my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Southern Pacific SD9

delivered 1954-56 as #5340 - 5444, 5449 - 5493

150 units delivered

Southern Pacific bought 5 orders of SD9's giving a total of 149 units, and the largest roster of SD9's on any Railroad. Evidently every SD9 had either a steam generator, or the ability to control a steam generator.

According to the Feb. 1990 Mainline Modeler article listed below; 5340 - 5371 were Phase I and 5372 - 5493 were Phase II units.
The simplest difference to describe is; Phase I SD9's have cast handrail stanchions, and Phase II SD9's have formed metal or channel handrail stanchions. Although with SP's rebuild programs I wouldn't like to say this was valid after rebuilding.
Evidently, Phase I models also had the fuel tank breather (Details West #111), as seen in the photo of 4322, these were applied both sides. However, according to photo's, this feature may have been carried over to early Phase II's.
This Phase designation is attributed the railfan magazine Extra 2200 South, and is not official terminology, just a way railfans keep track of detail changes over a models lifespan.

SP's first order of 32 SD9's was delivered in 1954, classed DF-120 and numbered 5340-5371. These were the only SD9's delivered with the large Mars Signal light both ends, later series had the smaller Pyle National signal light, they also had steam gens. Initially service district would appear to be Oregon.

The second order 5372 - 5386 classed DF-121, were fitted with steam gens. and ATS (automatic train stop) so were assigned to Roseville. Not sure what signal lights these came with.

5387 - 5444 arrived next, classed DF-122, and came without steam gens. these also had the full light show both ends, and with a small square Mars? UDE light.these were assigned to Beaumont Hill.

DF-124 numbered 5449 - 5463 came with dual fuel systems and steam gens. In practice this meant three tanks:
800 gallons water
400 gallons diesel fuel
1200 gallons heavy fuel oil.

These were anecdotally known as 'Mud Burners' for the heavy fuel oil they burnt.

The steam gens were removed from these between 1958-60, and the water/fuel tanks converted to hold 600 gallons diesel fuel and 1800 gallons heavy fuel oil.

By 1973 the dual fuel feature had been removed, and the tanks converted to 2400 gallons of diesel fuel.

5464 - 5493 were the last to arrive, classed DF-125. Some at least had steam gens. and the dual fuel feature. The Nov. 1989 Mainline Modeler has a photo of 5465 with 3 tanks... these also had the full light show both ends, and with a small square Mars? UDE light. Assigned to Tehachapi, they were likely ballasted heavier to aid in tractive effort.

All were delivered in 4 color Black Widow paint, some repaints prior to the introduction of scarlet and gray, had a Black Widow paint scheme without the orange wings, 5459 as an example.

During the 1965 system-wide renumbering, all SD9's were renumbered starting at 3800, and continuing sequentially on all active units. Some got wrecked prior to 1965, and some were wrecked before getting their new number.

Starting around August 1970, the oldest and/or most weary SD9's were rebuilt as SD9E's.

SP SD9E, To get one of these models, you have a choice of:

• The Athearn kit - with the too wide body,
• The Railpower Products - Shell with or without their chassis,
• The LifeLike (virtually) RTR model.

As a person who likes to build models, and is into painting and decaling, my preference is the Rail Power Products Shell and chassis kit.
but as these are no longer available, the LifeLike RTR model (preferably undecorated...) is the only scale width option to go with.

References:

• Mainline Modeler, Jun. '89 Page 33. - Plans and Roster, proto photo's of SP 3890 in Black Widow, and SP 5465 in Blood Nose.
• Mainline Modeler Nov. 1989 page 33. - EMD's SD9's, Phase I and III - History, Roster, plans and detail photo's inc. SP
• Mainline Modeler Feb. 1990 page 56. - EMD's SD9, Phase I and III - Roster, plans and detail photo's inc. SP
• Model Railroader, Oct. '86, Page 86 - Details on 2 early paint schemes, hidden in a Power Station article.
• Railroad Model Craftsman, Oct.'94 Page 54. - N Scale Detailing article - however still a good source of proto info.
• Diesel Era Sep/Oct 1996, Vol 7 No.5 page 22 - EMD SD9 Part #1 - history no Espee
• Diesel Era Nov/Dec 1996, Vol 7 No.6 page 36 - EMD SD9 Part #2 - short history of Espee units, plus black and white photo's of:
  • 5365 in scarlet/gray
  • 5442 in Black Widow
  • 5459 in modified Black Widow
  • 3800 in scarlet/gray
  • 3801 in scarlet/gray
  • 3833 in scarlet/gray
  • 3914 in scarlet/gray
• Southern Pacific Motive Power Annual 1973 page 10 - The SD9's.
• SP 1987/88 Motive Power Pictorial by Joe.W.Shine, Page 104. - Photo's of these units.
• SP.....into the '90's by Joe.W.Shine, Page 187. - more photo's.
• Southern Pacific Historic Diesels Vol.4 SD7's and SD9's by Joe Strapac