EMD SD9
| Company type | Division of General Motors |
|---|---|
| Industry | Locomotive manufacturing |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Headquarters | La Grange, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Diesel-electric locomotives |
The EMD SD9 is a diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by the General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and June 1959. It is equipped with a 16-cylinder EMD 567C engine delivering , representing an advancement over the SD7 through a more reliable and easier-to-maintain powerplant.[1]
A total of 515 locomotives were constructed, with 471 units serving American railroads and 44 exported abroad.[1] Numerous SD9s continue to operate today, primarily on shortline railroads and within industrial sectors. Although most Class I railroads phased them out during the 1970s and 1980s, some remain active in modified forms as switcher locomotives.[2]
History
The SD9 was introduced as the successor to the SD7, making it the second model in EMD's special duty (SD) locomotive lineup. Similar to the SD7, it was essentially an extended version of the four-axle GP series counterpart, specifically the GP9. The additional axles enhanced traction capabilities and improved weight distribution relative to four-axle designs.[3]
In terms of appearance, SD9s can be distinguished from SD7s by their classification lights mounted on pods angled outward above the number board; in contrast, SD7 classification lights are flush-mounted near the centerline of the hood.[4]
Later production runs adopted a carbody style resembling that of the SD18 and SD24, featuring two cooling fans instead of the earlier four-fan arrangement.
Production of the SD9 concluded in June 1959, with the SD18 model taking its place starting in 1960.
SD9s
A lighter version of the SD9, called the SD9s, was produced by EMD. This variant featured reduced weight to accommodate lighter track infrastructure and included a smaller fuel tank.
SD9m
The SD9m designation refers to rebuilt units derived from both SD7 and SD9 locomotives. Primarily undertaken by Norfolk Southern Railway, ten such rebuilds were operated between 1989 and 2010.
SD9E
From 1970 through 1980, Southern Pacific Transportation Company carried out extensive rebuilds on 144 units under their General Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (G.R.I.P), converting them into EMD SD9E locomotives. These were mostly renumbered within the range 4300–4441 and reclassified as EF618E-1, except for two units (#4450 and #4451), which were designated EF618E-2. Six original SD9s remained unmodified.
Original buyers
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electro-Motive Division (demonstrator) | 1 | 5591 | Subsequently sold to Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range as #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 | Units in the 300-series included steam generators; later integrated into Burlington Northern roster as numbers 6127–6206 | ||
| Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (Colorado and Southern Railway) | 23 | 820–842 | Transferred to Burlington Northern numbered 6215–6237; unit #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 | Configured for commuter service in Chicago area | ||
| Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad | 14 | 2224–2237 | Later renumbered to range 530–543 | ||
| Chile Exploration | 5 | 901–905 | |||
| Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad | 73 | 101–109,111–174 | Units #129–130 fitted with steam generators | ||
| Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | 10 | 5305–5314 | |||
| Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway | 3 | 600–602 | |||
| Great Northern Railway (U.S.) | 27 | 573–599 | Subsequently incorporated into Burlington Northern as numbers 6100–6126 | ||
| Korail (Korea) | 29 | 101–129 | Later renumbered to series 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 | Units #1220-1224 sold to Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad in 1992. | ||
| Soo Line Railroad (Wisconsin Central Railroad (1954-1961)) | 1 | 2381 | |||
| Southern Pacific Company | style="text-align:center;" | 150 | style="text-align:center;" | 5340–5444,5449–5493 | Units numbered 5340–5391 were equipped with steam generators |
Preservation
A number of SD9 locomotives have been conserved in museums, continue to run on tourist railways, or remain active within commercial railroad operations:
- BNSF #1550, classified as an SD9-3, was donated by BNSF in 2022 and is now exhibited at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.
- BNSF #6125 (formerly Great Northern #598) is currently undergoing restoration to its original Great Northern livery at the Inland Northwest Rail Museum located in Reardan, Washington.
- Burlington Northern #6139 is operational on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.
- Burlington Northern #6234 (previously Colorado & Southern #839) is active at the Minnesota Transportation Museum, running on the Osceola and St Croix Valley Railway. This unit represents the final SD9 variant featuring an SD18 body style.
- Great Northern #599 is preserved for cosmetic restoration at the Inland Northwest Rail Museum; its components aid in the mechanical refurbishment of #598.
- Korail 5025, Korea’s sole preserved SD9 locomotive, is displayed at . It was utilized as a departmental vehicle during construction of the Korea Train Express Gyeongbu section.
- Milwaukee Road #532 remains operational on the Whitewater Valley Railroad.
- Nevada Northern Railway #204 (formerly SP #4426) continues to operate at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum in Ely, Nevada. It was recently repainted and renumbered as #250 in anticipation of the 2026 United States Semiquincentennial.
- Nickel Plate Road #358 has been restored to its original specifications and runs under the care of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society.
- Norfolk and Western #2349 (ex-NKP #349) is preserved at the Mad River & Nickel Plate Railroad Museum, having been donated by Norfolk Southern in 2010.
- Portland and Western Railroad #1854 is currently stored in Albany, Oregon following its retirement in February 2024.
- Southern Pacific #4404 is preserved on the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad in Usk, Washington.
- Southern Pacific #5399, restored with SP's "Black Widow" paint scheme, operates on the Albany & Eastern Railroad, serving both freight and passenger duties.
- Southern Pacific #5472 remains active on the Niles Canyon Railway.
- Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad units #1221 and #1223 continue to serve their shortline routes across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin. Units #1222 and #1224 are currently stored out of service; unit #1220 has been kept for parts. Unit #1225 was never acquired by ELS.
These preservation initiatives underscore the lasting significance of SD9 locomotives within heritage rail operations as well as regional freight transportation.
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