EMD "SW1500" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Roster
Last revised: January 16, 2025
By: Adam Burns
The SW1500, unveiled in the mid-1960s, introduced Electro-Motive's latest prime mover, the model 645. This engine replaced EMD's tried and proven 567, a power plant that vaulted the builder into first place in the locomotive market thanks to its rugged nature and easy maintenance.
The SW1500 featured a bulkier carbody and was a bit heavier from earlier models although its intended use remained the same, working light branch lines or in industrial settings. With the horsepower rating, weight, and top speed the switcher was essentially a road switcher (it offered nearly the same ratings as the GP7 released a decade earlier).
In fact, this was actually EMD's intention with the model as a dual service engine capable of working both freight service when needed, as well as typical switching chores.
Once again railroads found the SW1500 to their liking and many Class Is purchased the model, very likely due to its extra horsepower allowing it to be used in numerous applications.
Today, SW1500's remain quite common doing the tasks to which they were originally intended for on large and small railroads around the country.
Photos
A new Reading SW1500, #2752, awaits delivery in Chicago on July 30, 1966. Warren Calloway collection.Overview
The SW1500 began production in July, 1966, succeeding its predecessor model, the SW1200. Using EMD's latest 12-cylinder, 645E model prime mover the switcher was the most powerful of the SW line producing 1,500 horsepower.
Featuring a 600-gallon fuel tank it weighed slightly more than most SW models at 124 tons and used EMD's D77 traction motors, which could produce 38,000 pounds of continuous tractive effort (62,000 pounds starting).
The Electro-Motive Division had originally intended the SW1500 to feature standard AAR switcher trucks. However, many railroads requested their orders include Flexicoil trucks, thus allowing them to operate at speeds as high as 60 mph in main line freight service.
Reception
In his book, "Diesel Locomotives: Cyclopedia, Volume 2," author Bob Hayden notes 765 of the 808 SW1500's produced were equipped with the optional 1,100-gallon fuel tank and more than half featured Flexicoils.
Once again, a more powerful switcher was to the industry's liking as the SW1500 sold quite well. Between June, 1966 and January, 1974 EMD produced more than 800 examples.
The SW1500 continued to carry the classic carbody style that defined the SW series with a short frame of just over 44-feet and tapering of the hood near the cab with two conical exhaust stacks.
The SW1500 featured less beveling than with earlier models. It also boasted a wider, boxier cab that no longer included such an arched roof. Finally, the cab was slightly taller for improved visibility and also included a walkway 9 inches higher above the rail. From a visual standpoint the switcher just looked "beefier" than predecessor designs.
In 1973, Mexican railroad Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México acquired 60 examples of the SW1504. The only difference with the variant was Blomberg trucks. However, to accommodate these longer trucks the frame had to be lengthened by two feet.
