EMD "SD9" Locomotives

Last revised: June 21, 2023

By: Adam Burns

The EMD SD9, also referred to as a "Cadillac" for the smooth, soft ride, was the builder's second model in its six-axle series and looked virtually identical to the SD7.

Slightly more powerful than its predecessor and using an updated version of General Motors' proven prime mover of the time, the model 567, the SD9 was the most successful first-generation six-axle locomotive EMD produced, selling more than 500 examples (which included sales to foreign railroads).

Background

Apparently, the bump up in horsepower convinced more lines to try the locomotive. Still, the Electro-Motive Division found sales difficult with numerous future six-axle models. Until the SD40 was released in 1966 only the SD24 and SD35 sold more than 100 units for the company.

As with many early model EMDs the SD9 soldiers on today, finding use in regular service on shortlines and industrial settings. There are also several units officially preserved including Colorado & Southern #839 and Southern Pacific #5428, #5363, #5468, and #5472.

Photos

A handsome quartet of Southern Pacific SD9's in the "Black Widow" livery, led by #5472, have freight #805 on the San Joaquin Line, circa 1958. Gordon Glattenberg photo. American-Rails.com collection.

History

The SD9 began production in early 1954, soon after the SD7 line was closed. The model used GM's latest prime mover of the time, the 16-cylinder model 567C which provided the SD9 a 1,750 horsepower rating, 250 more horsepower than the earlier SD7.

Also, using GM's model D47 traction motors the C-C truck setup provided for a continuous tractive effort of 75,000 pounds (its starting tractive effort was nearly 91,000 pounds), which also closely mirrored the SD7.

While the locomotive had the option of an added steam boiler for use in passenger service only a few railroads would include the feature with their SD9s including the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railroad, Burlington, and Southern Pacific.

Baltimore & Ohio SD9 #1837 is seen here in Cumberland, Maryland during March, 1975. The unit was assigned to hump yard service during this time. American-Rails.com collection.

The Southern Pacific was one of the first railroads to take notice of the extra tractive effort EMD's Special Duty line provided, especially in mountainous operations, and purchased the most SD7s by a single company.

They likewise purchased the most SD9s, buying 150 of the 471 total sold to domestic railroads (another 44 were purchased by foreign lines).

While the 515 SD9s ultimately sold paled in comparison to the more than 4,000 four-axle GP9s outshopped, more railroads took notice of the latest six-axle design with more than a dozen Class Is purchasing the model.   Many of the companies that purchased the SD9 had also bought or tested at least one SD7.

Colorado & Southern (Burlington) SD9 #838 passes the depot and Purina grain elevator in Loveland, Colorado with southbound loads of limestone for the Great Western Sugar factory during the 1960s. American-Rails.com collection.

In any event, buyers included the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railroad (3, numbered 503–505), Baltimore & Ohio (10, numbered 765–774), Burlington (80, numbered 325–374, 430–459), Colorado & Southern/CB&Q (23, numbered 820–842), Central of Georgia (6, numbered 202–207), Chicago & Illinois Midland (5, numbered 50–54), Chicago & North Western (14, numbered 1701–1710, 1721–1724), Milwaukee Road (14, numbered 2224–2237), DM&IR (73, numbered 101–109, 111–174 although just two came equipped with steam generators), Rio Grande (10, numbered 5305–5314), Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (3, numbered 600–602), Great Northern (27, numbered 573–599), Nickel Plate Road (20, numbered 340–359), Pennsylvania Railroad (25, numbered 7600–7624), Reserve Mining (6, numbered 1220–1225), Soo Line #2381, and SP's 150 (numbered 5340–5444, 5449–5493).

Data Sheet and Specifications

Entered Production1/1954 (Milwaukee Road #2224)
Years Produced1/1954 - 6/1959
Engine567C
Engine BuilderGM
Horsepower1750
RPM835
Cylinders16
Length60' 8 ½"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)15' 0"
Width10'
Weight360,000 Lbs
Fuel Capacity2400 Gallons
Air CompressorGardner-Denver
Air Compressor ModelWBO
Air Brake ManufacturerWestinghouse
Air Brake Schedule24RL
TrucksC-C
Truck TypeFlexicoil
Truck Wheelbase13' 7"
Wheel Size40"
Traction MotorsD47 (6), GM
Primary GeneratorD22, GM
Auxiliary GeneratorDelco (A8102)
Steam Generator (Optional)Vapor-Clarkson (Model OK4625)
AlternatorD14
MU (Multiple-Unit)Yes
Dynamic BrakesYes
Gear Ratio62:15
Tractive Effort (Starting)90,800 Lbs at 25%
Tractive Effort (Continuous)75,000 Lbs at 9.3 mph
Top Speed65 mph

