EMD "SW900" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Roster

Last revised: December 20, 2024

The SW900 was a variant of the SW8, essentially a de-rated version (8 cylinder) of the company's more powerful SW7, SW9, SW1200, and SW1500.

By the 1950s, Electro-Motive was such a dominant figure in the diesel locomotive market that the builder was cataloging a variety of switchers and road-switchers in various horsepower settings and wheel arrangements.

Generally, the company saw success with nearly every model it released, although there were exceptions. In the switcher arena EMD (and all manufacturers) soon realized railroads (and industries) gravitated more towards variants offering at least 1,000 horsepower.

Such models provided more versatility and could even handle light freight duty assignments when needed. As such, the less powerful SW8, SW900, and SW600 witnessed fewer sales.

Photos

Santa Fe SW900 #650 is seen here, circa 1966. The AT&SF rostered only a very small fleet of these units, #650-653, acquired in 1957. Photographer unknown. American-Rails.com collection.

History and Background

The SW900 entered production in the United States in January, 1954 while the first examples rolled out of London, Ontario at General Motors Diesel a month earlier (December, 1953).

The model again carried the builder's traditional carbody styling with a tapered hood near the cab and standard length of just over 44 feet. It came equipped with an 8-cylinder, model 567C prime mover.

Outwardly, the SW900's one visual difference was a single, conical exhaust stack. This design was featured on all of EMD's 8-cylinder switchers and could also be found on the SW900, SW1000/SW1001, and SW600 (6 cylinder).

The model was equipped with General Motors' latest traction motor, the D37B, which could produce 36,000 pounds of continuous tractive effort and 57,500 pounds of starting effort.

Sales for the SW900 were respectable but lagged behind the SW9, largely due to its lower power rating. It seems that EMD's 1,000-1,200 horsepower models were the perfect fit for what customers were after, as previously noted.

Nevertheless, the SW900 still found a variety of buyers with several Class Is, short lines, and industries purchasing it. By the time the switcher hit the market in late 1953, EMD's reputation for building high quality switchers, and diesel locomotives in general, was already well established.

Once again Electro-Motive did not disappoint as the SW900 remained a reliable and versatile locomotive that was easy to maintain while its light weight (115 tons) allowed it to handle a variety of track conditions.

A handsome Grand Trunk Western SW900, #7230, wearing CN's original livery, was photographed here by Rick Burn at the station in Pontiac, Michigan during April, 1962. Rick Burn photo.

Interestingly, EMD had intended to also build a cow-calf variant of the SW900, as it had done with the TR through TR6 series.

However, lukewarm sales that saw only 85 of these sets built (and two additional calves), ultimately convinced the builder to abandon the concept by the mid-1950s.

Data Sheet and Specifications

Entered Production	1/1954 (McLouth Steel #6)
Years Produced (U.S.)	1/1954 - 10/1965
Years Produced (Canada)	12/1953 - 3/1969
EMD Class	SW900
Engine	567C (8 Cylinder)
Engine Builder	EMD/GM
Horsepower	900
RPM	800
Length	44' 5"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	14' 6 1/2"
Width	9' 11 1/2"
Weight	230,000 Lbs
Fuel Capacity	600 Gallons
Air Compressor	WXO (Gardner-Denver)
Air Brake Schedule	26L (Westinghouse)
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	GRS Rigid Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer (AAR Type-A) or Flexicoil
Truck Wheelbase	8' 0"
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	D37B (4), EMD/GM
Traction Generator	D15C, EMD/GM
Auxiliary Generator	EMD/GM
MU (Multiple-Unit)	Optional
Dynamic Brakes	No
Gear Ratio	62:15
Tractive Effort/Starting	57,500 Lbs
Tractive Effort/Continuous	36,000 Lbs at 11.0 mph
Top Speed	65 mph

