The EMD E9 was a , A1A-A1A passenger train-hauling diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois between April 1954 and January 1964. 100 cab-equipped lead A units were produced, along with 44 cabless booster B units. All were for service within the United States. The E9 was the tenth and final model of EMD E-unit produced, and differed from the earlier E8 as built only by the newer engines and a different, flusher-fitting mounting for the headlight glass, the latter being the only externally visible difference. Since some E8s were fitted with this, it is not a reliable way to distinguish between the two.

The was achieved with two , V12 model 567C engines, each engine driving its own generator to power the traction motors.

Many E9s survive today. According to Andrew Toppan's list of March 5, 1997, 42 survive. Four E9s are owned by the Illinois Railway Museum, in Union, Illinois. A number of railroads keep a small number in service for hauling inspection specials, charter passenger trains, investor tours, and the like. The Union Pacific Railroad rosters three, (951, 949, and 963B), which have been re-engined with single EMD 16-645E engines for commonality with other UP power and thus ease of maintenance.

Operation

The E9's best-known role was in powering American passenger and mail trains from the 1950s well 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 commute trains and many mail and express trains covering vast distances. As America's passenger train service began to shrink due to unprofitablity, Union Pacific, Rock Island and Illinois Central Railroad began using E9s on their fast freight trains.

Amtrak, founded in 1971, bought scores of E9s from the Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, Seaboard Coast Line, and Penn Central. Amtrak used the E9s throughout their nationwide network until the late 1970s, and converted large numbers of the cab-less E9-B units for dedicated service as steam generator and head end power cars.

Original owners

Railroad	Quantity A units	Quantity B units	Road numbers A units	Road numbers B units	Notes
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad	4	—	34, 36, 38, 40	—
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad	16	—	9985A,B–9989A,B 9990–9995	—
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad	1	—	1102	—	to Missouri Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad	12	6	200A,C–205A,C	200B–205B	Built to Union Pacific specifications for City train service. Renumbered 30ABC–35ABC
	6	—	36A,C–38A,C	—	Built with Head end power for commuter service
Florida East Coast Railway	5	—	1031–1035	—	to Illinois Central
Illinois Central Railroad	10	4	4034–4043	4106–4109
Kansas City Southern Railway	1	—	25	—	Model E9m
Seaboard Air Line Railroad	1	—	3060	—
Southern Pacific Railroad	9	—	6046–6054	—
Union Pacific Railroad	35	34	900–914, 943–962	910B–913B, 950B–974B
Totals	100	44

References

• Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter’s Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Co..
• Reich, Sy (1973). Diesel Locomotive Rosters – The Railroad Magazine Series. Wayner Publications. No Library of Congress or ISBN.

External links

• Illinois Railway Museum's Equipment roster (type "E9" and search the collection)
• Andrew Toppan's list
• The Union Pacific's trio of re-engined E9s