EMD E9 are diesel locomotives that were rated at 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.
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 Railroad began using E9s on freight trains. Other railroads like Burlington Northern, Chicago and Northwestern and The Milwaukee Road refurbished their E9's and equiped them with HEP to continue hauling commuter trains throughout the Chicago Metro Area. The last of these E9's were retired in 1992 after the Burlington Northern discontinued Commuter Operations.
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.
Today there are 42 of E9 locomotives survive into preservation, and 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.
Trivia[]
- Southern Pacific #6051, the last surviving SP E9, is preserved at the California State Railroad Museum and operates excursions hosted by the museum.
- These engines also operate on the Ferrocarriles Nacional de Mexico (N de M) of mexico.
- In 1974 Union Pacific No. 951 was loaned to the sponsors of the American Freedom Train to promote the AFT's bicentennial tour. When it operates the locomotive was repainted with a red, white and blue bicentennial paint scheme and toured much of the nation pulling the "Preamble Express" in advance of the widely publicized steam-powered Freedom Train tours in 1975 and 1976. After the tour the locomotive was returned to the Union Pacific, and repainted to its traditional yellow in 1978.
- 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.
- The E9 was quite similar to the E8 externally and internally carried similar to components to models dating back to the E6.