Last revised: August 27, 2024
By: Adam Burns
The SW9 was yet another highly successful switcher model for Electro-Motive and would go on to become one
of its most successful.
Once again this locomotive was virtually identical to others in the series released up until that time, including the SW8's 567B prime mover and a horsepower rating that exceeded 1,000.
In total, 800 units were produced in the United States and Canada during a production run that ran from 1950-1953.
In any event, as with virtually every other small switcher model EMD produced, the SW9's reliability and versatility has become legendary with many remaining in operation on short lines, industrial settings, and excursion trains.
The SW9 began production in late 1950s, in both the U.S. and Canada, and was built during the same time period as the SW8. The design carried the typical EMC/EMD carbody with a short hood, which was tapered towards the end-cab.
A design that was common before the SW8, EMD went back to its standard two conical, exhaust stacks and the SW9 remained very short at just over 44-feet.
EMD stepped up the weight on the SW9, back to 124 tons, which was the same as the SW7. The model used General Motors' model D37 traction motors and could produce a respectable 43,000 pounds of continuous tractive effort, and 62,000 pounds of starting effort, for a locomotive of its small size.
Additionally, the SW9 featured the tried and proven 567B prime mover (also used in the SW8), which produce a healthy 1,200 horsepower.
Many roads tended to like the higher horsepower switcher models since they were more ideal for use in many different applications (such as the ability to pull heavier freight trains on light branch lines).
By the time the SW9 was cataloged EMD was fast becoming the dominant locomotive builder having just released the GP7 in 1949.
The SW9 had a three year run with units rolling out of La Grange through December, 1953. By the end of its production the model had sold some 771 units along with an additional 22 examples of the cow-calf TR5 (10 sets and 2 additional calves).
As with previous SW models, the SW9 was well-liked for its versatility, reliability, ease of maintenance, and cheap price tag which allowed short lines and industries to purchase the model right along with the Class Is.
Entered Production (U.S.) | 11/1950 (Chattanooga Traction Company #5) |
Entered Production (Canada) | 12/1950 (Great Northern #14-16) |
Years Produced (U.S.) | 11/1950 - 12/1953 |
Years Produced (Canada) | 12/1950 - 3/1953 |
EMD Class | SW9 |
Engine | 567B (12 Cylinder) |
Engine Builder | EMD/GM |
Horsepower | 1200 |
RPM | 800 |
Length | 44' 5" |
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab) | 14' 6 1/2" |
Width | 9' 11 1/2" |
Weight | 248,000 Lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 600 Gallons |
Air Compressor | WXO (Gardner-Denver) |
Air Brake Schedule | 6BL (Westinghouse) |
Trucks | B-B |
Truck Type | GRS Rigid Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer (AAR Type-A) |
