EMD SD9

An SD9 is a 6-axle road switcher diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and June 1959. An EMD 567C 16-cylinder engine generated 1,750 horsepower (1.30 MW). This model is, externally, similar to its predecessor, the SD7, but this model, internally, features the improved and much more maintainable 567C engine. The principal spotting feature are the classification lights on the ends of the locomotive, above the number board. The SD9's classification lights are on a small pod, canted outward. The last phase of construction had a carbody similar to the SD18 and SD24, and used two 48-inch (1,219 mm) cooling fans instead of four 36-inch (914 mm) cooling fans. Because of their refinements over the SD7 model, SD9's, especially on the Southern Pacific and Northwestern Pacific, were frequently referred to as "Cadillac's."

EMD SD9
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGeneral Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
ModelSD9
Build dateJanuary 1954 June 1959
Total produced515
Specifications
Configuration:
  AARC-C
Gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Fuel capacity1,200 or 2,400 US gal (4,500 or 9,100 l; 1,000 or 2,000 imp gal)
Prime moverEMD 567C
Engine typeV16 diesel
Cylinders16
Performance figures
Power output1,750 hp (1.30 MW)
Career
DispositionMany have been rebuilt, and are still in service.

Four hundred and seventy-one SD9s were built for American railroads and 44 for export.

Many SD9s both high and short-hood can still be found in service today on shortline railroads and industrial operators. And while most Class 1 roads stopped using these locomotives by the 1970s and 1980s, some remain in rebuilt form on some major Class I railroads, as switcher locomotives.

Original buyers

RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
Electro-Motive Division (demonstrator)
1
5591
to Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range 110
Atlanta and St. Andrews Bay Railroad
3
503–505
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
10
765–774
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
80
325–374, 430–459
300s had steam generators. To Burlington Northern 6127-6206
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (C&S)
23
820–842
To Burlington Northern 6215-6237

6234 preserved

Central of Georgia Railway
6
202–207
Chicago and Illinois Midland Railroad
5
50–54
Chicago and North Western Railway
14
1701–1710, 1721–1724
Fitted for Chicago commuter service
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
14
2224–2237
Renumbered 530-543
Chile Exploration
5
901–905
Track gauge?
Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad
73
101–109, 111–174
129–130 had steam generators
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
10
5305–5314
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway
3
600–602
Great Northern Railway
27
573–599
To Burlington Northern 6100-6126
Korail (Korea)
29
101–129
Later renumbered 5001-5029
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (“Nickel Plate Road”)
20
340–359
Orinoco Mining (Venezuela)
10
1011–1020
Pennsylvania Railroad
25
7600–7624
Reserve Mining
6
1220–1225
To Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad
Soo Line (Wisconsin Central Railroad)
1
2381
Southern Pacific Company
150
5340–5444, 5449–5493
5340–5391 had steam generators
Total515

Preservation

Some SD9 locomotives can be found in museums and on tourist lines, and at least two are in service on a working railroad:

Footnotes

  1. Presented by Spencer Christian (2009). "Dakota Southern Railway". Tracks Ahead. Episode 707. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PBS. WMVS/Milwaukee PBS. Archived from the original on 2008-11-21.

References

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