View source for EMD SW8

{{Short description|Model of 800 hp North American diesel switcher}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name             = EMD SW8
| image            = EMDSW8.jpg
| alt              = 
| caption          = EMD SW8 retired from the [[United States Air Force|USAF]] [[Titan (rocket family)|Titan]] missile program
| powertype        = [[Diesel–electric]]
| designer         = 
| builder          = {{ubl|[[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors Electro-Motive Division]]|[[General Motors Diesel]] (GMD, Canada)}}
| ordernumber      = 
| serialnumber     = 
| buildmodel       = SW8, TR6
| builddate        = September 1950 &ndash; February 1954
| totalproduction  = {{ubl|EMD SW8: 310|GMD SW8: 65|EMD TR6A: 12|EMD TR6B: 12}}
| rebuilder        = 
| rebuilddate      = 
| numberrebuilt    = 
| website          =
| aarwheels        = B-B 
| uicclass         = Bo’Bo’
| Britishclass     = <!-- e.g. [[Bo-Bo]] [[1Co+Co1]] -->
| driver           = <!-- e.g. 1st, 2nd  or 3rd coupled axle -->
| gauge            = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| trucks           = 
| bogies           = 
| leadingdiameter  = 
| wheeldiameter    = 
| trailingdiameter = 
| minimumcurve     = 
| wheelbase        = 
|  engine total    = 
|  leading         = 
|  drivers         = <!-- USA terminology -->
|  coupled         = <!-- British terminology -->
|  trailing        = 
|  truck           = <!-- USA terminology diesels and electrics -->
|  bogie           = <!-- British terminology diesels and electrics -->
|  tender total     = 
|  tendertruck     = <!-- USA terminology -->
|  tenderbogie     = <!-- British terminology -->
| pivotcentres     = <!-- Garratts, diesels and electrics -->
| wheelspacing     = <!-- bogies or coupled wheels with asymmetrical wheel spacing --> 
| length           = {{convert|44|ft|5|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|  over couplers   = 
|  over bufferbeams= 
|  body            = 
| width            = {{convert|9|ft|11.6|in|m|3|abbr=on}}
| height           = {{convert|14|ft|6.2|in|m|3|abbr=on}}
| axleload         = 
|  leadingbogie/pony= <!-- load on leading bogie or pony wheel -->
| weightondrivers  = 
| trail bogie/pony = <!-- load on trailing bogie or pony wheel -->
| locoweight       = {{convert|230000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}
| fueltype         = 
| fuelcap          = 
| lubecap          = 
| coolantcap       = 
| watercap         = 
| sandcap          = 
| powersupply      = 
| consumption      = 
| watercons        = 
| primemover       = [[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]] [[EMD 567|8-567B]]
| rpmrange         = 
|  rpmrange low    = 
|  rpmrange idle   = 
|  rpmrange max    = 
| enginetype       = [[V8 engine|V8]] [[Two-stroke engine|Two-stroke]] [[Diesel engine|diesel]]
| aspiration       = [[Roots-type supercharger]]
| displacement     = <!-- per cylinder -->
| alternator       = 
| generator        = 
| tractionmotors   = 
|  t/m amps 1 hr   = <!-- Power output rating per motor -->
|  t/m amps cont   = <!-- Power output rating per motor -->
| headendpower     = 
| cylindercount    = 8
| cylindersize     = 
| transmission     = 
| gear ratio       = 
| multipleworking  = 
| trainheating     = 
| locobrakes       = 
| dynamicpeakeffort= 
| locobrakeforce   = 
| trainbrakes      = 
| reservoircap     = 
| compressorcap    = 
| exhaustercap     = 
| coupling         = 
| maxspeed         = {{convert|65|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| poweroutput      = {{convert|800|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=on}}
|  poweroutput start= 
|  poweroutput 1 hr= 
|  poweroutput cont= 
| tractiveeffort   = 
|  t/e starting    = {{convert|57000|lbf|kN|0|abbr=on}} at 25% 
|  t/e 1 hr        = 
|  t/e continuous  = {{convert|36000|lbf|kN|0|abbr=on}} at {{convert|11|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| factorofadhesion = 
|  f/adh starting  = 
|  f/adh 1 hr      = 
|  f/adh continuous= 
| safety           = 
| operator         = 
| operatorclass    = 
| powerclass       = 
| numinclass       = 
| fleetnumbers     = 
| officialname     = 
| nicknames        = 
| axleloadclass    = 
| locale           = {{ubl|[[North America]]|[[South Korea]]}}
| deliverydate     = 
| firstrundate     = 
| lastrundate      = 
| retiredate       = 
| withdrawndate    = 
| preservedunits   = 
| restoredate      = 
| scrapdate        = 
| currentowner     = 
| disposition      = 
| notes            = 
}}
The '''EMD SW8''' is a diesel [[switcher locomotive]] manufactured by [[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors Electro-Motive Division]] and [[General Motors Diesel]] between September 1950 and February 1954.  Power is supplied by an [[EMD 567]]B 8-[[cylinder (engine)|cylinder]] engine, for a total of {{convert|800|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=on}}. A total of 
310 of this model were built for [[United States]] railroads and 65 for [[Canada|Canadian]] railroads. Starting in October 1953 a number of SW8s were built with either the 567BC or 567C engine.

