EMD F9

The EMD F9 is a 1,750 horsepower (1,300 kW) Diesel-electric locomotive produced between February 1953 and May 1960 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors (EMD) and General Motors Diesel (GMD). It succeeded the F7 model in GM-EMD's F-unit sequence. Final assembly was at GM-EMD's La Grange, Illinois plant. The F9 was also built in Canada by General Motors Diesel at their London, Ontario plant. A total of 101 cab-equipped lead A units and 156 cabless booster B units were built. The F9 was the fifth model in GM-EMD's highly successful "F" series of cab unit diesel locomotives.

EMD F9
D&RGW F9 #5771 in 2009. Note the carbody filter grille ahead of the front porthole, the only reliable distinguishing feature of an F9.
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) General Motors Diesel (GMD, Canada) Model F9 Build date February 1953 – May 1960 Total produced 101 A units, 156 B units
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Trucks Blomberg B Wheel diameter 40 in (1,016 mm) Minimum curve 23° (250.79 ft or 76.44 m radius) Wheelbase 39 ft (11.89 m) Length A unit, 50 ft 8 in (15.44 m) B unit, 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m) Width 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) Height 15 ft (4.57 m) Prime mover EMD 567C RPM range 275-835 Engine type V16 Two-stroke diesel Aspiration Roots blower Displacement 9,072 cu in (148.66 L; 32.70 imp gal) Cylinders 16 Cylinder size 8+1⁄2 in × 10 in (216 mm × 254 mm)
Performance figures Maximum speed 65–105 mph (105–169 km/h) Power output 1,750 hp (1.30 MW)
Career Locale North America

By the time cab units such as the F9 were built, railroads were turning to the road switcher-style of locomotive, as they had much better visibility from the cab without the need to lean out the window. The F9 was succeeded in most part by the EMD GP9.

Engine and powertrain

The F9 used a 16-cylinder 567C series Diesel engine developing 1,750 hp (1.30 MW) at 800 rpm. The 567 was designed specifically for locomotive applications, being a 45 degree V-type two-stroke design, with 567 cu in (9.29 L) displacement per cylinder, for a total of 9,072 cu in (148.66 L). A D.C. generator powered four D37 traction motors, two on each Blomberg B truck. EMD has built all of its major components since 1939.

Identification

An F9 can be distinguished reliably from a late F7 only by the addition of an extra filter grille ahead of the front porthole on the side panels on A units. Internally, the use of an 567C prime mover increased power to 1,750 hp (1.30 MW) from the F7's 1,500 hp (1.12 MW).

Original buyers

Locomotives built by EMD at La Grange, Illinois

Owner	Quantity A units	Quantity B units	Road numbers A units	Road numbers B units	Notes
Electro Motive Division (demonstrator)	1	—	975	—	To NP 7050A (freight), Built 2/53
Electro Motive Division (plant)	(1)	—	462	—	Rebuilt 5/60 from C&NW F7 6501A
Atlantic Coast Line	2	—	317:3, 417:2	—	Rebuilt May 1957 from wrecked F7's; same numbers.
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway	18	18	281,C–289,C	281A,B–289A,B	Freight units, operated primarily in Texas.
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway	2	0	7032-7033		Rebuilt February 1955 from wrecked F7s
Chicago and North Western	—	4	—	4051B–4054B	Built from trade-in FTs alongside four FP9 and rated at 1500 hp.
Clinchfield Railroad	—	5	—	864–868
Colorado and Southern Railway	1	—	700D	—	Rebuilt March 1959 from wrecked F7
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad	4	4	5531, 5571, 5771, 5774	5772, 5773, 5753, 5763	5571 rebuilt February 1954 from wrecked F7 and rated at 1500 hp. 5771 preserved.
Erie Mining Company	5	6	100–104	200–205	Now used by the Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville, Indiana.
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México	10	10	7000A–7009A	7000B–7009B
Fort Worth and Denver Railway	1	—	750A	—	Rebuilt March 1959 from wrecked F7
Great Northern Railway	—	6	—	470B,C–474B,C (even)
Kansas City Southern Railway	2	2	58D, 74D	55B, 70B	rebuilt from wrecked F3A,F7A,F3B F7B
Kansas City Southern (Louisiana and Arkansas Railway)	1	—	32A	—	rebuilt from wrecked F7
Louisville and Nashville Railroad	9	4	811, 919–926	717–720	811 rebuilt from F7
Milwaukee Road	6	6	81C–86C	81D–86D	83c and 84c renumbered to 93c and 94A, for commuter service
Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad	—	4	—	226B–229B
Northern Pacific Railway	30	30	7000A,D–7014A,D	7000B,C–7014B,C	Freight units
Northern Pacific Railway	8	2	6700A,C–6701A,C, 6702A–6704A, 6500C	6700B–6701B	Passenger units
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway	—	13	—	5140–5152
Wabash Railroad	1	—	1141A	—	Rebuilt March 1959 from wrecked F7
Totals	101	110

Locomotives built by GMD at London, Ontario

Owner	Quantity A units	Quantity B units	Road numbers A units	Road numbers B units	Notes
Canadian National	0	38		6600-6637	Passenger, ordered with FP9
Canadian Pacific	0	8	—	1900–1907	Passenger, ordered with FP9
Totals	0	46

See also

• EMD FP9
• EMD FL9
• List of GM-EMD locomotives
• List of GMD Locomotives

References

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. ISBN 978-0-89024-026-7.
• 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 (2005). EMD F-Unit Locomotives. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press. ISBN 978-1-58007-192-5.
• 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 (1999). F Units: The Diesels That Did It. Golden Years of Railroading. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-374-9.

External links

• Media related to EMD F9 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons
• EMD F9 and F9B locomotives data sheet