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The EMD SW900

The EMD SW900 was built directly after earlier models had completed production such as the SW9, SW8, and SW1. Also, 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. The SW900's horsepower rating was not as high as its predecessor's, the SW9, which probably explains, partly anyway, why it had fewer sales. Still, nearly 400 were built for dozens of different railroads and industries. As with every other model in the SW series, the SW900's reliability and versatility has allowed it to continue to find use in several industrial and shortline applications even today. To date there are officially three known models that are preserved; Baltimore & Ohio #9408 at the B&O Railroad Museum, New York Central #8630 at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society, and Rock Island #550 at the Colorado Railroad Museum (preserved as Coors Brewery #988).

The EMD SW900 began production in December, 1953 and again carried the builder's traditional carbody styling with a tapered hood near the cab and just a short, 44-feet in length. Outwardly, the SW900's one striking visual difference from other models is its single, tong-shaped exhaust stack. Interestingly, this design was only featured on the SW900 and SW1200, as no other model in the SW series carried such a configuration. The SW900 came equipped with EMD's model 567C prime mover which, as mentioned earlier, could produce 900 horsepower (a slight downgrade from the SW9's 1,200 horsepower). The model featured a new traction motor, General Motors' model D37B, which could produce 36,000 pounds of continuous tractive effort and 57,500 pounds starting (also a downgrade from the SW9's 62,000 pounds).

Sales for the EMD SW900 were respectable but not nearly as high as the earlier SW9. It seems that EMD's 1,000-1,200 horsepower models were the perfect fit for railroads, as they nearly always saw the highest numbers (likely due to the fact that the extra horsepower not only allowed the locomotives to shuffle more cars but also be used in occasional freight operations). In any event, the SW900 would still find a variety of buyers with several Class Is, shortlines, and industries purchasing it. By the time the SW900 hit the market in late 1953 EMD's reputation for building high quality switchers, and diesel locomotives in general, was well-known. Once again EMD did not disappoint with the model as it remained a reliable and versatile locomotive that was easy to maintain and could operate about anywhere with a weight of just 115-tons.

Interestingly, EMD had intended to also build another cow/calf model with the SW900, as it had with most other earlier designs (up to that point it offered a version ranging from TR through TR6). However, either the builder could not gain any interest in the locomotive or did not believe many sales would transpire (few of the TR models actually sold many sets) and ultimately decided not to offer the TR9 model. Of note, the company's Ontario division, General Motors Diesel, was also able to sell a batch of SW900s, nearly 100. The GMD models were purchased by Algoma Steel, Aluminum Company of Canada, British Columbia Electric Railway, Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, McKinnon Industries, Midland Railway Company of Manitoba, and Steel Company of Canada.

The EMD SW900 had a very long production run and when the final model rolled out of LaGrange, Illinois bound for shortline Lancaster & Chester in early 1969, some 371 had been built (including 97 built at General Motors Diesel. Today, you can still find SW900s (aside from those preserved) in operation on the Wilmington & Western, Armco Steel, Southern Railway of British Columbia, Lancaster & Chester, Cargill, Aberdeen, Carolina & Western, Ellis & Eastern, Juniata Valley Railroad, Adrian & Blissfield Railroad, Huntsville - Madison County Airport Authority, CMI Steel, Milford-Bennington Railroad, Richmond Pacific, Fisher Farmer's Grain & Coal, and a number of privately owners. For technical data regarding the EMD SW900 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 SW900s 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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