The EMD SW1000 is a model of 4-axle diesel switcher locomotives built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between June 1966 and October 1972. Power was provided by an EMD 645E 8-cylinder engine which generated 1000 hp. This locomotive was built on the same common frame as the EMD SW1500, giving it an overall length of 44 ft. Over one-third of SW1000 production went to the Burlington Northern Railroad.

History

The SW1000 was taller than previous EMD switchers, which posed a problem for industrial customers: at many facilities, tight clearances existed, and the SW1000 exceeded them. As a result, most production went to railroads, not industries. EMD corrected this problem with the SW1001, which was an SW1000 with its height and walkways lowered for better clearance. A total of 114 EMD SW1000s were built for railroads and industrial operations in the United States. One was exported to Jamaica for a mining operation and four were exported to industrial operators in Mexico. As at January 2014, two EMD SW1000s are operated by Via Rail at its Montreal Maintenance Centre.

Preservation

Around August 2022, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center acquired former BNSF SW1000 #3613 (former BN #388).

SW1000 Locomotives as built by EMD