EMD SD9
Encyclopedia
An EMD SD9 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive
built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and June 1959. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 16-cylinder
engine which generated 1750 hp. This model is, externally, similar to its predecessor, the SD7
. 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 modified carbody similar to the SD18
and SD24
, and used two 48-inch cooling fans instead of four 36-inch cooling fans.
Four hundred and seventy-one examples of this locomotive model were built for American
railroads, and 44 for export.
Dakota Southern Railway
uses SD9 506 and SD9E 4427 in revenue freight service.
Colorado & Southern
839, later Burlington Northern
6234, was donated by successor Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.
to the Minnesota Transportation Museum
. It now operates on the museum's Osceola and St Croix Valley Railway. 6234 is an example of the last variation of SD9 locomotives produced, which used the SD18
carbody.
The Nevada Northern Railway
uses an ex-SP SD9 occasionally to pull their passenger trains.
Southern Pacific 4404 and 4450
are preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
at Portola, California
Both are now up for sale. 4404 operational and 4450 not operational.
Milwaukee Road
532, rebuilt by the Milwaukee into an 'SD10', lives at the Whitewater Valley Railroad
. It was originally their 2235.
The Portland and Western Railroad
uses three SD9s for switching and industry service. PNWR 1852 operates out of their Albany, OR yard.
BNSF still rosters several SD9's
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and June 1959. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 16-cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
engine which generated 1750 hp. This model is, externally, similar to its predecessor, the SD7
EMD SD7
An EMD SD7 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between February 1952 and November 1953. Power was provided by an EMD 567B 16-cylinder engine which generated ....
. 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 modified carbody similar to the SD18
EMD SD18
An EMD SD18 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between April 1960 and March 1963. Power was provided by an EMD 567D1 16-cylinder engine which generated 1800 horsepower ....
and SD24
EMD SD24
The EMD SD24 was a 2,400 hp C-C diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois between July, 1958 and March, 1963. A total of 224 units were built for customers in the United States, comprising 179 regular, cab-equipped locomotives and 45 cabless B...
, and used two 48-inch cooling fans instead of four 36-inch cooling fans.
Four hundred and seventy-one examples of this locomotive model were built for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroads, and 44 for export.
Original buyers
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electro-Motive Division (demonstrator) | |
|
to Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range 110 |
| Atlanta and St. Andrews Bay Railroad | |
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| Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Baltimore and Ohio Railroad The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which... |
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| Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,... |
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|
300s had two fuel tanks, 400s had one. |
| Colorado and Southern Railway Colorado and Southern Railway The Colorado and Southern Railway was a railroad company in the western United States that operated independently from 1898 to 1908, then as part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad until it was absorbed into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.The railway began as the... |
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| Central of Georgia Railway | |
|
|
| Chicago and Illinois Midland Railroad | |
|
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| Chicago and North Western Railway Chicago and North Western Railway The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s... |
|
|
Fitted for Chicago commuter service |
| Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names... |
|
|
Renumbered |
| Chile Exploration | |
|
|
| Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad | |
|
129–130 had steam generators |
| Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, is a defunct U.S. railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870; however, served mainly as a transcontinental... |
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| Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway is a Class II railroad that operates in the suburbs surrounding Chicago. The railroad is a link between Class I railroads in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana... |
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| Great Northern Railway | |
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| Korail Korail Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea... (Korea) |
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Later renumbered 5001-5029 |
| New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad , abbreviated NYC&St.L, was a railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. Commonly referred to as the Nickel Plate Road, the railroad served a large area, including trackage in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois... (“Nickel Plate Road”) |
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| Orinoco Mining (Venezuela) | |
|
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| Pennsylvania Railroad Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
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| Reserve Mining | |
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To Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad The Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad is a privately held shortline railroad that operates in Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The ELS has expanded from the original 65 miles that was purchased in 1978 to over 235 miles as of 2005.... |
| Soo Line Soo Line Railroad The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste... (Wisconsin Central Railroad) |
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| Southern Pacific Company | |
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5340–5391 had steam generators |
| Total | 515 |
Preservation
Some SD9 locomotives can be found in museums and on tourist lines, and at least two are in service on a working railroad.Dakota Southern Railway
Dakota Southern Railway
The Dakota Southern Railway is a railway that runs between Kadoka, South Dakota and Mitchell, South Dakota. It connects with the BNSF Railway in Mitchell.-History:...
uses SD9 506 and SD9E 4427 in revenue freight service.
Colorado & Southern
Colorado and Southern Railway
The Colorado and Southern Railway was a railroad company in the western United States that operated independently from 1898 to 1908, then as part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad until it was absorbed into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.The railway began as the...
839, later Burlington Northern
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
6234, was donated by successor Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation is the parent company of the BNSF Railway .The corporation was incorporated in 1995 to facilitate the merger of Burlington Northern, Incorporated, parent of the Burlington Northern Railroad, and Santa Fe Pacific Corporation, which owned the Atchison, Topeka...
to the Minnesota Transportation Museum
Minnesota Transportation Museum
The Minnesota Transportation Museum is a transport museum in Saint Paul, Minnesota.The MTM operates several heritage transportation sites in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin...
. It now operates on the museum's Osceola and St Croix Valley Railway. 6234 is an example of the last variation of SD9 locomotives produced, which used the SD18
EMD SD18
An EMD SD18 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between April 1960 and March 1963. Power was provided by an EMD 567D1 16-cylinder engine which generated 1800 horsepower ....
carbody.
The Nevada Northern Railway
Nevada Northern Railway
The Nevada Northern Railway was a railroad in the U.S. state of Nevada, built primarily to provide rail access to a major copper producing area in White Pine County, Nevada...
uses an ex-SP SD9 occasionally to pull their passenger trains.
Southern Pacific 4404 and 4450
Southern Pacific 4450
Southern Pacific Railroad's locomotive number 4450, nicknamed "Huff", is an EMD SD9 diesel locomotive. 4450 was part of SP's first order of 32 SD9s, and delivered in 1954, with its original number, 5363. This order was assigned SP class DF-120 and numbered 5340-5371...
are preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
Western Pacific Railroad Museum
The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California, formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum before , is a heritage railroad that preserves and operates historic American railroad equipment. The museum's mission is to preserve the history of the Western Pacific Railroad and is...
at Portola, California
Portola, California
Portola is the only incorporated city in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2010 census, down from 2,227 at the 2000 census...
Both are now up for sale. 4404 operational and 4450 not operational.
Milwaukee Road
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
532, rebuilt by the Milwaukee into an 'SD10', lives at the Whitewater Valley Railroad
Whitewater Valley Railroad
The Whitewater Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad in Indiana.The railroad is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of a 1970s era of branch line railroading. It is now operated by vintage diesel switchers during most of the year. Steam operations occur on or around labor day each year...
. It was originally their 2235.
The Portland and Western Railroad
Portland and Western Railroad
The Portland and Western Railroad is a Class II railroad serving the U.S. state of Oregon, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of shortline and regional railroad holding company Genesee & Wyoming Inc...
uses three SD9s for switching and industry service. PNWR 1852 operates out of their Albany, OR yard.
BNSF still rosters several SD9's