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EMD E9
UP #949 leads an excursion through Clinton, Iowa in August 1995.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel
BuilderGeneral Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
ModelE9
Build dateApril 1954 – January 1964
Total produced100 A units, 44 B units
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARA1A-A1A
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Wheel diameter36 in (914 mm)
Minimum curve27° - 214.18 ft (65.28 m)
Length70 ft 3 in (21.41 m)
Width10 ft 7+1⁄2 in (3.239 m)
Height14 ft 7 in (4.45 m)
Loco weightA unit: 315,000 lb (143,000 kg),
B unit: 290,000 lb (130,000 kg)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime mover(2) EMD 567C
RPM:​
 • Maximum RPM900
Engine typeV12 Two-stroke diesel
AspirationRoots-blower
Traction motors(4) GM D37
Cylinders12
Performance figures
Maximum speed117 mph (188 km/h)
Power output2,400 hp (1,790 kW)
Tractive effort56,500 lb (25,600 kg) starting,
31,000 lb (14,000 kg) continuous
Career
LocaleUnited States
Disposition42 preserved, none in revenue service though some used on special trains, remainder scrapped

The E9 is a 2,400-horsepower (1,790 kW), A1A-A1A passenger train-hauling diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois, between April 1954 and January 1964. 100 cab-equipped A units were produced and 44 cabless booster B units, all for service in the United States. The E9 was the tenth and last model of EMD E-unit 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 visible difference. Since some E8s were fitted with this, it is not a reliable way to distinguish the two. The E9 has two 1,200 hp (895 kW), V12 model 567C engines, each engine driving one generator to power two traction motors.[1]

Engine and powertrain

The E9 uses twin 12 cylinder 567C engines developing a total of 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) at 800 rpm. Designed specifically for railroad locomotives, this Roots-blown, mechanically aspirated 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, remained in production until 1966. Two D.C. generators, one per engine, provide power to four motors, two on each truck, in an A1A-A1A arrangement. This truck design was used on all E units and on MP 7100 and CB&Q 9908 power cars. EMD has built all of its major components since 1939.[2][3]

Operation

The E9 powered American passenger and mail trains from the 1950s into the late 1970s. Many of America's finest trains — such as 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 commuter trains and many mail and express trains. As America's passenger train network shrank due to unprofitability, Union Pacific, Rock Island and Illinois Central began using E9s on freight trains while Burlington Northern and Chicago and North Western began upgrading their fleets of E9s with Head-end power and EMD 645 power assemblies for commuter operations in the Chicago metropolitan area into the early 1990s.

Amtrak, founded in 1971, bought 36 E9As and 23 E9Bs from the Union Pacific, Milwaukee Road, B&O and SCL. Amtrak used the E9s until 1979 and converted some E9B units to steam generator and head end power cars.[4][5]

Original owners

Railroad Quantity
A units		 Quantity
B units		 Road numbers
A units		 Road numbers
B units		 Notes
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 4 — 34, 36, 38, 40 — all bought by Amtrak
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad 16 — 9985A,B–9989A,B
9990–9995		 — Renumbered into 9900–9924 series (with 9 E8As).
Rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen with 645 power assemblies and HEP around the mid-1970s.[6]
Used in Chicago suburban service by Burlington Northern into the 1990s.
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad 1 — 1102 — E9m rebuilt from wrecked EMD E7A (same number).
to Missouri Pacific Railroad.[7]
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad 12 6 200A,C–205A,C 200B–205B Built to Union Pacific specifications for City train service. Renumbered 30ABC–35ABC
6 — 36A,C–38A,C — Built with Head end power for commuter service
Florida East Coast Railway 5 — 1031–1035 — to Illinois Central 2036–2040 in 1969 via Precision National
Illinois Central Railroad 10 4 4034–4043 4106–4109 4109 destroyed in 1971 Salem, IL derailment
Kansas City Southern Railway 1 — 25 — Model E9m
Seaboard Air Line Railroad 1 — 3060 — bought by Amtrak
Southern Pacific Railroad 9 — 6046–6054 —
Union Pacific Railroad 35 34 900–914,
943–962		 900B-904B, 910B–913B,
950B–974B		 Units 949, 951 and 963B are part of the Union Pacific Heritage Fleet.
Totals 100 44

Surviving examples

As of 1997, 42 E9 locomotives survived.[8] Many of these have been donated to several museums and tourist railroads. A number of railroads keep a small number in service for hauling inspection specials, charter passenger trains, investor tours and other special trains.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A field guide to trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 100. ISBN 0-395-70112-0.
  2. ^ Pinkepank 1973, pp. 13, 26, 106, 124.
  3. ^ Ross 2003, pp. 273–274.
  4. ^ "The E8B, E-9B including heater cars, HEP cars made from E-9Bs". Amtrak Photo Archive: an unofficial Amtrak site. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016.
  5. ^ Pinkepank & Marre 1979, pp. 143–145.
  6. ^ Pinkepank & Marre 1979, p. 132.
  7. ^ "Missouri Pacific Locomotives". www.thedieselshop.us. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  8. ^ According to Andrew Toppan's list of March 5, 1997, 42 survive.
  9. ^ "Diesel-Electric Locomotives".

Bibliography

  • Lamb, J. Parker (2007). Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive. Railroads Past and Present. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34863-0.
  • Marre, Louis A. (1995). Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years: A Guide to Diesels Built Before 1972. Railroad Reference Series. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-258-2.
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-89024-026-7.
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A.; Marre, Louis A. (1979). Diesel Spotters Guide Update. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-89024-029-9.
  • Reich, Sy (1973). Diesel Locomotive Rosters – The Railroad Magazine Series. Wayner Publications. No Library of Congress or ISBN.
  • Ross, David, ed. (2003). The Encyclopedia of Trains and Locomotives. Barnes and Noble. ISBN 9780760796795.
  • Schafer, Mike (1998). Vintage Diesel Locomotives. Enthusiast Color Series. Osceola, Wisconsin: MBI Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7603-0507-2.
  • Solomon, Brian (2000). The American Diesel Locomotive. Osceola, Wisconsin: MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-7603-0666-6.
  • Solomon, Brian (2006). EMD Locomotives. St. Paul, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-2396-0.
  • Solomon, Brian (2010). Vintage Diesel Power. Minneapolis, Minnesota: MBI Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7603-3795-0.
  • Solomon, Brian (2011). Electro-Motive E-Units and F-Units: The Illustrated History of North America's Favorite Locomotives. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-4007-3.
  • Solomon, Brian (2012). North American Locomotives: A Railroad-by-Railroad Photohistory. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-4370-8.
  • Wilson, Jeff (2002). E Units: Electro-Motive's Classic Streamliners. Classic Trains / Golden Years of Railroading series. Waukesha, WI, USA: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 0890246068.
  • Extra 2200 South #43 November December 1973 Amtrak Roster by Dick Will p. 13
  • Extra 2200 South #43 November December 1973 E8/E9 Roster and article by Dan Dover and Win Cuisinier (Preston Cook) pp. 14–24

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to EMD E9 locomotives.
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