Production Rosters

(Total Built = 241)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
McLouth Steel	6-7	19296-19297	4247	1/1954-2/1954	2
Buick Motor Division (General Motors)	792	19497	4265	1/1954	1
Cleveland Union Terminal (New York Central)	9628-9630	19518-19520	4268	3/1954	3
Southern Pacific	4624-4625	19526-19527	4273	4/1954	2
De Queen & Eastern	D-4	19528	6529	5/1954	1
Jacksonville Terminal	37-39	19561-19563	4274	6/1954	3
Southern Pacific	4626-4633	19641-19648	4276	6/1954	8
Colorado River & Western	201	19701	4298	12/1954	1
Monessen Southwestern Railway	28	19702	4312	3/1955	1
Buick Motor Division (General Motors)	818	19703	4303	2/1955	1
Raritan River Railroad	1-6	19922-19927	4283	10/1954	6
Baltimore & Ohio	625-653	20384-20412	4301	5/1955-7/1955	29
U.S. Sugar Company	154-155	20553-20554	4304	8/1955-9/1955	2
Simpson Logging Company	900	20609	4305	5/1955	1
Woodward Iron Company	62	20633	4308	8/1955	1
Sand Springs Railway	100-101	20891-20892	4321	2/1956	2
New York Central	9631-9646	20935-20950	4322	12/1955	16
River Terminal	90-97	20954-20961	4323	1/1956	8
Pickering Lumber Company	101	21246	4337	4/1956	1
River Terminal	98	21472	4323	1/1956	1
Pickering Lumber Company	102	21483	4337	4/1956	1
Cuyahoga Valley	960-961	21596-21597	4342	2/1956-4/1956	2
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator)*	6534	21726	6534	11/1955	1
Republic Steel Corporation (Cleveland Works)	347-349	21809-21811	4345	8/1956	3
Republic Steel Corporation (Warren Works)	354	21812	4346	8/1956	1
Republic Steel Corporation (Warren Works)	355-359	21813-21817	4347	8/1956-9/1956	5
Alabama By-Products Corporation	900	21854	4352	8/1956	1
Canton Railroad	44	21905	4353	6/1956	1
U.S. Sugar Corporation	156	22140	4359	7/1956	1
Republic Steel Corporation (Buffalo Works)	373-374	22548-22549	4367	9/1956	2
Canton Railroad	45	22650	4370	9/1956	1
Detroit Edison Company	214	22705	4372	10/1956	1
Grand Trunk Western	7225-7232	22871-22878	4377	10/1956	8
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	900-901	22879-22880	4378	9/1956, 1/1957	2
Canton Railroad	46-48	23075-23077	4383	12/1956	3
Granite City Steel	900	23175	4386	4/1957	1
Granite City Steel	901	23176	4387	4/1957	1
Santa Fe	650-651	23196-23197	7548	5/1957	2
Fernwood, Columbia & Gulf Railroad	900	23298	4390	4/1957	1
Champion Papers Corporation	3	23304	4392	4/1957	1
Chicago Great Western	5	23357	7551	7/1957	1
Santa Fe	652-653	23403-23404	7548	5/1957-6/1957	2
Rock Island	550-563**	23436-23449	7543	1/1957-11/1958	14
Rock Island	900-914	23450-23464	7576	4/1959-11/1959	15
Hanna Furnace	17	23474	4394	6/1957	1
Waterloo Railroad	1-3	23475-23477	4395	6/1957	3
Armco Steel	1203	23526	4397	3/1957	1
Colorado & Western	214	23537	4398	6/1957	1
Lehigh Valley	130, 125	23538-23539	7545	5/1957, 8/1957	2
Lehigh Valley	110**	23540	7550	3/1957	1
Sand Springs Railway	102	23782	4403	7/1957	1
Armco Steel	1204	23790	4405	6/1957	1
U.S. Steel	157	23938	4407	11/1957	1
Birmingham Southern	92, 95	23986-23987	7558	1/1958	2
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator)***	6535	24007	6535	6/1957	1
Lehigh Valley	107**	24482	7563	3/1958	1
Lehigh Valley	123	24484	7564	6/1958	1
River Terminal	100	24486	4417	1/1958	1
Missouri Portland Cement	1	24573	4418	5/1958	1
American Steel & Wire	3-4	24577-24578	4419	4/1958	2
American Steel & Wire	5-6	24731-24732	4421	6/1958	2
Grand Trunk Western	7262-7268	24973-24979	4424	11/1958	7
Valdosta Southern	955	25072	7570	12/1958	1
Pickering Lumber Company	103-104	25342-25343	4427	4/1959	2
Cedar Rapids & Iowa City	94	25443	4430	8/1959	1
Birmingham Southern	94	25446	7579	8/1959	1
Republic Steel Corporation (Cleveland Works)	345	25461	4431	11/1959	1
Feather River Railway	12	25504	4432	9/1959	1
Armco Steel	1205	25677	4433	11/1959	1
Birmingham Southern	91, 93	25894-25895	7589	5/1960	2
Lehigh Valley	121	25917	7590	6/1960	1
Chicago & North Western	144-145	26019-26020	7591	4/1960	2
Corinth & Counce Railroad	901	26157	4442	9/1960	1
Hercules Power Company	61	26349	4444	3/1961	1
Corinth & Counce Railroad	902	26773	4446	7/1961	1
Reading Railroad	1501-1506	26804-26809	7605	7/1961-8/1961	6
Reading Railroad	1507-1510	26810-26813	7608	9/1961-10/1961	4
Inland Stone & Chemical Company	10	26830	4448	9/1961	1
Armco Steel	1206-1209	27921-27924	4454	1/1963-10/1963	4
Reading Railroad	1511-1515	28417-28421	7665	12/1963	5
Armco Steel	1210	28553	4456	10/1963	1
Armco Steel	1211	28952	4461	3/1964	1
Armco Steel	1212	29591	4466	8/1964	1
Monessen Southwestern Railway	29	29625	4467	11/1964	1
Armco Steel	1213	29861	4471	12/1964	1
Armco Steel	1214	30256	4478	3/1965	1
Armco Steel	B-80	30622	4483	8/1965	1
Virginia-Carolina Chemical Company	1	30742	4486	10/1965	1
Monessen Southwestern Railway	30	30751	4487	9/1965	1
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	902	30758	4488	10/1965	1
Lancaster & Chester Railway	90-91	30759-30760	4489	10/1965-11/1965	2
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	903-904	30992-30993	4488	10/1965	2

* Became River Terminal #99.