Data Sheet and Specifications
Total Built = 808
| Entered Production | 7/1966 (Kentucky & Indiana Terminal #67-68) |
| Years Produced | 7/1966 - 1/1974 |
| EMD Class | SW1500 |
| Engine | 645E (12 Cylinder) |
| Engine Builder | EMD/GM |
| Horsepower | 1500 |
| RPM | 800 |
| Length (SW1500) | 44' 8" |
| Length (SW1504) | 46' 8" |
| Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab) | 15' 0" |
| Width | 10' 3" |
| Weight | 248,000 Lbs |
| Fuel Capacity | 600 Gallons |
| Air Compressor | WXO (Gardner-Denver) |
| Air Brake Schedule | 24L (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 | D77 (4), EMD/GM |
| Traction Generator | D32, EMD/GM |
| Auxiliary Generator | EMD/GM |
| MU (Multiple-Unit) | Optional |
| Dynamic Brakes | No |
| Gear Ratio | 62:15 |
| Tractive Effort/Starting | 62,000 Lbs |
| Tractive Effort/Continuous | 38,000 Lbs at 11.0 mph |
| Top Speed | 65 mph |
Production Roster (1966-1971)
| Owner | Road Number | Serial Number | Order Number | Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky & Indiana Terminal | 67-68 | 31590-31591 | 7869 | 7/1966 |
| Reading Railroad | 2750-2760 | 31708-31718 | 7881 | 7/1966 - 8/1966 |
| Indiana Harbor Belt | 9200-9207 | 31719-31726 | 7882 | 7/1966 - 8/1966 |
| Chicago, Rock Island Pacific (Rock Island) | 940-949 | 31745-31754 | 7916 | 7/1966 - 8/1966 |
| Chattahoochee Valley Railroad | 101 | 31839 | 7900 | 8/1966 |
| Vermont Railway | 501 | 31990 | 7933 | 9/1966 |
| Kansas City Southern | 1500-1503 | 32115-32118 | 4497 | 11/1966 |
| Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac | 91 | 32156 | 7913 | 10/66 |
| Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) | 106-107 (became Indianapolis Union Railroad 22-23) | 32158-32159 | 4498 | 8/1966 - 6/1966 |
| Minneapolis Northfield & Southern | 36-37 | 32504-32505 | 4506 | 11/1966 - 12/1966 |
| Winifrede Railroad | 13 | 33076 | 4509 | 4/1967 |
| Indiana Harbor Belt | 9208-9212 | 33078-33082 | 7982 | 3/1967 - 4/1967 |
| Indiana Harbor Belt | 9213-9215 | 33083-33085 | 7989 | 4/1967 - 5/1967 |
| Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis | 1501-1505 | 33090-33094 | 4511 | 5/1967 - 6/1967 |
| Belt Railway of Chicago | 530 | 33095 | 4512 | 7/1967 |
| Southern Pacific | 2463-2480 | 33123-33140 | 4518 | 9/1967 |
| Southern Pacific | 2450-2462 | 33141-33153 | 7997 | 8/1967 - 9/1967 |
| Minnesota Transfer Railway | 300-301 | 33180-33181 | 4515 | 7/1967 |
| Great Northern | 200-209 | 33202-33211 | 7051 | 9/1967 - 10/1967 |
| Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac | 1-4 | 33283-33286 | 4520 | 10/1967 |
| Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac | 5-8 | 33287-33290 | 4521 | 10/1967 |
| Sandersville Railroad | 100 | 33487 | 4525 | 12/1967 |
| Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) | 50-51 | 33488-33489 | 7072 | 11/1967 |
| Toledo Peoria & Western | 303-304 | 33520-33521 | 4527 | 2/1968 |
| Indianapolis Union Railroad | 24 | 33541 | 7079 | 11/1967 |
| Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) | 108 (became Indianapolis Union Railroad 25 | 33542 | 4528 | 11/1967 |
| Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) | 109 (became Indiana Harbor Belt 9222) | 33543 | 4529 | 11/1967 |
| St Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) | 2481-2492 | 33612-33623 | 7087 | 3/1968 - 6/1968 |
| Kentucky & Indiana Terminal | 70-71 | 33769-33770 | 7086 | 2/1968 |
| Belt Railway of Chicago | 531-532 | 33794-33795 | 4531 | 3/1968 |