Truck Wheelbase | 8' 0" |
Wheel Size | 40" |
Traction Motors | D27 (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 | 62,000 Lbs |
Tractive Effort/Continuous | 43,000 Lbs at 11.0 mph |
Top Speed | 65 mph |
(Total Built = 780)
Owner | Road Number | Serial Number | Order Number | Completion Date | Quantity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Louisville & Nashville | 2267-2276 | 9782-9791 | 4010 | 3/1951-4/1951 | 10 |
New York Central | 8922-8928 | 9961-9967 | 4113 | 2/1951 | 7 |
New York Central | 8929-8930 | 9968-9969 | 4110 | 2/1951 | 2 |
Grand Trunk Western | 7010-7014 | 11165-11169 | 4045 | 6/1952 | 5 |
Nashville, Chattanooga & St Louis | 34-38 | 11233-11237 | 4046 | 2/1951 | 5 |
Chesapeake & Ohio | 5080-5089 | 11713-11722 | 4055 | 4/1952 | 10 |
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) | 1226-1235 | 11733-11742 | 6112 | 2/1952-4/1952 | 10 |
Detroit & Toledo Shore Line | 119 | 12458 | 4073 | 3/1951 | 1 |
Missouri Pacific | 9170-9186 | 12551-12567 | 4074 | 4/1951-6/1951 | 17 |
Wabash | 363-366 | 12622-12625 | 6159 | 4/1951 | 4 |
Southern Pacific (Texas & New Orleans) | 108-112 | 12865-12869 | 4075 | 4/1953 | 5 |
Pennsylvania | 8859-8860 | 13061-13062 | 6180 | 3/1951 | 2 |
Pennsylvania | 8869-8870 | 13073-13074 | 6231 | 3/1951 | 2 |
Atlantic Coast Line | 652-661 | 13129-13138 | 6182 | 2/1951 | 10 |
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy | 9269-9270 | 13212-13213 | 4083 | 8/1951-9/1951 | 2 |
Great Northern | 17-23 | 13297-13303 | 4088 | 5/1951 | 7 |
Chattanooga Traction Company | 5 | 13515 | 4091 | 11/1950 | 1 |
Erie Railroad | 434 | 13829 | 4099 | 3/1951 | 1 |
Union Railroad | 575-576 | 13953-13954 | 6229 | 2/1951 | 2 |
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate Road) | 233-237 | 13955-13959 | 6236 | 2/1951 | 5 |
Atlantic Coast Line | 662-671 | 13960-13969 | 6182 | 2/1951-3/1951 | 10 |
Great Lakes Steel | 27 | 13970 | 6329 | 8/1951 | 1 |
Texas & Pacific (Missouri Pacific) | 1024-1028 | 14022-14026 | 4062 | 2/1951 | 5 |
Lehigh Valley | 280-285 | 14043-14048 | 4103 | 5/1951 | 6 |
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western | 551-553 | 14068-14070 | 4111 | 6/1951 | 3 |
Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England | 35-36 | 14095-14096 | 6228 | 2/1951 | 2 |
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (New York Central) | 8931-8940 | 14099-14108 | 6242 | 3/1951 | 10 |
Pittsburgh, Chartiers & Youghiogheny Railway | 2-3 | 14109-14110 | 6244 | 2/1951 | 2 |
Missouri Pacific | 9187-9191 | 14325-14329 | 4114 | 4/1951 | 5 |
Illinois Central | 9430-9464 | 14353-14387 | 4093 | 6/1951-7/1951 | 35 |
Belt Railway Of Chicago | 520-521 | 14394-14395 | 6249 | 6/1951 | 2 |
Louisville & Nashville | 2277-2291 | 14444-14458 | 4010 | 4/1951-6/1951 | 15 |
Lehigh Valley | 286-292 | 14499-14505 | 4120 | 5/1951 | 7 |
Cambria & Indiana | 30-31 | 14508-14509 | 6223 | 7/1951 | 2 |
Texas & Pacific (Missouri Pacific) | 1029-1036 | 14510-14517 | 6288 | 7/1951-8/1951 | 8 |
Republic Steel | 344 | 14556 | 6289 | 8/1951 | 1 |
