Southern Pacific EMD SW1 No. 1006 in 2020.

(Threepeater11, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

EMD SW1 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE

The EMD SW1 is a 600-horsepower (450 kW) diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Corporation (later Division) between December 1938 and November 1953. Final assembly was at EMD's plant at LaGrange (McCook) Illinois. The SW1 was the second generation of 3,402 cu in (55.75 L) switcher from EMD, succeeding the SC (cast frame) and SW (welded frame). The most significant change from those earlier models was the use of an engine of EMD's own design, the then-new 567 engine, here in 600 hp (450 kW) V6 form. 661 locomotives of this design were built, with a gap in production between March 1943 and September 1945 due to World War II.

The SW1 was the start of a long line of SW series switchers produced by EMD. It was complemented by the SW7 in 1949 and the SW8 in 1950. SW1 production ceased in November 1953, with its replacement, the equally powerful SW600, starting production in February 1954.

Broward County Port Authority SW1 No. 400 at Port Everglades, Florida in July 1964.

(Roger Puta, courtesy Marty Bernard, railfan 44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Locomotive name

EMD arrived at the name SW1 based on the locomotive's power (S for 600 hp) and frame design (W for welded), and the number 1 was added to distinguish the new design from the previous EMD SW. As new and more powerful SW designs emerged in the 1950s, the SW name evolved to instead stand for "switcher."

Commonwealth Edison 15 at IRM Diesel Days, August 2017.

(H. Michael Miley, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Engine and powertrain

The SW1 introduced a 6-cylinder version of the 567 (later 567A) series engine to EMC/EMD switchers. Developing 600-horsepower (450 kW) at 800 rpm, this engine remained in production until 1966. Designed specifically for railroad locomotives, this was a supercharged 2 stroke 45 degree V type, with an 8+1⁄2 by 10 in (216 by 254 mm), bore by stroke, giving 567 cubic inches (9.29 L) displacement per cylinder. A D.C. generator provides power to four motors, two on each truck, in a B-B arrangement. The SW1, like most EMD switchers, uses the AAR type A switcher truck. EMC/EMD had built all its components since 1939.

PRR SW1 No. 9408 at the Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati, 2011.

(Anotherproject7, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Production changes

Several changes were made to the SW1 over its production life. Internally, the post-war locomotives used the 567A engine.

Externally, the two center cab windows over the hood, which were curved to follow the roofline originally, became flat-topped after mid-1950. Another external difference is the taper of the hood to the cab, which was a two-stage taper in earlier units but became a single taper in later production. Very early locomotives were delivered with a stubby exhaust stack, but this did not lift the diesel exhaust sufficiently clear of crew visibility. All later units were delivered with EMD's standard conical switcher stack, while early units were generally modified with taller stacks too. Early locomotives had a single large headlight, while later had twin sealed-beam headlights.

Bosques de Chihuahua EMD SW1 500 at Mesa del Huracan, Chihuahua, March 11, 1974. Photographer: James C Herold. 

(Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/51708260440/)

The maquinista (engineer) must be seriously questioning the sanity of a bunch of Americans traveling to one of the most remote places in Mexico to photograph his old switcher. You couldn't drive here, it was only accessible by rail - first the Chihuahua al Pacifico from Chihuahua or Ciudad Juarez, or Los Mochis, then a trip over the lumber railroad to the mill town. There were no roads.

What on earth was so special about this engine?

Well, Bosques de Chihuahua ("Chihuahua Forrest Industries") owned just three engines: this SW1, which was bought new, and two FM H16-44's, just like the ones Chihuahua al Pacifico used. Along with the CH-P units, these were the only FM's in Mexico. But what about this common SW1?

Well, it, too, was the only SW1 ever bought new in Mexico. Not only that, but it was the only SW1 ever exported new beyond the United States. Yes, I have seen the paint diagram that EMD prepared when it almost talked the Sonora Baja California into buying SW1's, but that deal never came through. This was the only one sold to any carrier in Mexico. Granted, the photographers had come this far not necessarily for this little switcher, but rather the FM's, but this was a pretty special unit in it's own right.

