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The EMD SW1200

The EMD SW1200 was the final model the builder would produce using its model 567 prime mover (all future models used the model 645). The SW1200 was also the last model to use the traditional carbody and rounded-cab roof-line. Beginning with the SW900, EMD began using the number designation of the model to refer to its horsepower rating instead of simply using it to list its sequential order in the series. Once again, the SW1200 proved that railroads tended to like a small switcher with a bit more horsepower as it went on to being EMD's most successful in the SW series with more than 1,000 built. Today, just as with virtually every other model in the series, SW1200s can continue to be found hauling freight for shortlines and used in industrial settings, along with also pulling excursion trains. There are currently three units that are officially known to be preserved; Canadian Pacific #1229 at the Alberta Central Railway Museum, CP #8120 at the Lake of the Woods Railroaders Museum, and Lake Superior Terminal & Transportation #105 at the Minnesota Transportation Museum.

The EMD SW1200 began production in January, 1954 around the same time as its less powerful counterpart, the SW900. The model used EMD's 567C prime mover (some late model SW1200s in the 1960s used the builder's final version of the 567, the 567E). The 12-cylinder engine could produce a hefty 1,200 horsepower, which apparently is something railroads very much liked as EMD's higher-horsepower small switchers tended to sell much better (similar higher horsepower models offered by Baldwin, the American Locomotive Company, and Fairbanks Morse also tended to sell much better). Using General Motors' newer model D37B traction motor the SW1200 could produce a respectable 36,000 pounds of continuous tractive effort (its starting tractive effort was the most offered of any EMD switcher up to that time, 74,000 pounds) and overall weighed just over 122-tons (a bit heavier than the SW900).

Sales for the EMD SW1200 quickly took off and with the builder's reputation at the time for being the best manufacturer of diesel locomotives sales remained steady through the 1950s and into the 1960s. Just as with other SW series models, numerous Class Is, shortlines, and private industries purchased the SW1200 since they could be used in all types of applications from light branch line work to industrial duties. However, what allowed the model to sell so well was its 1,200 horsepower rating, giving many railroads the versatility to use it pulling heavier freight trains. Unfortunately, for EMD it would change the carbody of its SW1000 model for the worse in the late 1960s, much to the chagrin of industries who found it incapable of fitting within the tight quarters on their property. As such, the SW1001 variant was designed using the frame of the SW1200.

After EMD released the SW9 it abandoned cataloging its cow/calf TR series although it contemplated doing so with the SW900 of 1953 but ultimately decided against doing so. In any event, the SW1200 would also not be offered in a cow/calf variant mostly because interest in the setup had waned following the SW9. Production on the EMD SW1200 continued through May, 1966 and when the last unit was outshopped some 1,056 units in total had been produced, which included 287 models built by General Motors Diesel of London, Ontario. Buyers of the GMD SW1200 included Roberval &Quebec Iron & Titanium, Saguenay Railway, Essex Terminal Railway, Dominion Foundries & Steel, Canadian Forest Products, and the two largest buyers Canadian Pacific (72 units) and Canadian National (208 units).

Some of the industries to pick up the SW1200 included Wheeling Steel, Weyerhaeuser Timber, Woodward Iron, Simpson Logging, Republic Steel, Oliver Iron Mining, Midland Electric Coal Company, Great Lakes Steel, Commonwealth Edison, and Coos Bay Lumber Company. Among all of them these companies purchased more than 100 examples of the locomotive. It was the most purchased EMD switcher for industries as its power and agility made it ideal in such settings.

Today's this powerful and versatile switcher is still quite common in industrial settings and hauling freight on shortlines. Places you can still find in regular service include Simpson Lumber (which still owns its original two units), Nimishillen & Tuscarawas Railway, BNSF Railway, Lancaster & Chester, St. Maries River Railroad, Eastside Freight Rail, Port Jersey Railroad, United States Steel, ArcelorMittal, Patriot Renewable Fuels, Crab Orchard & Egyptian, Meridian & Bigbee, Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, Ray-Carroll Co-op, Watco, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway (Crandic), CHS Northwest Grain, Canadian National (through ownership of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern), DTE Transportation Services, and the Black River & Western. For technical data regarding the EMD SW1200 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 SW1200s 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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