==US Army SW8s==
 
The [[United States Army]] ordered 41 SW8s, numbered 2000–2040, for service in Korea during the Korean War. These were shipped in the spring of 1951.

After the [[Korean War]], many US Army-owned SW8s were turned over to the [[South Korea]]n government while others were retained by the Army and assigned to various Army posts, depots and ammunition plants. Most were retired around 1990 and replaced in service by rebuilt geeps, such as GP10s from VMV in Paducah, KY, and other rebuilders.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}
[[File:Sacremento Southern SW8 -2008.jpg|thumb|303x303px|Sacramento Southern (Ex-USAX) 2008 in Sacramento in 2021]]
Of all of the locomotives turned over to the Korean National Railroad, only one, KNR #2001, believed to be ex-USAX #2011, still exists. As of May 2011 it was stored in the back of a locomotive shed in the Korea Railroad Busan Rolling Stock Workshop, 125 Sincheon-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, Korea 614–765. Diesel Locomotive Team Leader Kim Hyun-Sik stated KORAIL is in talks with the city of Pusan to put the locomotive on display in the city as a part of Korea's heritage, as it is the oldest diesel locomotive in the country.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

Two examples of these locomotives, ex-USAX #2019 and #2022, are preserved at the [[Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum]] in Alabama. After serving in Korea, [http://hodrrm.org/body.cfm?id=239 #2019] was sent back to the manufacturer for reconditioning in 1953. [http://hodrrm.org/body.cfm?id=239 #2022] was rebuilt in 1955. Both served in military bases in the United States until the early 1990s, finishing their careers at Fort Campbell, Ky. The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum acquired them in 1995.<ref name=Korea>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/84824/korea-alabama-train-engines-still-pulling-duty#.T-5Mj1KuU7c|title=From Korea to Alabama: Train engines still pulling duty |publisher=US Army 314th Public Affairs Operations Center |date=June 2012|access-date=2012-06-29}}</ref>

==Other models==
In addition, 24 TR6 [[cow–calf]] paired sets were produced.

In May 1953, a single example of the SW8 was built with a [[diesel-hydraulic|hydraulic]] transmission as model '''DH2'''. This locomotive was displayed at a trade show in 1955, but no sales of the DH2 followed. The locomotive was rebuilt with a standard electrical transmission, and served EMD as plant switcher #105 until 1968.

The first TR6A, [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]] 4600, later numbered 1100, is preserved at the [[Western Pacific Railroad Museum]] at [[Portola, California]].

== Original buyers ==
[[File:EMD SW8 engine.jpg|right|thumb|EMD SW8 used at [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]] for Titan missile|304x304px]]