| Minnesota Transfer Railway | 302 | 33898 | 4533 | 3/1968 |
| W.R. Grace & Company | 102 | 33899 | 4535 | 3/1968 |
| Weyerhaeuser Timber Company | 306 | 33935 | 4536 | 5/1968 |
| Inland Steel Company | 119 | 33957 | 7117 | 5/1968 |
| Kansas City Southern | 1504-1517 | 33966-33979 | 7095 | 8/1968 |
| Southern Pacific | 2493-2510 | 33980-33997 | 7109 | 6/1968 - 7/1968 |
| Indiana Harbor Belt | 9216-9221 | 34030-34045 | 7111 | 6/1968 - 7/1968 |
| Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) | 52-55 | 34093-34096 | 7112 | 9/1968 |
| Inland Steel Company | 120-121 | 34111-34112 | 7115 | 7/1968 - 8/1968 |
| Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks | 681-682 | 34115-34116 | 4549 | 8/1968 |
| Cambria & Indiana Railroad | 15-16 | 34121-34122 | 4546 | 6/1968 |
| Chicago Short Line | 30 | 34126 | 4547 | 9/1968 |
| St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) | 315-330 | 34229-34244 | 7128 | 10/1968 |
| Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) | 110 (became Indianapolis Union Railroad 27) | 34347 | 7136 | 11/1968 |
| Indianapolis Union Railroad | 26 | 34348 | 7137 | 10/1968 |
| St Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) | 2511-2522 | 34428-34439 | 7141 | 3/1969 - 6/1969 |
| Southern | 2300-2329 | 34474-34503 | 7139 | 11/1968 - 12/1968 |
| Minnesota Transfer Railway | 303-304 | 34724-34725 | 4554 | 4/1969 |
| Alton & Southern | 1500-1505 | 34873-34878 | 7165 | 5/1969 |
| W.R. Grace & Company | 101 | 34899 | 4556 | 4/1969 |
| Apalachicola Northern | 712-715 | 34972-34975 | 4557 | 5/1969 |
| Georgia Power Company | 1401 | 35040 | 4558 | 5/1969 |
| Reading | 2761-2770 | 35064-35073 | 7181 | 8/1969 |
| Patapsco & Back Rivers | 160-161 | 35118-35119 | 4560 | 9/1969 |
| Southern Pacific | 2523-2552 | 35216-35245 | 4561 | 7/1969 - 11/1969 |
| Southern Railway | 2330-2332 | 35283-35285 | 4563 | 11/1969 |
| Southern Railway | 2333-2337 | 35286-35290 | 4564 | 11/1969 - 12/1969 |
| Houston Belt & Terminal | 50-52 | 35293-35295 | 4565 | 12/1969 |
| Alton & Southern | 1506-1511 | 35297-35302 | 7190 | 2/1970 |
| Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific | 500 | 35303 | 4562 | 9/1969 |
| Howe Coal Company | 1 | 35491 | 4577 | 6/1970 |
| Howe Coal Company | 2 | 35492 | 4568 | 5/1970 |
| Terminal Railroad Association of St Louis | 1506-1511 | 35571-35576 | 7200 | 11/1969 - 12/1969 |
| Longview, Portland & Northern | 130 | 35582 | 4567 | 12/1969 |
| St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) | 331-346 | 35589-35604 | 7205 | 12/1969 - 1/1970 |
| St Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) | 2579-2582 | 35757-35760 | 7216 | 1/1970 |
| Southern Pacific | 2553-2578 | 35789-35814 | 4570 | 1/1970 - 4/1970 |
| Illinois Terminal | 1509 | 35823 | 7220 | 2/1970 |
| Illinois Terminal | 1510-1515 | 35824-35829 | 4581 | 2/1970 - 3/1970 |
| Kansas City Southern | 1518-1523 | 35848-35853 | 7225 | 4/1971 |
| Kansas City Southern | 1524-1531 | 35854-35861 | 7316 | 4/1971 - 5/1971 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 5000-5009 | 35938-35947 | 7231 | 4/1970 - 5/1970 |
| Inland Steel Company | 122-123 | 35990-35991 | 4572 | 1/1970 |
| Southern Railway | 2338-2342 | 36130-36134 | 4574 | 3/1970 |
| Southern Railway | 2343-2347 | 36135-36139 | 4582 | 3/1970 |
| Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) | 111 (became Indianapolis Union Railroad 29) | 36155 | 7245 | 12/1969 |
| Toledo Peoria & Western | 305-306 | 36164-36165 | 4578 | 5/1970 |
