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Southern Railway Diesel Roster

The Southern Railway diesel roster was a mix of mostly EMD and Alco products with GEs and Baldwins making up the remainder of the fleet (Southern tended to stick with EMD for its second-generation power). For a complete/all-time Southern Railway diesel roster please click here. This list of surviving Southern diesel locomotives will be categorized by original numbers the railroad assigned its units and where they are today, whether in operation, cosmetically restored, or in some state of preservation at railroad museums and tourist railroads. Also, just as something to keep in mind if you are not aware, while some locomotives may be painted/preserved in Southern colors this does not necessarily mean that they are of Southern heritage (and likewise, some locomotives may be of Southern heritage that are not in Southern colors).

The Southern Railway, forever remembered by its famous slogan, “The Southern Serves the South – Look Ahead, Look South” (it was also known for the slogan "The Southern Gives a Green Light To Innovation"), was created from a number of smaller railroads, which merged over the years to form the Southern Railway. Perhaps the railroad’s famous green paint scheme was fitting for the railroad as it became the most respected and arguably the best managed railroad of its day before it disappeared into a merger with the Norfolk & Western Railway (N&W) in 1982 to form today’s Norfolk Southern Railway (NS).

Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

· EMD SW7 #8202: Preserved by the Southeastern Railway Museum as Southern #8202.

· EMD E8A #6900: Preserved by the North Carolina Transportation Museum as Southern #6900.

· EMD E8A #6901: Preserved by the Southeastern Railway Museum as Southern #6901.

· EMD E8A #6914: Preserved by the Tennessee Valley Museum as Southern #6914.

· EMD FTB #4100C: Preserved by the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis as Southern #960603.

· EMD FTB #4103C: Preserved by the Virginia Museum of Transportation as EMD Demonstrator #103.

· EMD FTB #4103B: Preserved by the Southeastern Railway Museum as Southern #960604.

· EMD FP7 #6133: Preserved by the North Carolina Transportation Museum as Southern #6133.

· EMD FP7 #6143: In operation on tourist line Stone Mountain Railroad (Georgia) as #6143.

· EMD FP7 #6147: In operation on tourist line Stone Mountain Railroad (Georgia) as #3499.

· EMD GP30 #2594: Preserved by the Southeastern Railway Museum as Southern #2594.

· EMD GP30 #2601: Preserved by the North Carolina Transportation Museum as Southern #2601.

Also, it should be noted that some former Southern switcher and road units continue to remain in some state of operation and in active revenue service with Class Is, Regionals, shortlines, or leasing companies. To learn more about the disposition of these locomotives please click here to visit The Diesel Shop.

While this list will continually be updated it certainly does not completely cover every surviving unit, which was on the Southern Railway diesel roster. So, if you know of any other survivors out there, whether they are parked and gleaming in a museum or sitting out in the weeds along a forgotten siding please let me know so we can keep this list growing, and you will be given full credit for your help.

For more information about the Southern's diesel locomotive roster you may want to consider the book Southern Railway: Diesel Locomotives and Trains 1950-1980 from author Curt Tillotson, which covers roughly the railroad's entire post-steam era featuring 112 pages of his very own photography. The book is a great resource if you are interested in Southern's diesels.

You may also want to consider the book Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the title implies the book looks at the history and development of the diesel locomotives, covering 200 pages, from its earliest beginnings to the newest designs and models operated today. 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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