Weyerhaeuser Timber Company | 302-303 | 14562-14563 | 4102 | 8/1951 | 2 |
Steelton & Highspire | 40-41 | 14743-14744 | 6302 | 7/1951 | 2 |
Central Railroad Of New Jersey | 1084-1092 | 14745-14753 | 4122 | 12/1951 | 9 |
Maine Central | 334 | 14754 | 6300 | 8/1951 | 1 |
Spokane, Portland & Seattle | 43-45 | 14756-14758 | 6315 | 8/1951-10/1951 | 3 |
Atlantic Coast Line | 672-715 | 14898-14941 | 4098 | 9/1951-11/1951 | 44 |
Charleston & Western Carolina | 802 | 14942 | 4129 | 1/1952 | 1 |
Wabash | 367-371 | 15058-15062 | 4134 | 2/1952 | 5 |
Union Railroad | 577 | 15064 | 6254 | 10/1951 | 1 |
Union Railroad | 578 | 15065 | 6374 | 10/1951 | 1 |
Houston Belt & Terminal | 22-31 | 15120-15129 | 6333 | 8/1951 | 10 |
Oliver Iron Mining | 934-936 | 15130-15132 | 6325 | 10/1951-12/1951 | 3 |
Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England | 37-38 | 15133-15134 | 4131 | 1/1952 | 2 |
Great Lakes Steel | 28 | 15139 | 6331 | 12/1951 | 1 |
Belt Railway Of Chicago | 522-523 | 15207-15208 | 6276 | 10/1951 | 2 |
New York Central | 8941-8951 | 15487-15497 | 4108 | 2/1952 | 11 |
Chesapeake & Ohio | 5245-5261 | 15504-15520 | 4097 | 10/1951-11/1951 | 17 |
Chesapeake & Ohio | 5262-5265 | 15521-15524 | 4151 | 11/1951 | 4 |
Great Western Railway (Colorado) | 121 | 15553 | 6313 | 9/1951 | 1 |
Great Western Railway (Colorado) | 122 | 15554 | 6353 | 11/1951 | 1 |
Maryland & Pennsylvania | 82 | 15558 | 4095 | 11/1951 | 1 |
Peoria & Pekin Union | 411-412 | 15560-15561 | 4106 | 11/1951 | 2 |
Monessen Southwestern Railway | 23 | 15562 | 6221 | 12/1951 | 1 |
Monessen Southwestern Railway | 24-25 | 15563-15564 | 6307 | 1/1952 | 2 |
Milwaukee Road | 1643-1645 | 15565-15567 | 6328 | 10/1951 | 3 |
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) | 305-309 | 15594-15598 | 4105 | 1/1952 | 5 |
Charleston & Western Carolina | 803 | 15602 | 4129 | 1/1952 | 1 |
Georgia Railroad | 906-907 | 15604-15605 | 6346 | 10/1951 | 2 |
Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company | 22-23 | 15606-15607 | 6343 | 12/1951 | 2 |
St. Louis Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) | 1058-1061 | 15608-15611 | 6320 | 12/1951-1/1952 | 4 |
Arkansas & Louisiana Missouri | 12 | 15636 | 6350 | 1/1952 | 1 |
Chicago & Illinois Western | 104 | 15637 | 6349 | 11/1951 | 1 |
Northern Pacific | 115-117 | 15684-15686 | 4153 | 2/1952 | 3 |
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western | 554-557 | 15731-15734 | 6341 | 7/1952 | 4 |
Boston & Maine | 1220-1226 | 15748-15754 | 6338 | 1/1952 | 7 |
Bauxite Northern Railway | 10 | 15838 | 6361 | 2/1952 | 1 |
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) | 310-314 | 15861-15865 | 4105 | 1/1952 | 5 |
Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal (B&OCT) | 590-597 | 15886-15893 | 6366 | 2/1952-4/1952 | 8 |
Erie Railroad | 435-438 | 15933-15936 | 4169 | 4/1952 | 4 |
Union Railroad | 579-588 | 15959-15968 | 6374 | 11/1951, 3/1952 | 10 |
Erie Railroad | 439-440 | 16173-16174 | 6378 | 4/1952 | 2 |
Detroit & Toledo Shore Line | 120-121 | 16208-16209 | 4154 | 11/1952 | 2 |
