinois. They were my favorites

[@johnrutkowski4166]

Can you do documentaries like these on Metra’s F40PH, F40PHM, & MP36 locomotives, they deserve to have their history shared.

[@TheYardLimit]

I think the other locomotives were sold to Mid America where they were scrapped. There was talk of KCS buying them for freight service, but regearing them would have been cost prohibitive.

[@_cyan4657]

I still love these locomotives, commuter brutes they were

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

They sure are impressive!

[@Midland1072Productions]

Makes you wonder what would have happened if Amtrak had gone with these instead of the SDP40Fs, would the F40PH ever have been made

[@davidng2336]

Probably yes still.

[@justahillbilly7777]

Amtrak should’ve just gone the route of getting a Dash 2 version of the FP45. I’m probably gonna be stuck wondering why they didn’t go that route and instead opted for the SDP40F for the rest of my days.

[@davidfuller581]

@@justahillbilly7777 Couple reasons really. The FP45 had a 20 cylinder prime mover, and wasn't particularly reliable. It also guzzled fuel like nobody's business.

[@DFWRailVideos]

Hah, the F40C has a distinctive 'face' if you will. The class lights or windshield look like eyes and the chain in front of the nose is like a smile. Great video!

[@thetrainguy1]

This is some great quality content. Keep it up!

[@cacline72]

Slight correction the SDP40F also rides on an SD40-2 chassis.

[@brandon-fl]

Incredible

[@ishirotanaka]

Hopefully the last 2 F40c’s will end up at the Illinois railway museum and cosmetically restored to their original numbers and paint.

[@railfandepotproductions]

Or maybe a mix of the OG paint and Metra paint

[@Robloxity_News]

Wow, Im the 1,000th viewer. It is an honor that I saw this awesome video. Soon youll be as big as Amtrakguy365.

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

Thanks for hitting 1k views! We’ll see if I get that big…

[@0fficialdregs]

those poor old units, i miss them all.

[@davidng2336]

I do hope that if they don't get used anymore, they are at least sent to a responsible museum.

[@N00N01]

also they look cool as hell and not like a bullet train carved out and with a naval engine inside

[@dwkcamman611]

Great video!

[@nekomasteryoutube3232]

WOAH these guys made over 400 KN tractive on startup. DAAAAAAMN Theres a good reason I put these things in my North American Addon Set for openTTD. I love heavy fast commuters.

[@ShawnC.W-King]

I love when they come through on occasion through my line

[@Mauscmkwk]

I hope the irm will get a hold of them

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

Me too!

[@brianfalzon6739]

@@bigshouldersrails1318 Maybe Metra should donate both 611 and 614 the R&N.

[@maas1208]

The F40Cs are the cooler SDP40Fs

[@rossbryan6102]

THE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEAM GENERATOR SDP 40 a WAS NOT THE FRAME LENGTH, BUT THE WATER STORAGE TANKS INSIDE THE ENGINE ROOM! WHEN THESE TANKS WERE FULL THEY CREATED A TOP HEAVY ISSUE, AND AS THE WATER LEVEL LOWERED FROM MAKING STEAM, THEN THE SLOSHING OF THE WATER CREATED THEIR OWN ISSUE! ALSO THE STEAM GENERATORS WERE INTENDED TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE CARS WERE ALL CONVERTED TO HEAD END POWER! THEN THE STEAM GENERATORS WERE TO BE REMOVED ALONG WITH THE TANKS AND AN DIESEL GENSET TO BE INSTALLED FOR HEP POWER! DUE TO THE FACT OF 3 AXLE TRUCKS WERE FEARED BY SOME OF THE HOST RAILROADS, THE SDP-40 s WERE SCRAPPED, WITH THE ENGINES AND MAIN ALTERNATORS AND TRACTION MOTORS BEING REUSED IN THE 4 AXLE 200 SERIES F40 P!

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

Good explanation of the downfall of the SDP40F!

[@rossbryan6102]

@@bigshouldersrails1318 I WAS WORKING FOR SANTA FE IN THOSE DAYS IN LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS IN ARGENTINE YARD!

[@theventuracountyrailfan]

Is your caps lock or shift broken?

[@djg6910]

That is only one of the many theories regarding the derailments, the best minds in the industry at the time from EMD, FRA, and AAR conducted much testing but never identified a positive cause.

[@janeordway4841]

The first horn sounds better then the second one.

[@BNProductions-vy7mf]

2:05 A RAILS UNLIMIED HORN

[@railfandepotproductions]

RU used the horn

[@0fficialdregs]

i'm sad their brothers were scrapped because they were getting outdated. i would of kept them and asked a freight railroad to rebuild them.

[@brianfalzon6739]

Maybe the Conway Scenic Railroad can have 611 and the Reading and Northern can have 614 in the future.

[@the_autism_express]

I seriously think that the F40C was a beta version of the F40PH

[@SynchroScore]

And now I'm trying to figure out where that picture at 2:50 was taken. That looks like the lift bridge over the South Branch at 21st Street, but I'm really curious what those steamers are doing there.

[@Maunico0809]

Nice

[@LukeLovesTrains-Mr.RailYard]

What is that Steam locomotive there at 2:49?