| Tennessee Copper Company | 108 | 36175 | 4597 | 5/1970 |
| Alcoa Terminal | 9 | 36302 | 4580 | 6/1970 |
| Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) | 112 (became Indianapolis Union Railroad 28) | 36311 | 7255 | 2/1970 |
| Indiana Harbor Belt | 9223-9227 | 36381-36385 | 7262 | 6/1970 |
| Sandersville Railroad | 300 | 36484 | 4583 | 5/1970 |
| Minnesota Transfer Railway | 305-306 | 36485-36486 | 5/1970 | 4584 |
| Apalachicola Northern | 716-719 | 36487-36490 | 4585 | 8/1970 - 9/1970 |
| Ashley, Drew & Northern | 150 | 36656 | 4587 | 5/1970 |
| Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific | 600 | 36657 | 4586 | 6/1970 |
| Pittsburgh & Lake Erie | 9280-9289 | 36834-36843 | 7283 | 1/1971 |
| Alton & Southern | 1512-1517 | 36855-36860 | 7285 | 4/1971 |
| Kentucky & Indiana Terminal | 72-76 | 36861-36865 | 7286 | 3/1971 |
| Penn Central | 9500-9509 | 37058-37067 | 7292 | 2/1971 |
| St, Marys Railroad | 503 | 37068 | 4592 | 6/1971 |
| Chicago Short Line | 31 | 37078 | 4594 | 7/1971 |
| Houston Belt & Terminal | 53-54 | 37264-37265 | 4596 | 5/1971 |
| Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion | 23 | 37294 | 4597 | 8/1971 |
| Georgia Power Company | 1402 | 37435 | 4600 | 8/1971 |
| Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) | 113 (became General Motors Diesel 113, then Essex Terminal 107) | 37436 | 7314 | 4/1971 |
| Georgia Power Company | 1503-1504 | 37536-37537 | 4600 (continued) | 8/1971 |
| Houston Belt & Terminal | 55 | 38229 | 4614 | 10/1971 |
| Pittsburgh & Lake Erie | 1554-1563 | 38463-38472 | 7352 | 12/1971 |
Production Roster (1971-1974)
| Owner | Road Number | Order Number/Serial Number | Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Pacific | 2591-2612 | 4608-1 thru 4608-22 | 10/1971 - 11/1971 |
| Southern Pacific | 2613-2679 | 4608-23 thru 4608-89 | 4/1972 - 8/1972 |
| US Steel-Minntac Division | 949-954 | 4613-1 thru 4613-6 | 9/1972 |
| Terminal Railroad Association of St Louis | 1512-1517 | 4617-1 thru 4617-6 | 10/1972 |
| New Orleans Public Belt | 153 | 4618-1 | 8/1971 |
| St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) | 347-352 | 4620-1 thru 4620-6 | 3/1972-4/1972 |
| Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion | 24 | 4626-1 | 11/1972 |
| Angelina & Neches River | 1500 | 4630-1 | 11/1972 |
| Kansas City Southern | 1532-1541 | 7227-1 thru 7227-10 | 2/1972 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 5020-5029 | 7233-1 thru 7233-10 | 11/1972 |
| New Orleans Public Belt | 151-152 | 7310-1 thru 7310-12 | 8/1971 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 5010-5019 | 7321-1 thru 7321-10 | 11/1971 |
| Missouri Pacific | 1518-1521 | 7343-1 thru 7343-4 | 12/1972 |
| Penn Central | 9510-9559 | 7355-1 thru 7355-50 | 2/1972 - 3/1972 |
| St Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) | 2583-2590 | 7367-1 thru 7367-8 | 12/1971 |
| Pittsburgh & Lake Erie | 1544-1553 | 7376-1 thru 7376-10 | 9/1972 - 10/1972 |
| Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) | 114 (became Georgetown Railroad 1010) | 7381-1 | 8/1971 |
| Kentucky & Indiana Terminal | 77-79 | 7385-1 thru 7385-3 | 9/1972 |
| Burlington Northern | 310-324 | 71605-1 thru 71605-15 | 1/1973 |
| Weyerhaeuser Timber Company | 307 | 71607-1 | 12/1972 |
| Georgia Power Company | 1405 | 71612-1 | 1/1973 |
| US Pipe & Foundry Company | 51-54 | 72603-1 thru 72603-4 | 9/1972 |
| Union Railroad | 1-5 | 72605-1 thru 72605-5 | 11/1972 |