New York Central | 8962-8989 | 16284-16311 | 4143 | 1/1953 | 28 |
New York Central | 8990-9001 | 16312-16323 | 4192 | 2/1953 | 12 |
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (New York Central) | 8952-8961 | 16330-16339 | 6368 | 9/1952-12/1952 | 10 |
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate Road) | 238-244 | 16360-16366 | 4175 | 5/1952 | 7 |
Illinois Central | 9465-9484 | 16407-16426 | 4123 | 5/1952-6/1952 | 20 |
Illinois Central | 9320-9334 | 16427-16441 | 4184 | 10/1952-11/1952 | 15 |
Montour Railroad | 73-76 | 16442-16445 | 6380 | 5/1952 | 4 |
Wisconsin Central (Soo Line) | 2111-2115 | 16482-16486 | 4155 | 11/1952-12/1952 | 5 |
Cambria & Indiana | 32-37 | 16553-16558 | 6385 | 3/1952 | 6 |
Western Pacific | 601-604 | 16636-16639 | 4168 | 5/1952-6/1952 | 4 |
Apalachicola Northern | 705-706 | 16640-16641 | 6390 | 3/1952 | 2 |
Western Pacific | 605-606 | 16679-16680 | 4168 | 6/1952-7/1952 | 2 |
Pennsylvania | 8513-8522, 8529-8536 | 16724-16741 | 4170 | 12/1952, 3/1953 | 18 |
Pennsylvania | 8523-8528, 8537-8541 | 16742-16752 | 4194 | 12/1952 | 11 |
Pennsylvania | 8542-8444 | 16753-16755 | 4195 | 3/1953 | 3 |
Central of Georgia | 301-304 | 16803-16806 | 4141 | 7/1952 | 4 |
Chicago, West Pullman & Southern | 47-48 | 16829-16830 | 4193 | 11/1952 | 2 |
Terminal Railroad Association Of St. Louis | 1206-1218 | 16831-16843 | 4135 | 10/1952 | 13 |
Chicago & North Western | 1101-1105 | 16910-16914 | 6404 | 5/1952 | 5 |
Ashley Drew & Northern | 174 | 16940 | 6407 | 5/1952 | 1 |
Apalachicola Northern | 707-709 | 16950-16952 | 6405 | 12/1952 | 3 |
Central of Georgia | 305-306 | 16960-16961 | 4141 | 7/1952 | 2 |
Montour Railroad | 77-80 | 17060-17063 | 4199 | 12/1952 | 4 |
Central Railroad of New Jersey | 1093-1094 | 17111-17112 | 6433 | 12/1952 | 2 |
Great Lakes Steel | 29 | 17113 | 6434 | 11/1952 | 1 |
Pittsburgh Chartiers & Youghiogheny | 4 | 17224 | 6438 | 12/1952 | 1 |
Conemaugh & Black Lick | 118-119 | 17225-17226 | 4186 | 11/1952 | 2 |
Steelton & Highspire | 42-43 | 17227-17228 | 4187 | 10/1952 | 2 |
Louisville & Nashville | 2292-2294 | 17253-17255 | 4136 | 1/1953 | 3 |
Chesapeake & Ohio | 5090-5091 | 17262-17263 | 4206 | 1/1953 | 2 |
Florida East Coast | 221-228 | 17359-17366 | 4189 | 12/1952-1/1953 | 8 |
Atlantic Coast Line | 716 | 17395 | 6455 | 12/1952 | 1 |
Montour Railroad | 81-84 | 17430-17433 | 4199 | 1/1953 | 4 |
Northern Pacific | 118 | 17478 | 4166 | 1/1953 | 1 |
Wabash | 372-374 | 17580-17582 | 4150 | 3/1953 | 3 |
Central of Georgia | 307-310 | 17649-17652 | 4196 | 2/1953-3/1953 | 4 |
Grand Trunk Western | 7015-7016 | 17653-17654 | 4178 | 1/1953 | 2 |
Union Pacific | 1825-1846 | 17805-17826 | 4133 | 4/1953 | 22 |
Louisville & Nashville | 2295-2296 | 17841-17842 | 4203 | 2/1953 | 2 |
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range | 11-25 | 17870-17884 | 4209 | 3/1953 | 15 |
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western | 558-560 | 17887-17889 | 6488 | 6/1953 | 3 |