** These were de-rated to 600 horsepower, essentially SW600's.

*** Became Waterloo Railroad #4.

Rebuilds

(Total Built = 19)

SW900's completed from trade-in units, reusing the same serials as their predecessors.

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Heritage	Quantity
Lehigh Valley	124, 120	783, 773	7523	9/1955-10/1955	Ex-Lehigh Valley NW1's #124 and #120.	2
Steelton & Highspire	27	617	7524	9/1955	Ex-South Buffalo Railway SC #51.	1
Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England	51-52	648-649	7525	11/1955	Ex-Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England NC's #208-209.	2
Reading	10-15	629, 701-705	7529	1/1956-8/1956	Ex-Reading SW's #10-15.	6
Great Lakes Steel	6-7	670-671	7530	8/1956	Ex-Great Lake Steel SW's #6-7.	2
Lehigh Valley	127, 126, 122	782, 781, 785	7531	5/1956-9/1956	Ex-Lehigh Valley NW1's #122 and #126-127.	3
Steelton & Highspire	21	632	7535	10/1956	Ex-Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England SC #204.	1
Lehigh Valley	106	695	7536	10/1956	Ex-Lehigh Valley SW #106.	1
Northern Pacific	100	732	7539	1/1957	Ex-Northern Pacific NW #100.	1

General Motors Diesel (GMD)

(Total Built = 97)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Canadian National	8535-8542	A561-A568	C173	12/1953-1/1954	8
Canadian National	8543-8559	A572-A588	C173	1/1954-5/1954	17
Canadian Pacific	6710-6720	A670-A680	C185	2/1955-4/1955	11
British Columbia Electric	900	A738	C189	6/1955	1
Midland Railway of Manitoba	1	A846	C200	5/1956	1
Steel Company Of Canada	78-79	A888-A889	C202	5/1956-6/1956	2
Steel Company Of Canada	80-81	A890-A891	C204	6/1956	2
British Columbia Electric	901-902	A892-A893	C205	6/1956	2
Steel Company Of Canada	82	A950	C202	6/1956	1
Aluminum Company Of Canada	1003	A1090	C223	3/1957	1
British Columbia Electric	903-904	A1165-A1166	C227	8/1957	2
Canadian National	7233-7242	A1185-A1194	C229	11/1957-12/1957	10
Canadian National	7243-7261	A1374-A1392	C241	1/1958-5/1958	19
British Columbia Electric	905-908	A1476-A1479	C248	3/1958-4/1958	4
Steel Company Of Canada	83-88	A1823-A1828	C269	11/1959-1/1960	6
Steel Company Of Canada	89	A2058	C296	6/1964	1
British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority	909	A2059	C297	6/1964	1
Algoma Steel	51	A2060	C298	6/1964	1
Steel Company Of Canada	90	A2078	C305	1/1965	1
Steel Company Of Canada	91	A2089	C307	3/1965	1
Steel Company Of Canada	92	A2110	C310	1/1966	1
McKinnon Industries	47074	A2175	C316	7/1966	1
Steel Company Of Canada	93	A2210	C319	10/1967	1
British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority	910	A2245	C321	6/1967	1
British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority	911	A2334	C327	3/1969	1

Export

(Total Built = 14)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number(s)	Completion Date	Quantity
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela)	1090-1091	23248-23249	701465-701466	3/1957	2
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela)	1092	23398	701465-701498	3/1957	1
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela)	1093-1096	26037-26040	702559-702562	9/1960	4
Southern Peru Copper Company (Peru)	9-10	26616-26617	700022-700023	5/1961-8/1961	2
Liberian-American Mining Company (Liberia)	201-205	26774-26778	700159-700163	9/1962	5

Sources

Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

Hayden, Bob. Diesel Locomotives: Cyclopedia, Volume 2 (Model Railroader). Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1980.

Marre, Louis A. Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years, A Guide To Diesels Built Before 1972. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1995.

Pinkepank, Jerry A. Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.

Solomon, Brian. EMD Locomotives. Minneapolis: MBI Publishing Company, 2006.

Lehigh Valley SW900 #120 works the Tifft Street Yard in South Buffalo, New York on August 1, 1975. Today, the yard is long gone. Doug Kroll photo.

In addition to the 260 units completed at Electro Motive those manufactured in Canada and for other countries included:

General Motors Diesel in London, Ontario outshopped another 97 examples.

There were also 14 other export examples produced for industrial operations in Venezuela, Peru, and Liberia.

Finally, EMD completed 19 rebuilds as SW900's from earlier switcher variants.

The SW900 had a very long production run and when the final model rolled out of LaGrange, Illinois bound for short line Lancaster & Chester in early 1965, some 390 had been built altogether.

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