Basques de Chihuahua ran from the mill town of Mesa del Huracan 32 km to the CHP. Operations ended in 1988. - Craig Garver

See more of Craig Garver's fantastic photo collection here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/

Original owners

• There were 7 units built as EMD demonstrators: No. 152 (to Scullin Steel No. 6), 700 (to Manufacturers' Junction Railway No. 7), 755 (to Inland Steel No. 51), 804 (to Southern Pacific Railroad No. 1000), 905 (to Central of Georgia No. 1), 906 (to Western Pacific Railroad No. 501), 911 (to Great Lakes Steel No. 11).
• Owego and Harford Railway was still operating one SW1 for switching duties in their yard as of 2010, sitting derelict in a railyard in Owego, NY, as of 2019.
• As of 2013, Amtrak still has one SW1 on their roster. No. 737 is used for switching chores at the Wilmington Delaware shops.
• As of 2021, Metra commuter rail rosters one SW1. It is used for Yard Service and power on work trains on the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines. It was originally built in 1945 for the Rock Island. Metra used to operate a second SW1, built in 1939, but sold it in June 2021 via online auction for $45,000 due to an internal engine failure. The unit built in 1939 was rumored to be one of the oldest operating diesels in Illinois and the oldest operating locomotive in the U.S. that was not preserved.

Kansas City Southern EMD SW1500 4331 at Knoche Yard, Kansas City, Missouri, March, 1989. Photographer: Craig Garver.

(Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/51725168087/)

Preservation

Some preserved units include the following:

• Andersen Windowalls 3110 is preserved in operational condition at the Minnesota Transportation Museum. It was previously Norfolk and Western Railway 3110 and originally Wabash Railroad 110, built in June 1949.
• Arkansas–Oklahoma Railroad 536 is in operational condition and in regular freight service. It was previously Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific 536 and is painted in a Rock Island inspired paint scheme.
• Ballard Terminal Railroad 98 is one of the few SW1's operating in revenue freight service. It was originally Milwaukee Road 1619, and was for a time on the Seattle and North Coast Railroad as number 52.
• Baltimore and Ohio 8408 & Lehigh Valley 114 are preserved at the Wilmington and Western Railroad in operational condition.
• Billings Grain Terminal 84, built as Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 9139 in 1939, was purchased by railroad operator and leasing firm St Johns River Companies in 2022 with the goal of restoring the locomotive into operating condition. After the formation of the Burlington Northern in 1970, 9139 was renumbered to 84, where it served for 5 years before being sold to the Davenport, Rock Island and Northwestern. In 1984, the locomotive was sold to a grain elevator in Billings, MT where it remains today.
• Black River and Western Railroad Lehigh Valley 112, is preserved on the BR&W in operational condition. And PRR 9206 preserved and in service.
• Boston and Maine 1109 is preserved at the Railroad Museum of New England.
• Boston and Maine 1127 has been acquired by the Danbury Railway Museum
• BRMX 1849, built as Boston and Maine 1113, is preserved at the Berkshire Scenic Railway, in Lenox, MA.
• Cargill 6751, built in 1940 with construction number 1111, was one of the first SW1s that Electro-Motive built. After buying the unit, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) initially numbered the locomotive as No. 213, but subsequently changed the number to 8413. Leased by the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad in 1968, B&O 8413 was one of the last locomotives to operate on the W&OD before the railroad closed during the same year. After several transfers of ownership, the locomotive was acquired by Cargill, becoming Cargill No. 6751. Cargill moved the locomotive to Ogden, Utah in 1993 for use in the company's Globe Mill. Following Cargill's donation of the locomotive in 2010, the Utah Central Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad delivered it on May 21, 2011, to the Utah State Railroad Museum for display at Union Station in Ogden.
• Commonwealth Edison 15 is preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum. This unit is in operating condition and is one of the most frequently used diesels on the property.
• Dardanelle & Russellville 16, built as Chicago & Eastern Illinois 99 and later Missouri Pacific 6001, is still in operation on the D&R.
• Eureka Springs & North Arkansas 4742, built as Chicago & Eastern Illinois 98 in 1942, still in operation on this excursion line.
• Heart of Dixie 904, built as Memphis Union Station 10, is preserved at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum.
• Holly Sugar 1, the first SW1 built by EMC in 1939 is now preserved at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California. Built as Southern Pacific Lines 1000, the locomotive worked for the SP until its retirement in the 1970’s, then was sold to Holly Sugar and renumbered to 1. The museum donation was a coordinated effort between the museum, the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society and Spreckels Sugar (the locomotive's last owner).
• Louisville & Nashville 13 is on display at the Foley Railroad Museum in Foley, AL.
• Milwaukee Road 1626 is preserved at the Milwaukee Road Heritage Center. It was formerly Northern States Power X-5, Ex-Burlington Northern 79, Exx- Chicago Burlington & Quincy 9137. Built in June 1939, the locomotive is in running condition, with its original Electro-Motive Division 6-567B-1 Prime Mover.
• Monon Railroad 50, the first diesel locomotive owned by the Monon, is leased to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. It was damaged in the move to the new home of the Indiana Transportation Museum in Logansport, Indiana. ITM also had Milwaukee Road 1613, but it was scrapped in July 2018. The locomotive was moved from Logansport, Indiana to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana in April 2021, where it will be repaired and will join the HVRM's fleet of vintage diesel locomotives.
• New York Central 705, built as Louisville and Nashville 14, is preserved in operational condition at the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.
  Northern States Power 4 is preserved in operational condition at the Gopher State Railway Museum. It was originally built as CB&Q 9146 in May 1940.
• Peabody Coal Company 470 (Former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western No. 436) is on static display at the Museum of the Coal Industry in Lynnville, Indiana.
• Pennsylvania Railroad 9206 is preserved in operational condition on the Black River and Western Railroad.
• Pennsylvania Railroad 9408 is preserved in operational condition at the Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati.
• Pere Marquette Railway 11 is preserved at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, in Baltimore, MD, in operating condition at last report.
• Portland Traction Company 100 is preserved in operational condition at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.
• Sacramento Northern 402, originally built as Western Pacific 502, is preserved at the California State Railroad Museum.
• SMS Rail Service 9423, former Pennsylvania Railroad 9423, is in storage in Bridgeport, NJ.
• Southern Pacific Lines 1006 is preserved in operational condition, restored to its as-built appearance. It resides at the Southern California Railway Museum, (formerly known as the Orange Empire Railway Museum) and frequently pulls passenger trains for museum visitors.
• Western Pacific Railroad 501, originally built as EMC demonstrator 906, is preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola, CA. This locomotive was the Western Pacific's first diesel-electric engine.
• Used locomotive dealer/lessor Western Rail, Inc. owns WRIX 1001 (built 06/1949 as NYC No. 609 (2nd), later renumbered NYC 8435, PC 8435, CR 8435, GE Sayre Repair Shop No. 2, IRLX 1006, IRLX 1001, WCTR 1001).
• Wilmington and Western Railroad 114, built as Lehigh Valley 114, is preserved and operates tourist trains on the W&W.
• The Zanesville & Western Scenic Railroad 8599, former PRR 5999, operations excursions on its scenic line in Fultonham, Ohio.
• Dura-Bond (former owner of Turtle Creek Industrial Railroad) operates 462 at its pipe mill in McKeesport, PA. It is well maintained and operates as a switcher on about 7 miles of private track.

