| EMD SD9 | |
| Powertype: | Diesel-electric |
| Builder: | General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) |
| Builddate: | January 1954 - June 1959 |
| Buildmodel: | SD9 |
| Primemover: | EMD 16-567C |
| Enginetype: | V16 diesel |
| Cylindercount: | 16 |
| Poweroutput: | 17502NaN2 |
| Fuelcap: | 1200usgal2400usgal |
| Wheeldiameter: | 400NaN0 |
| Aarwheels: | C-C |
| Wheelbase: | 48feet |
| Length: | 60feet |
| Lubecap: | 2000NaN0 |
| Sandcap: | 50cuft |
| Boiler: | Vapor-Clarkson Steam Boiler OK4625 |
| Totalproduction: | 515 |
| Disposition: | Many have been rebuilt, and are still in service. |
| Notes: | References:[1] |
The EMD SD9 is a model of diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and June 1959. An EMD 567C 16-cylinder engine generated 1750hp. Externally similar to its predecessor, the SD7, the SD9 was built with the improved and much more maintainable 567C engine.
Four hundred and seventy-one SD9s were built for American railroads, while a further 44 were produced for export.
Many SD9s both high and short hood can still be found in service today on shortline railroads and industrial operators. Although 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.
The SD9 was the second model of EMD's SD (special duty) line of locomotives, following the SD7. Just as the SD7 was a lengthened GP7 with two additional axles, the SD9 was a corresponding modification of the GP9. The additional axles in SD series locomotives provide more tractive effort and more even distribution of locomotive weight compared to the four axle GP series locomotives.[2]
SD9s can be distinguished from the similar looking SD7s by observing the position of 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, while the SD7's classification lights are closer to the centerline and flush with the hood.[3]
The last phase of construction had a carbody similar to the SD18 and SD24, and used two 48inches cooling fans instead of four 36inches cooling fans.
EMD ended SD9 production in June 1959. It was succeeded by the SD18 which began production in 1960.
EMD produced a lightweight variant of the SD9, named the SD9s. This locomotive had its weight reduced for service on lighter tracks with modifications such as a smaller fuel tank.
Between August 1970 and March 1980, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company had rebuilt 144 of their units into EMD SD9E diesel locomotives under their own rebuild program known as the General Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (G.R.I.P) and renumbered 142 of their rebuilt units as 4300-4441 and two additional rebuilt units being renumbered as 4450 and 4451, as well as reclassifying their 142 units as EF618E-1 and classified their two units #4450 and #4451 as EF618E-2, which had left six other SD9 locomotives un-rebuilt.[4]
The SD9m was a rebuild from SD7s and SD9s mostly by Norfolk Southern Railway. NS rebuilt a total of ten units and used them in service between 1989 and 2010.
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Total | 515 |
Some SD9 locomotives can be found in museums and on tourist lines, and at least two are in service on a working railroad.