| Inland Steel Company | 124-125 | 72608-1 thru 72608-2 | 12/1973 |
| Armco Steel Company | 701-702 | 72609-1 thru 72609-2 | 10/1972 |
| St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) | 353-360 | 72630-1 thru 72630-8 | 1/1973 - 2/1973 |
| Southern Pacific | 2680-2689 | 72631-1 thru 72631-10 | 4/1973 - 5/1973 |
| Pittsburgh & Lake Erie | 1534-1543 | 72649-1 thru 72649-10 | 5/1973 |
| Indianapolis Union Railroad | 30-32 | 72671-1 thru 72671-3 | 12/1972 |
| Union Railroad | 6-9 | 72673-1 thru 72673-4 | 9/1973 |
| Western Pacific | 1501-1503 | 72692-1 thru 72692-3 | 6/1973 |
| Kentucky & Indiana Terminal | 80-81 | 73603-1 thru 73603-2 | 10/1973 |
| Mississippi Export Railroad | 64 | 73604-1 | 8/1973 |
| Armco Steel Company | 703-704 | 73605-1 thru 73605-2 | 8/1973 |
| Penn Central | 9560-9583 | 73622-1/24 | 9/1973 - 10/1973 |
| Kentucky & Indiana Terminal | 82-83 | 73635-1 thru 73635-2 | 1/1974 |
| Tennessee Eastman Company | 1 | 73637-1 | 12/1973 |
| Armco Steel Company | 705 | 73667-1 | 12/1973 |
Export
| Owner | Road Number | Order Number | Serial Number | Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amapá Railway (Brazil) | 5 | 38826 | 712155 | 11/1971 |
SW1504 Production Roster
Total Built = 60
| Owner | Road Number | Order Number/Serial Number | Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrocarril Nacional de México (Mexico) | 8800-8859 | 712667-712726 | 5/1973 - 8/1973 |
Kansas City Southern SW1500 #1509 and slug #200 (built as NW2 #1100 in 1939; rebuilt by the Darby Corporation as a slug on November 6, 1969) are both seen here in Kansas City, circa 1970. American-Rails.com collection.Major railroads at the time like the Penn Central, Southern, Southern Pacific, St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco), Burlington Northern, and others all purchased the SW1500.
In addition, several industrial firms acquired the model as well such as Weyerhaeuser Timber, U.S. Pipe & Foundry, Tennessee Eastman Corporation, U.S. Steel, Inland Steel, Howe Coal, W.R. Grace, Alcoa, and Armco Steel.
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.
- Marre, Louis A. and Pinkepank, Jerry A. Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide, The: A Comprehensive Reference Manual To Locomotives Since 1972. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1989.
- Solomon, Brian. EMD Locomotives. Minneapolis: MBI Publishing Company, 2006.
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Tennessee St. Patrick's Day Train Rides
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If you want the museum experience with a “special occasion” vibe, TVRM’s St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Train is one of the most distinctive ways to do it. -
Indiana Bourbon Tasting Trains
Feb 03, 26 11:13 AM
The French Lick Scenic Railway's Bourbon Tasting Train is a 21+ evening ride pairing curated bourbons with small dishes in first-class table seating. -
Pennsylvania Whiskey Tasting Train Rides
Feb 03, 26 09:35 AM
For whiskey aficionados and history buffs alike, a train ride through the Keystone State offering such spirits provides a unique and memorable experience. -
Massachusetts Dinner Train Rides On Cape Cod
Feb 02, 26 12:22 PM
The Cape Cod Central Railroad (CCCR) has carved out a special niche by pairing classic New England scenery with old-school hospitality, including some of the best-known dining train experiences in the…
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