=== SW8 ===
==== Locomotives built by Electro-Motive Division, USA ====
{|class="wikitable"
! Railroad !! Quantity !! Road numbers !! Notes
|-
|[[Electro-Motive Division]] (plant) ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |105 || Built as model DH-2
|-
|rowspan=3|Electro-Motive Division (demonstrator) ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |800 || to [[Illinois Terminal Railroad]] 725
|-
|style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |801 || to [[Georgia Northern Railway]] 801
|-
|style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |500 || to [[Cuyahoga Valley Railway]] 855
|-
|[[Aliquippa and Southern Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |3 ||style="text-align:center;" |800–802 || Built with 567BC engines
|-
|[[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |10 ||style="text-align:center;" |50–59 || 
|-
|[[Bamberger Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |601–602 || 
|-
|[[Boston and Maine Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |8 ||style="text-align:center;" |800–807 ||
|-
|[[Canton Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |4 ||style="text-align:center;" |40–43 ||42-43 were built with 567C engines
|-
|[[Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway]] ("Crandic") ||style="text-align:center;" |3 ||style="text-align:center;" |91–93 ||Built with 567BC engines
|-
|[[Chicago and North Western Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |801 || 
|-
|[[Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway]] ("Omaha Road") ||style="text-align:center;" |4 ||style="text-align:center;" |126–129 ||
|-
|[[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |28 ||style="text-align:center;" |811–838 ||836-838 were built with 567BC engines. 838 was acquired by [[Pfizer Incorporated]] in 1989 and then donated to the [[Danbury Railway Museum]] in 2002.<ref>[http://www.danburyrailwaymuseum.org/pfizer1.htm EMD SW-8 (1953) Pfizer 1 (Danbury Railway Museum)]</ref> 
|-
|[[Chicago, West Pullman and Southern Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |5 ||style="text-align:center;" |42–46 ||
|-
|[[Cincinnati Union Terminal]] ||style="text-align:center;" |8 ||style="text-align:center;" |30–37 ||
|-
|[[Colorado and Wyoming Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |12 ||style="text-align:center;" |201–212 ||
|-
|[[Columbia Iron and Steel]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |1 || 
|-
|[[Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |11 ||style="text-align:center;" |501–511 ||
|-
|[[De Queen and Eastern Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |D-3 ||
|-
|[[Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |900–901 ||
|-
|[[Donora Southern Raileoad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |10 ||style="text-align:center;" |802–811 ||
|-
|[[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |3 ||style="text-align:center;" |98–99, 101 || 98–99 to [[Burlington Northern]]. 101 was rebuilt from an NW1
|-
|[[L.G. Everist Incorporated]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |61 ||
|-
|[[Lake Terminal Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |4 ||style="text-align:center;" |821–824 || 
|-
|[[Lakeside and Marblehead Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |13–14 ||
|-
|[[Lehigh Valley Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |29 ||style="text-align:center;" |128–129, 250–276 || 256-273 built with dynamic brakes.
|-
|[[Louisiana and North West Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |40–41 ||
|-
|[[Ludington and Northern Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |16 ||Currently operational as Kendallville Terminal #16. 
|-
|[[Merchants Despatch Transportation]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |15 || 
|-
|[[Monessen Southwestern Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |22, 26 ||
|-
|[[New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal]] ||style="text-align:center;" |3 ||style="text-align:center;" |1–3 ||Built with 567BC engines
|-
|[[New York Central Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |26 ||style="text-align:center;" |9602–9627 || To [[Penn Central Transportation|Penn Central]] then [[Conrail]] 8602–8627, 8618 is preserved on the [[Strasburg Railroad]]
|- 
|[[New York Central Railroad]] (Chicago River and Indiana Railroad) ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |9600–9601 || To [[Penn Central Transportation|Penn Central]] then [[Conrail]] 8600-8601
|-
|[[New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad]] ("Nickel Plate Road") ||style="text-align:center;" |8 ||style="text-align:center;" |107–114 || 
|-
|[[North Louisiana and Gulf Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |37–38 ||Built with 567BC engines 
|-
|[[Pittsburgh Coke and Chemical Company]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |4 || 
|-
|[[Poplar Ridge Coal]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |801 ||
|-
|[[Reserve Mining Company]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |1200–1201 ||
|-
|[[Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |200 ||
|-
|[[South Shore Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |12 || to [[Illinois Central Railroad]] 802
|-
|[[Southern Pacific Company]] ||style="text-align:center;" |20 ||style="text-align:center;" |4604–4623 || All built with dynamic brakes; 4622-4623 built with 567BC engines
|-
|Southern Pacific ([[Texas and New Orleans Railroad]]) ||style="text-align:center;" |5 ||style="text-align:center;" |12–16 || 
|-
|[[Steelton and Highspire Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |26 ||
|-
|[[Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company]] ||style="text-align:center;" |6 ||style="text-align:center;" |750–754, 770 ||
|-
|[[Texas and Pacific Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |8 ||style="text-align:center;" |811–818 ||
|-
|[[Tremont and Gulf Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |75, 77 || to Illinois Central Railroad 800 and 801
|-
|[[Unity Railways]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |53 ||
|-
|[[United States Army]] ||style="text-align:center;" |41 ||style="text-align:center;" |2000–2040 || All 41 served in the Korean War, including the 2019 and 2022 now at the [[Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum]].<ref name=Korea /> 2002 is on display at the [[National Museum of Transportation]] in [[Kirkwood, Missouri]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transportmuseumassociation.org/the-collection/rail/ |title=Railway Equipment |date=2017 |website=The National Museum of Transportation |publisher=National Transport Museum Association |access-date=June 10, 2018 |archive-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609011010/http://transportmuseumassociation.org/the-collection/rail/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[United States Steel]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |109 ||
|-
|[[Wabash Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |9 ||style="text-align:center;" |120–121, 125–126, 128–132 || 
|-
|[[Wheeling Steel]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |1152–1153 ||
|-
|[[Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |801–802 || to Rock Island 839–840
|-
|[[Woodward Iron Company]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |60–61 ||
|-
! Total !! 310 !! !! 
|-
|}

