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The EMD SW1001

The EMD SW1001 was essentially a variant of the EMD SW1000 model. The SW1001 was constructed two years following its counterpart in the late 1960s and came about because industries disliked the restyling of the SW1000 because the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) situated the walkways and cab eaves higher than on previous models, which didn't allow the locomotive to work efficiently (or even fit) in the tight, confined spaces common within plants and similar properties. By the time the SW1001 was released in 1968 EMD knew that its industrial sales were very important and knew that it had to correct the flaw. Ironically, by having the SW1001 mostly revert back to the earlier carbody styling it saw more than double the sales of its counterpart. As of today, there are no SW1001s known to be officially preserved at a museum or tourist railroad. However, numerous examples remain in active revenue service with shortlines, industries, and even Canadian National and CSX Transportation.

Realizing that one of the primary buyers of their SW line, private industries, did not like the new SW1000, EMD sought to remedy the issue by cataloging a variant of the model to correct the problem. For instance, in the case of the SW9 model, industries made up nearly 5% of total of sales. That number may not seem like much until one considers that industries purchased roughly that percentage of every switcher model EMD had cataloged up to that point. Obviously, that adds up to a lot of lost money of the manufacturer's part. In the case of the SW1000 several industries actually purchased the model but were unsatisified with it. In any event, what became known as the EMD SW1001 began production in the late summer of 1968 and it was essentially an SW1000 with a retro carbody, or a version of the one EMD used on its SW1200 line.

Internally, the EMD SW1001 was also an SW1000. The model used the same brand new model 654E prime mover that was featured in the earlier design, which could produce 1,000 horsepower. Also using General Motors' latest model D77 traction motors the tractive effort rating of the SW1001 was the same as the SW1000. Weight for both models was also the same at 115-tons. The differences came solely with the carbody. Many industries were used to EMD's standard switcher design it had been producing since the late 1930s and as such had tailored their private trackage to fit the model. For example, the new SW1000 had cab eaves too wide and walkway heights too high to operate on many industries' property.

To alleviate this problem EMD used the cab and underframe design of the SW1200, and named the model the SW1001 (however, it kept the hood used on the SW1000). By doing so it again allowed industries, which regularly used EMD switchers, to use the SW1001 without the need of purchasing another model or change their property layouts. Interestingly, this variant model of the SW1000 sold better than its counterpart. The EMD SW1001 remained in production until the early summer of 1986 and ultimately sold some 151 units in the U.S. However, in total the model sold 230 units with six other countries and Canada purchasing another 79.

Today, just as with the SW1000 model, EMD SW1001s can continue to be found in shortline and industrial service despite a rather low number of them built. Currently, SW1001s remain in operation with the Branford Steam Railroad, Canadian National (through its inheritance of Elgin, Joliet & Eastern units), Chicago Short Line, Cleveland Works Railroad, Birmingham Southern Railroad, New York & Atlantic Railway, Intermountain Power Railcar, ABC Coke, Long Island Railroad, GATX Locomotive Group, Rail Link, CSX, and Amtrak (until 2009 Norfolk Southern also had a small fleet of SW1001s). For technical data regarding the EMD SW1001 please click here. Also, for information about EMD's various switchers please refer to the chart below.

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Electro-Motive Division Switchers

Model Type	Units Built	Date Built	Horsepower
NW2	1,145	1939-1949	1,000
NW3	7	1939-1942	1,000
NW5	13	1946-1947	1,000
SW1	661	1939-1953	600
RS1325	2	1960	1,325
SW600	15	1954-1962	600
SW7	489	1949-1951	1,200
SW8	374	1950-1954	800
SW9	815	1950-1953	1,200
SW900	371	1953-1969	900
SW1000	119	1966-1972	1,000
SW1001	230	1968-1986	1,000
SW1200	1,056	1954-1966	1,200
SW1500	808	1966-1974	1,500
SW1504	60	1973	1,500
MP15/DC/AC/T	640	1974-1987	1,500

For more reading about EMD SW1001s and related diesel locomotives built by General Motors consider Mike Schafer’s Vintage Diesel Locomotives which looks at virtually all of the classic builders and models from Alco PAs to early EMD Geeps. If you’re interested in classic EMDs, or diesels in general, this book gives an excellent general history of both.

You might want to also consider the book EMD Locomotives from author Brian Solomon. Solomon's book highlights the history of EMD from its earliest beginnings in the 1920s, to its phenomenal successes in the mid-20th century, and finally its decline into second spot behind General Electric in the late 20th century and eventual sale by General Motors in 2005. The book features 176 pages of EMD history and is filled with excellent photography and illustrations. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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