[@sebastianfloyd372]

F40Cs 611 and 614 are survivors

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

Very true. I hope that the Illinois Railway Museum gets at least one of them

[@sebastianfloyd372]

@@bigshouldersrails1318 or maybe Metra should repaint their F40Cs in the same paint scheme as the MP36s and get them tier 4

[@trainfan998]

610 was a tragedy.

[@sebastianfloyd372]

@superchief 88 Metra’s F40Cs 611 and 614 are survivors

[@sebastianfloyd372]

@superchief 88 kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXq5oYGop8l8fq8

[@paulmoreno6279]

Cool 😎

[@LeitoTrenes]

Nice video. Likes

[@Boypogikami132]

This is just a better SDP40F ngl

[@Wawa111_Mainline]

I wish metra would restore these

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

It would be awesome to see these units back in service, but I remember hearing that Metra has cannibalized these units for parts on the F40PH’s, so I doubt they’ll see revenue service again. I think their best hope is if Metra donates at least one to the Illinois railway museum

[@Wawa111_Mainline]

@@bigshouldersrails1318 if irm is getting some than we need metra Pullman cars we only have 1 the rest our cnw

[@TheYardLimit]

@@Wawa111_Mainline I wouldn't hold my breath on it, Metra just sold NIRC 1 to LTEX

[@RailPreserver2K]

Im suprised they don't save both of them

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

Both 611 and 614 still exist, but from what I understand, they are inoperable. My hope is that at least one goes the Illinois Railway Museum. I doubt they’ll ever see revenue service again, but if at least one of them is preserved, then I’ll be happy!

[@RailPreserver2K]

@@bigshouldersrails1318 you may want to look into that time that Metro actually used old Burlington Northern E8 and E9 units on the commuter trains back in the 90s because it's a rather interesting topic

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

… you may be a mind reader 😉

[@RailPreserver2K]

@@bigshouldersrails1318 nah but I figured it was something that could have been covered. I don't know if you were going to do any other documentaries about railroad history in Illinois but the history regarding Northwestern Steel and Wire is really neat because they still used steam until about 1980 in there mill complex. Then there's the Crab Orchard and Egyptian up in Marion Illinois which used steam until 1986

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

I’ll take a look into those stories, I’m always on the look for video ideas. As for the BN E Units… that video is in the works

[@graphtonix6607]

What happened to Metra F40C unit 604 after it left Metra???

[@k17800]

2:05 Horn From Rails Unlimited

[@ethanslape8889]

at 2:50 there is a picture of Amtrak locomotives in 1955? I thought Amtrak didn't exist until 1971

[@railfandepotproductions]

I think that's a mistake

[@nicksfuntv1281]

They look like modified FP45's.

[@RailPreserver2K]

At 2:52 what happened to the steam locomotive to the right of the Amtrak locomotives

[@bigshouldersrails1318]

I honestly have no clue. The picture is on Flickr (you can find it in the description) and it has no notes about those locomotives. It’s a mystery!

[@TheYardLimit]

They were probably owned by Richard Jensen. I know GTW 5629 was stored at 18th street around this time. One of those locomotives looked like a 10 wheeler that he also owned. I know that locomotive was stored on the CWP&S (pre CRL) for some time in the 80s and is now at the Monticello Railway Museum.

[@stevensolway1054]

Dear friends, unfortunately, both steam locomotives were scrapped and destroyed, by outsiders, even though the late Mr. Jensen was trying to save them. Because apparently the owners of the roundhouse denied him access. And cut the tracks, so the steamers needed to be disassembled and trucked out to a new location. Unfortunately, there were no offers of assistance, apparently. But the CBQ 5632 4-8-4 Northern was first scrapped. Hopefully. We can get one of the other 4-8-4s rebuilt. Another setback for Mr. JENSEN, occured in the 1980s when GTW 5629 was threatened with destruction. Because the RR wanted it off their property, due to the expansion in the yard. GTW 5629 the 4-6-2 Pacific was an Extremely Popular excursion engine in Chicago in the 1960s as one of the very last steamers certified for mainline service, due to the complete elimination of steam, and open hostility of management against steam. Yet, 5629 was used several times to pull THE GREAT CIRCUS TRAIN from Baraboo and the Circus World Museum, which is also in Wisconsin Dells and close to the Mid Continent Ry. Museum with CNW 1385 which was used much later in the 1980s also seen on VHS Tapes. Yet, 5629 was also rebuilt with a larger tender to carry more coal, which had 6 wheel trucks, and came from a SOO LINE 4-8-2 Mountain class, but unfortunately, there was an extremely bad and lack of communication between steam owners, and other rail museums, and the mistake happened that the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay with their SOO LINE 2718 also a 4-6-2, had the large tender, but however it is so plainly obvious that SOO 2718 still has its original-small style tender from 1923 when built by ALCO, Although the regular tenders were frequently swapped when the steamers were repaired. Thus, the confusion has existed for the past 65 years. But when GTW 5629 was scrapped in the 1980s, the late Mr. Jensen, was extremely criticised. But, he was victimised. Apparently, only some offers to help were just suggestions with no real effort. But, others were more serious, but they still didnt help. Luckily, there are still a couple of the GTW engines displayed in parks, or museums. And it would cost a minimum of 1 Million Dollars to repair, and well worth the price. Th., 10.7.21.A.D.

[@devsworld6399]

Metra f40c has p

[@F40M07]

Me at first: SDP40F?

[@northlanderdude]

both of those horns are terrible.

[@railfandepotproductions]

They sound alr