EMD SW1

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EMC/EMD SW1
PC #8589, still in PRR livery, switching at Pittsburgh 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 Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Trucks AAR Type A or 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 6-567B or 6-567A or 6-567AC Engine type V6 2-stroke diesel Aspiration Gear-driven Roots blower 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) Gear ratio 62:15
Performance figures Maximum speed 65 mph (105 km/h) 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,^[1] with a gap in production between March 1943 and September 1945 due to World War II.

The SW1 was the start of a long line of SW series switchers produced by EMD. It was complemented by the SW7 in 1949 and the SW8 in 1950.^[1] SW1 production ceased in November 1953, with its replacement, the equally powerful SW600, starting production in February 1954.^[1]