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.

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 1⁄2 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
Colorado and Southern Railway
23
820–842
 To Burlington Northern Same numbers
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
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:

  • Dakota Southern Railway uses SD9 506 and SD9E 4427 in revenue freight service.[1]
  • The Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad uses #1223, formerly of Reserve Mining, in regular service around Escanaba, Michigan; other SD9s owned by the railroad are as of 2016 in a "deadline" in Wells, Michigan.
  • 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 #204, ex-SP SD9E #4426 to occasionally to pull their passenger trains.
  • Southern Pacific 4404 is preserved at WRIX/Western Rail INC.
  • Milwaukee Road 532, rebuilt by the Milwaukee into an 'SD10', lives at the Whitewater Valley Railroad. It was originally their 2235.
  • Nickel Plate Road 349 is preserved at the Mad River & Nickel Plate Railroad Museum. It was retired as Norfolk Southern #52, and was donated to the museum in December 2010. It has been restored to its Norfolk & Western appearance.
  • The Portland and Western Railroad uses two SD9s for switching and industry service. PNWR 1852 operates out of their Albany, OR Burlington Northern yard and PNWR 1854 is assigned to the rock train, both Ex-SP Heritage.
  • The Western Rail Inc. owns 3 SD9m (SD9 rebuild) units. 13, 50, & 1886. 13 & 50 are Ex-Norfolk Southern, Exx-Norfolk & Western, née Nickel Plate Road. 1886 is Ex-Norfolk Southern, Exx-Southern, née Central of Georgia.
  • BNSF still rosters several SD9's. 4 are known to have been rebuilt into SD9-3's, numbers 1550-1553, and have modern EMD cabs.
  • An ex-Central of Georgia SD9, Black River & Western Railroad 9581, is currently on lease to Kinder-Morgan Newport News for yard duty.
  • The Albany & Eastern Railroad Company (AERC) has 1 SD9E in Black Widow paint, AERC/LLW 5399, It is used for both Passenger and Freight service in Lebanon, OR.
  • SP 4451, along with a few other SD9's are stored on a old spur outside of Shellville, CA

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
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-026-7.
  • Sarberenyi, Robert. EMD SD9 Original Owners. Retrieved on August 27, 2006
  • Komanesky, John. Preserved EMD Locomotives. Retrieved on May 18, 2009
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