Production Roster

Total Built =515

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Order Number Completion Date
Milwaukee Road 2224-2237 18769-18782 5287 1/1954-2/1954
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 325-344 18984-19003 5313 3/1954
Great Northern 573-578 19340-19345 5285 2/1954
Southern Pacific 5340-5371 19429-19460 5322 3/1954-5/1954
Chicago & North Western 1703-1707 19498-19502 5326 5/1954
Chicago & North Western 1708-1710 19503-19505 5338 5/1954
Chicago & North Western 1701-1702 19506-19507 5339 5/1954
Southern Pacific 5387-5417 19928-19958 5365 2/1955-4/1955
Southern Pacific 5418-5423 19983-19988 5365 4/1955
Reserve Mining Company 1220-1222 19989-19991 5389 6/1955
Soo Line (Wisconsin Central) 2381 20120 5375 12/1954
Baltimore & Ohio 765-766 20121-20122 5376 12/1954
Baltimore & Ohio 772 20123 5388 12/1954
Baltimore & Ohio 767-771 20124-20128 5376 12/1954
Southern Pacific 5424-5444 20202-20222 5365 4/1955-5/1955
Southern Pacific 5372-5386 20223-20237 5381 1/1955-2/1955
Central of Georgia Railway 202-207 20445-20450 5394 3/1955-6/1955
Baltimore & Ohio 773-774 20451-20452 5395 4/1955
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 345-374 20555-20584 (5399 6/1955-10/1955
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) 5591 (became Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range #110) 20655 6523 7/1955
Chicago & North Western 1721-1724 20687-20690 5405 10/1955-11/1955
Chicago & Illinois Midland 50-54 20691-20695 5406 11/1955
Atlanta & St Andrews Bay 503-504 21046-21047 5421 1/1956
Reserve Mining Company 1223 21066 5422 5/1956
Great Northern 579-583 21247-21251 5431 5/1956
Southern Pacific 5449-5493 21274-21318 5435 1/1956-5/1956
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 101-109 21727-21735 5456 3/1956-4/1956
Colorado & Southern 820-830 22403-22413 5482 12/1956-1/1957
Reserve Mining Company 1224 22417 5485 12/1956
Great Northern 584-589 22486-22491 5488 1/1957
Denver & Rio Grande Western 5305-5314 22808-22817 5507 7/1957
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 111-128 23099-23116 5525 1/1957-3/1957
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 129-130 23117-23118 5538 3/1957
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern 600-602 23120-23122 5526 3/1957
New York, Chicago & St Louis (Nickel Plate Road) 340-359 23155-23174 5532 3/1957-4/1957
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 430-439 23609-23618 5547 9/1957-10/1957
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 440-459 23619-23638 5549 8/1957-9/1957
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 131-157 23911-23937 5555 2/1958-4/1958
Atlanta & St Andrews Bay 505 24062 5562 4/1958
Great Northern 590-597 24092-24099 5564 4/1958
Great Northern 598-599 24100-24101 5577 4/1958
Pennsylvania 7600-7624 24167-24191 5567 11/1957-1/1958
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 158 24487 5555 4/1958
Colorado & Southern (Burlington) 831-835 25011-25015 5589 4/1959
Colorado & Southern (Burlington) 836-842 25156-25162 5589 4/1959
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 159-174 25259-25274 5600 4/1959-5/1959
Reserve Mining Company 1225 25436 5603 6/1959

Export

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Order Number(s) Completion Date
Chile Exploration Company 901-903 21484-21486 701157-701159 3/1956
Chile Exploration Company 904-905 21562-21563 701186-701187 5/1956
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela) 1011-1014 21942-21945 701322-701325 5/1956
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela) 1015-1017 23400-23402 701495-701496 5/1957
Korean National Railroad 101-120 23481-23500 701530-701549 5/1957-7/1957
Korean National Railroad 121-129 23897-23905 701638-701646 10/1957
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela) 1018-1020 24574-24576 701763-701765 5/1958

Rio Grande SD9 #5309 was only a few months old when photographed here by Jackson Thode between assignments at the engine terminal in Provo, Utah in 1957. Author's collection.

Foreign lines to purchase the SD9 included Orinoco Mining of Venezuela, Korail of Korea, and Chile Exploration. Additionally, EMD demonstrator #5591 went to the Missabe Road. You can still find SD9s in service on the Algers, Winslow & Western, Nevada Northern Railway, South Branch Valley Railroad, Montana Rail Link, Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad, Black River & Western, Squaw Creek Southern Railroad, Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad, Portland & Western, Dakota Southern, Independent Locomotive Service, Indiana Eastern Railroad, Trona Railroad, and even BNSF Railway still operates a few. 

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.
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