SW900 Diesel Locomotive

Prototype Information

The SW900, built by Electro-Motive Division (EMD) between 1954 and 1959, was a diesel-electric switcher designed for yard and industrial work. With 900 horsepower from its 6-cylinder EMD 567B engine, it delivered the power needed for switching operations, making it a reliable workhorse in rail yards and industrial sites.

EMD produced over 300 units of the SW900, and it became the go-to locomotive for short-line railroads and industrial operations. While newer switchers like the SW1500 eventually replaced it in the 1960s, many SW900s continued to serve well into the 1980s and beyond, often rebuilt for longer life.

Today, a number of SW900s still run on heritage railroads or are preserved in museums, keeping their legacy alive.