==== Locomotives built by General Motors Diesel, Canada ====
{|class="wikitable"
! Railroad !! Quantity !! Road numbers !! Notes
|-
|[[Algoma Central Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |140–141 || 
|-
|[[Algoma Steel]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |50 || 
|-
|[[Canada and Gulf Terminal Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |356 || 
|-
|[[Canadian National Railway]]s ||style="text-align:center;" |34 ||style="text-align:center;" |8500–8533 || 
|-
|[[Canadian Pacific Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |10 ||style="text-align:center;" |6700–6709 || 
|-
|[[Dominion Foundries and Steel Company]] ("Dofasco") ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |11–12 ||
|-
|[[Dominion Iron and Steel]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |11–12 || 
|-
|[[Essex Terminal Railway]] ||style="text-align:center;" |2 ||style="text-align:center;" |102, 104 || Essex Terminal 104 last SW8 built 2/54
|-
|[[Steel Company of Canada]] ||style="text-align:center;" |7 ||style="text-align:center;" |71–77 || 
|-
|[[Wabash Railroad]] ||style="text-align:center;" |4 ||style="text-align:center;" |122–124, 127 || Bought for use in Canada
|-
! Total !! 65 !! !! 
|-
|}

=== TR6 ===
{|class="wikitable"
! Railroad !! Quantity [[A unit]]s !! Quantity [[B unit]]s !! Road numbers A units !! Road numbers B units !! Notes
|-
|[[Electro-Motive Division]] (demonstrator) ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |1 ||style="text-align:center;" |1600 ||style="text-align:center;" |1600B ||to Southern Pacific 4600 (A), 4700 (B)
|-
|[[Oliver Iron Mining Company]] ||style="text-align:center;" |8 ||style="text-align:center;" |8 ||style="text-align:center;" |1207A–1213A, 1216A ||style="text-align:center;" |1207B–1213B, 1216B || 
|-
|[[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific Company]] ||style="text-align:center;" |3 ||style="text-align:center;" |3 ||style="text-align:center;" |4601–4603 ||style="text-align:center;" |4701–4703 ||
|-
! Total !! 12 !! 12 !! !! !! 
|-
|}

== See also ==
*[[List of EMD locomotives]]
*[[List of GMD Locomotives]]

==References==
{{USGovernment|url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/84824/korea-alabama-train-engines-still-pulling-duty#.T-5RplKuU7c}}
{{Reflist}}
* {{Pinkepank diesel spotters guide 2}}
* EMD Product Reference Data Card dated January 1, 1959 has the 567BC and 567C engine data used in the as-built roster.

{{Commons category|EMD SW8 locomotives}}

{{Amtrak rolling stock}}
{{Korail rolling stock}}
{{Diesel_Switchers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emd Sw8}}
[[Category:Electro-Motive Division locomotives|SW0008]]
[[Category:General Motors Diesel locomotives|SW0008]]
[[Category:B-B locomotives]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1950]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Locomotives with cabless variants]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of Canada]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of South Korea]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of Canada]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of South Korea]]
[[Category:Shunting locomotives]]
[[Category:Chicago and North Western Railway locomotives]]
[[Category:Delaware, Lackawanna and Western locomotives]]
[[Category:Great Northern Railway (United States) locomotives]]
[[Category:New York Central Railroad locomotives]]
[[Category:Nickel Plate Road locomotives]]
[[Category:Southern Pacific Railroad locomotives]]