EMD SW1

EMC/EMD SW1

PC #8589, still in PRR livery, switching at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1970.

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Corp (later Division) (EMC/EMD) Model SW1 Build date December 1938 (1938-12) – November 1953 (1953-11) Total produced 661

Specifications AAR wheel arr. B-B Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Trucks AAR type A and BBA TYPE B Wheel diameter 40 in (1,016 mm) Minimum curve 57° (104.79 ft or 31.94 m) Wheelbase 30 ft (9.14 m) Length 44 ft 11 1⁄4 in (13.70 m) Width 10 ft (3.05 m) Height 14 ft 4 5⁄8 in (4.38 m) Loco weight 196,000 lb (89,000 kg) Prime mover EMD 567 or 567A or 567B Engine type V6 Two stroke diesel Aspiration Roots-type supercharger Displacement 3,402 cu in (55.75 L) Generator GM D-4 Traction motors (4) GM D-7A Cylinders 6 Cylinder size 8 1⁄2 in × 10 in (216 mm × 254 mm)

Performance figures Power output 600 hp (447 kW) Tractive effort 49,000 lb (22,000 kg)

Career Locale United States Mexico

The EMD SW1 is a 600-horsepower (450 kW) diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Corporation (later Division) between December 1938 and November 1953. Final assembly was at EMD's plant at LaGrange (McCook) Illinois. The SW1 was the second generation of 3,402 cu in (55.75 L) switcher from EMD, succeeding the SC (cast frame) and SW (welded frame). The most significant change from those earlier models was the use of an engine of EMD's own design, the then-new 567 engine, here in 600 hp (450 kW) V6 form. 661 locomotives of this design were built, not withstanding diesel switcher production having been suspended between 1942 and 1945 by the War Production Board, as the 567 engines were needed elsewhere, mainly for U.S. Navy LST vessels.

The SW1 introduced a 6-cylinder version of the 567 (later 567A) series engine to EMC/EMD switchers. Developing 600-horsepower (450 kW) at 800 rpm., this engine remained in production until 1966. Designed specifically for railroad locomotives, this was a supercharged 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. A D.C. generator provides power to four motors, two on each truck, in a B-B arrangement. The SW1, like most EMD switchers, use the AAR Type A switcher truck. EMC/ EMD has built all its own components since 1939.