EMD E9

EMD E9

BN 9918, one of the last E9 locomotives used on Metra's line to Aurora, Illinois, seen here in September 1992.
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
Model	E9
Build date	May 1954 – December 1963
Total production	100 A units, 44 B units
AAR wheel arr.	A1A-A1A
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)
Engine type	dual EMD 567C
Cylinders	V12
Power output	2,400 hp
Locale	United States
Disposition	most scrapped, several preserved, none in revenue service

The EMD E9 was a 2,400 hp, A1A-A1A passenger train-hauling diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois between May 1954 and December 1963. 100 cab-equipped lead A units were produced, along with 44 cabless booster B units. All were for service within the United States. The E9 was the tenth and final model of EMD E-unit produced, and differed from the earlier E8 as built only by the newer engines and a different, flusher-fitting mounting for the headlight glass, the latter being the only externally visible difference. Since some E8s were fitted with this, it is not a reliable way to distinguish between the two.

The 2,400 hp was achieved with two 1,200 hp, V12 model 567C engines, each engine driving its own generator to power the traction motors.

Many E9s survive today. According to Andrew Toppan's list of March 5, 1997, 42 survive. Four E9s are owned by the Illinois Railway Museum, in Union, Illinois. A number of railroads keep a small number in service for hauling inspection specials, charter passenger trains, investor tours, and the like. The Union Pacific Railroad rosters three, (951, 949, and 963B), which have been re-engined with single EMD 16-645E engines for commonality with other UP power and thus ease of maintenance.

Deliveries

• Baltimore and Ohio Railroad — 34–40 (even numbers only), renumbered 1454-1457 (4 units)
• Burlington Route — 9985A,B–9989A,B; 9990–9995 (16 units)
• Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad — 1102 (1 unit)
• Florida East Coast — 1031–1035 (5 units)
• Illinois Central — 4034–4043 (10 units) and boosters 4106–4109 (4 units)
• Kansas City Southern — 25 (1 unit)
• Milwaukee Road — 200A,C–205A,C and boosters 200B–205B (built to Union Pacific specifications, and later renumbered 30A,C–35A,C and 30B–35B) (18 units); 36A,C–38A,C (6 units)
• Seaboard Air Line — 3060 (1 unit)
• Southern Pacific — 6046–6054 (9 units)
• Union Pacific — 900–914, 943–962 (35 units) and boosters 900B-904B, 910B-913B, 950B-974B (34 units)

Operation

The E9's best-known role was in powering American passenger and mail trains from the 1950s well into the late 1970s. Many of America's finest trains — such as Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited, Union Pacific Railroad's "City" fleet, Burlington's "Zephyr" fleet and Southern Pacific Railroad's Coast Daylight and Sunset Limited — had E9s pulling them. E9s and their E7 and E8 kin ran throughout the country on lesser-known passenger trains, Chicago's network of commute trains and many mail and express trains covering vast distances. As America's passenger train service began to shrink due to unprofitablity, Union Pacific, Rock Island and Illinois Central Railroad began using E9s on their fast freight trains.

Amtrak, founded in 1971, bought scores of E9s from the Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, Seaboard Coast Line, and Penn Central. Amtrak used the E9s throughout their nationwide network until the late 1970s.

References

• Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.  pp.EMD-124.
• Reich, Sy (1973). Diesel Locomotive Rosters – The Railroad Magazine Series. Wayner Publications. No Library of Congress or ISBN.

External links

• Illinois Railway Museum's Equipment roster (type "E9" and search the collection)
• Andrew Toppan's list
• The Union Pacific's trio of re-engined E9s