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EMD's "SW1500": Its First, 645-Powered Switcher Locomotive

Last revised: August 27, 2024

By: Adam Burns

The SW1500, unveiled in the mid-1960s, introduced Electro-Motive's latest prime mover, the model 645.  This engine replaced EMD's tried and proven 567, a power plant that vaulted the builder into first place in the locomotive market thanks to its rugged nature and easy maintenance.

The SW1500 featured a bulkier carbody and was a bit heavier from earlier models although its intended use remained the same, working light branch lines or in industrial settings. With the horsepower rating, weight, and top speed the switcher was essentially a road switcher (it offered nearly the same ratings as the GP7 released a decade earlier).

In fact, this was actually EMD's intention with the model as a dual service engine capable of working both freight service when needed, as well as typical switching chores. 

Once again railroads found the SW1500 to their liking and many Class Is purchased the model, very likely due to its extra horsepower allowing it to be used in numerous applications.

Today, SW1500's remain quite common doing the tasks to which they were originally intended for on large and small railroads around the country.

Photos

A new Reading SW1500, #2752, awaits delivery in Chicago on July 30, 1966. Warren Calloway collection.

Overview

The SW1500 began production in July, 1966, succeeding its predecessor model, the SW1200. Using EMD's latest 12-cylinder, 645E model prime mover the switcher was the most powerful of the SW line producing 1,500 horsepower.

Featuring a 600-gallon fuel tank it weighed slightly more than most SW models at 124 tons and used EMD's D77 traction motors, which could produce 38,000 pounds of continuous tractive effort (62,000 pounds starting).

The Electro-Motive Division had originally intended the SW1500 to feature standard AAR switcher trucks. However, many railroads requested their orders include Flexicoil trucks, thus allowing them to operate at speeds as high as 60 mph in main line freight service. 

Reception

In his book, "Diesel Locomotives: Cyclopedia, Volume 2," author Bob Hayden notes 765 of the 808 SW1500's produced were equipped with the optional 1,100-gallon fuel tank and more than half featured Flexicoils.

Once again, a more powerful switcher was to the industry's liking as the SW1500 sold quite well. Between June, 1966 and January, 1974 EMD produced more than 800 examples.

The SW1500 continued to carry the classic carbody style that defined the SW series with a short frame of just over 44-feet and tapering of the hood near the cab with two conical exhaust stacks.

The SW1500 featured less beveling than with earlier models.  It also boasted a wider, boxier cab that no longer included such an arched roof.  Finally, the cab was slightly taller for improved visibility and also included a walkway 9 inches higher above the rail.  From a visual standpoint the switcher just looked "beefier" than predecessor designs.  

In 1973, Mexican railroad Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México acquired 60 examples of the SW1504.  The only difference with the variant was Blomberg trucks.  However, to accommodate these longer trucks the frame had to be lengthened by two feet. 

Data Sheet and Specifications

Total Built = 808

Production Roster (1966-1971)

Production Roster (1971-1974)

Export

SW1504 Production Roster

Total Built = 60

Kansas City Southern SW1500 #1509 and slug #200 (built as NW2 #1100 in 1939; rebuilt by the Darby Corporation as a slug on November 6, 1969) are both seen here in Kansas City, circa 1970. American-Rails.com collection.

Major railroads at the time like the Penn Central, Southern, Southern Pacific, St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco), Burlington Northern, and others all purchased the SW1500.

In addition, several industrial firms acquired the model as well such as Weyerhaeuser Timber, U.S. Pipe & Foundry, Tennessee Eastman Corporation, U.S. Steel, Inland Steel, Howe Coal, W.R. Grace, Alcoa, and Armco Steel.

Sources

• Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

• Hayden, Bob. Diesel Locomotives: Cyclopedia, Volume 2 (Model Railroader). Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1980.

• Marre, Louis A. Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years, A Guide To Diesels Built Before 1972.  Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1995.

• Marre, Louis A. and Pinkepank, Jerry A. Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide, The: A Comprehensive Reference Manual To Locomotives Since 1972.  Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1989.

• Solomon, Brian.  EMD Locomotives.  Minneapolis: MBI Publishing Company, 2006.