Mississippi Central | 201-210 | 17988-17997 | 6503 | 4/1953-5/1953 | 10 |
Santa Fe | 2420-2433 | 18086-18099 | 4219 | 5/1953 | 14 |
Campbells Creek Railroad | 13 | 18174 | 4222 | 4/1953 | 1 |
Boston & Maine | 1227-1231 | 18181-18185 | 4226 | 5/1953 | 5 |
Chicago & North Western | 1122-1125 | 18219-18222 | 4225 | 6/1953 | 4 |
Reserve Mining | 1211 | 18297 | 6509 | 6/1953 | 1 |
Kirby Lumber Company | 1000 | 18298 | 6511 | 4/1953 | 1 |
Wheeling Steel | 1252 | 18300 | 4127 | 4/1953 | 1 |
Wisconsin Central (Soo Line) | 2117-2119 | 18437-18439 | 4156 | 9/1953 | 3 |
Bellefonte Central Railroad | 5323 | 18589 | 4230 | 7/1953 | 1 |
Oliver Iron Mining Company | 937-939 | 18621-18623 | 6521 | 8/1953 | 3 |
Monessen Southwestern Railway | 27 | 18624 | 4229 | 9/1953 | 1 |
Pittsburgh Chartiers & Youghiogheny | 5 | 18710 | 4236 | 9/1953 | 1 |
Rock Island | 775-778 | 18731-18734 | 4238 | 11/1953 | 4 |
Indiana Harbor Belt | 9002-9008 | 18790-18796 | 4239 | 9/1953-10/1953 | 7 |
Union Pacific | 1847-1866 | 18835-18854 | 4216 | 10/1953-11/1953 | 20 |
Pittsburg & Shawmut | 231-234 | 18860-18863 | 4244 | 10/1953 | 4 |
Apalachicola Northern | 710-711 | 18869-18870 | 4246 | 11/1953 | 2 |
Santa Fe | 2434-2438 | 18959-18963 | 6524 | 11/1953-12/1953 | 5 |
Rock Island | 779 | 18964 | 4238 | 11/1953 | 1 |
Pittsburg & Shawmut | 235-238 | 18965-18968 | 4244 | 11/1953 | 4 |
Pittsburg & Shawmut | 239 | 19043 | 4244 | 11/1953 | 1 |
Maine Central | 335 | 19044 | 4248 | 12/1953 | 1 |
Aliquippa & Southern | 1200 | 19074 | 4249 | 12/1953 | 1 |
Chesapeake & Ohio | 5092-5093 | 19298-19299 | 4253 | 12/1953 | 2 |
Wheeling Steel | 1253 | 19305 | 4125 | 12/1953 | 1 |
Kosmos Timber Company | 100 | 19306 | 4257 | 12/1953 | 1 |
Weyerhaeuser Timber Company | 305 | 19307 | 6528 | 12/1953 | 1 |
Baltimore & Ohio | 598-603 | 19308-19313 | 4258 | 12/1953 | 6 |
(Total Built = 1)
SW9's completed from trade-in units, reusing the same serials as their predecessors.
Owner | Road Number | Serial Number | Order Number | Completion Date | Heritage | Quantity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas City Southern | 1304 | 13422 | 7523 | 4/1953 | Ex-Kansas City Southern SW7 #1304. | 1 |
(Total Built = 29)
Owner | Road Number | Serial Number | Order Number | Completion Date | Quantity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Great Northern Railway | 14-16 | A114-A116 | C102 | 12/1950 | 3 |
Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo | 55-58 | A121-A124 | C103 | 12/1950-1/1951 | 4 |
Chesapeake & Ohio | 5240-5244 | A149-A153 | C108 | 1/1951-2/1951 | 5 |
Steel Company Of Canada | 70 | A202 | C113 | 2/1951 | 1 |
Canadian National | 7000-7009 | A334-A343 | C138 | 1/1951-3/1951 | 10 |
Canadian Pacific | 7400-7405 | A489-A494 | C158 | 1/1953-3/1953 | 6 |
Because of this reliability and versatility SW9s continue to perform admirably in all types of settings from short lines to excursion trains, more than a half-century since the last unit rolled out of LaGrange, Illinois and London, Ontario.
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