- Source: EMD SW900
The EMD SW900 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and General Motors Diesel (GMD) between December 1953 and March 1969. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 8-cylinder engine that generated 900 horsepower (670 kW). Built concurrently with the SW1200, the eight-cylinder units had a single exhaust stack. The last two SW900s built by GMD for British Columbia Hydro were built with 8 cylinder 645E engines rated at 1,000 horsepower (750 kW).
260 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads and 97 were built for Canadian railroads. Canadian production of the SW900 lasted three and a half years past EMD production. Seven units were exported to Orinoco Mining Co (Venezuela); two units were exported to Southern Peru Copper Co; and five units were exported to the Liberian American-Swedish Minerals Company. Total production is 371 units.
Some SW900s were built with the generators from traded in EMC Winton-engined switchers and were classified as SW900M by EMD. Units rebuilt from SW or SC model locomotives developed 600 or 660 horsepower with the older generators instead of the full 900 horsepower of the SW900.
In the early 1960s, the Reading Company sent 14 of their Baldwin VO 1000 model switchers to EMD to have them rebuilt to SW900 specifications. The Reading units retained the Baldwin switcher carbody and were rated at 1000 horsepower by EMD.
A cow–calf variation, the TR9, was cataloged, but none were built.
Rebuilds
= SW900E
=In 1974, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company had decided to rebuild all ten of their EMD SW900 diesel locomotives at their own Houston Shops.
The rebuilds included the installation of a 12-cylinder EMD 645E engine, which increased the horsepower from 900 hp (670 kW) to 1,200 hp (890 kW).
The rebuilds had also included the installation of a new electrical system, which included a newer generator, newer traction motors, and a newer control system. The rebuilds were done specifically to extend the life of the locomotives and to increase their power and reliability.
Original buyers
= Built by Electro-Motive Division, USA
== Built by General Motors Diesel, Canada
=See also
List of GM-EMD locomotives
List of GMD Locomotives
References
Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-026-7.
Jewell, Donald V. (1976). Southern Pacific Motive Power Annual, 1974-1976. Chatham Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-89685-008-8.
Extra 2200 South Volume 7 No.3 August September 1968 page 3
Northern Pacific Railway Diesel Era 1945-1970
External links
Media related to EMD SW900 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons
EMD Serials
EMD Trade In Serials
EMD Export Serials
GMD Serials Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