Milwaukee Road EMD SW1 971 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, April 17, 1970. Photographer: Robert C. Anderson.

(Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/50726577982/)

SW1 Overview

Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: General Motors Electro-Motive Corp (later Division) (EMC/EMD)
Model: SW1
Build date: December 1938 – November 1953
Total produced: 661
Specifications
Configuration: ​• AAR B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Trucks: AAR Type A or B
Wheel diameter: 40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve: 57° (104.79 ft or 31.94 m)
Wheelbase: 30 ft (9.14 m)
Length: 44 ft 11+1⁄4 in (13.70 m)
Width: 10 ft (3.05 m)
Height: 14 ft 4+5⁄8 in (4.38 m)
Locomotive weight: 196,000 lb (89,000 kg)
Prime mover: EMD 6-567B or 6-567A or 6-567AC
Engine type: V6 2-stroke diesel
Aspiration: Roots-type supercharger
Displacement: 3,402 cu in (55.75 L)
Generator: GM D-4
Traction motors: (4) GM D-7A
Cylinders: 6
Cylinder size: 8+1⁄2 in × 10 in (216 mm × 254 mm)
Gear ratio: 62:15
Performance figures
Maximum speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)
Power output: 600 hp (447 kW)
Tractive effort: 49,000 lb (22,000 kg)
Career
Locale: United States, Mexico

See Also:

EMD Diesel-Electric Locomotives

GM-EMD

Diesel-Electric Locomotives