EMD SDP35

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title: "EMD SDP35" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["electro-motive-division-locomotives", "c-c-locomotives", "diesel–electric-locomotives-of-the-united-states", "passenger-locomotives", "railway-locomotives-introduced-in-1964", "standard-gauge-locomotives-of-the-united-states", "union-pacific-railroad-locomotives"] description: "American model of diesel-electric locomotive" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_SDP35" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American model of diesel-electric locomotive ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox locomotive"]

Field	Value
name	EMD SDP35
image	Seaboard Air Line EMD SDP35 1114 at Hamlet, North Carolina, 06-02-2023.jpg
caption	Seaboard Air Line Railroad 1114, an EMD SDP35, on display in Hamlet, North Carolina.
powertype	Diesel-electric
builder	General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
buildmodel	SDP35
builddate	July 1964 – September 1965
totalproduction	35
aarwheels	C-C
gauge
trucks	6-Wheel
wheeldiameter	40 in
minimumcurve	57°
wheelbase	13 ft
pivotcentres	48 ft
length	60 ft
width	10 ft
height	15 ft
locoweight	360000 lb
fueltype	Diesel
fuelcap	3200 usgal
lubecap	243 usgal
coolantcap	260 usgal
sandcap	56 ft3
primemover	EMD 567D3A
rpmrange low	315
rpmrange max	900
enginetype	V16 diesel
alternator	GMD14
generator	Main: GM - D32
Auxilary: Delco A8102
tractionmotors	GM - D77 (6)
cylindercount	16
cylindersize	8.5 in × 10 in
gear ratio	59:15
multipleworking	Yes
trainheating	Vapor-Clarkson Steam Boiler AR4125
locobrakes	Westinghouse 24L (Air Brake)
trainbrakes	Westinghouse 24L (Air Brake)
maxspeed	95 mph
poweroutput	2500 hp
t/e starting	90000 lbf @25%
t/e continuous	82100 lbf @ 6.6 mph
::

| name = EMD SDP35 | bgcolor = | color = | image = Seaboard Air Line EMD SDP35 1114 at Hamlet, North Carolina, 06-02-2023.jpg | alt = | caption = Seaboard Air Line Railroad 1114, an EMD SDP35, on display in Hamlet, North Carolina. | powertype = Diesel-electric | designer = | builder = General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) | ordernumber = | serialnumber = | buildmodel = SDP35 | builddate = July 1964 – September 1965 | totalproduction = 35 | rebuilder = | rebuilddate = | numberrebuilt = | aarwheels = C-C | uicclass = | Britishclass = | DRGtype = | driver = | gauge = | trucks = 6-Wheel | bogies = | leadingdiameter = | wheeldiameter = 40 in | trailingdiameter = | carrydiameter = | minimumcurve = 57° | wheelbase = 13 ft | wheelspacing = | engine total = | leading = | drivers = | coupled = | trailing = | truck = | bogie = | tender total = | tendertruck = | tenderbogie = | racksystem = | pivotcentres = 48 ft | length = 60 ft | over couplers = | over headstocks = | body = | over buffers = | width = 10 ft | height = 15 ft | axleload = | leadingbogie/pony= | weightondrivers = | trail bogie/pony = | locoweight = 360000 lb | emptyweight = | serviceweight = | fueltype = Diesel | fuelcap = 3200 usgal | lubecap = 243 usgal | coolantcap = 260 usgal | watercap = | sandcap = 56 ft3 | powersupply = | consumption = | watercons = | primemover = EMD 567D3A | rpmrange = | rpmrange low = 315 | rpmrange idle = | rpmrange max = 900 | enginetype = V16 diesel | aspiration = | displacement = | alternator = GMD14 | generator = Main: GM - D32 Auxilary: Delco A8102 | tractionmotors = GM - D77 (6) | t/m amps 1 hr = | t/m amps cont = | headendpower = | cylindercount = 16 | cylindersize = 8.5 in × 10 in | transmission = | runningsteps = | runningstepswitch = | gear ratio = 59:15 | multipleworking = Yes | trainheating = Vapor-Clarkson Steam Boiler AR4125 | locobrakes = Westinghouse 24L (Air Brake) | dynamicpeakeffort= | locobrakeforce = | trainbrakes = Westinghouse 24L (Air Brake) | reservoircap = | compressorcap = | exhaustercap = | coupling = | maxspeed = 95 mph | poweroutput = 2500 hp | poweroutput start= | poweroutput 1 hr= | poweroutput cont= | powerindex = | tractiveeffort = | t/e starting = 90000 lbf @25% | t/e 1 hr = | t/e continuous = 82100 lbf @ 6.6 mph | factorofadhesion = | f/adh starting = | f/adh 1 hr = | f/adh continuous= | safety = | operator = | operatorclass = | powerclass = | numinclass = | fleetnumbers = | officialname = | nicknames = | axleloadclass = | locale = | deliverydate = | firstrundate = | lastrundate = | retiredate = | withdrawndate = | preservedunits = | restoredate = | scrapdate = | currentowner = | disposition = | notes = The EMD SDP35 is a model of 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between July 1964 and September 1965. Power was provided by an EMD 567D3A 16-cylinder engine which generated 2,500 hp. Essentially this locomotive was an EMD SD35 equipped with a steam generator, located in the extended long hood end, for passenger use. 35 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads.

History

With its older E-units reaching the end of their serviceable lives, Seaboard Air Line asked EMD for a passenger version of the SD35 that could double as a freight unit, especially if passenger trains continued to be discontinued. EMD came up with the SDP35, and SAL placed an order, trading in E4 and E6 units. The first of SAL's new SDP35s was delivered in summer 1964. Eventually the SDP35 wound up going to four railroads: SAL (20, numbered 1100–1119), Atlantic Coast Line (1, numbered 550), Louisville and Nashville (4, numbered 1700–1703) and Union Pacific (10, numbered 1400–1409).

The SD35 and SDP35 were so similar that EMD published a single operator's manual to cover both.

Although SAL successfully used the SDP35 in high-speed passenger service as well as on expedited freight and piggyback trains, Union Pacific found it unsuitable and relegated its entire fleet to freight service while its famous yellow E-units continued to handle passengers. With the July 1, 1967 Seaboard Coast Line merger, SAL units received passenger numbers 601-620 and also served SCL in both high-speed freight service and on passenger trains. With the arrival of Amtrak, SCL renumbered them into the freight series and numbers 1951–1970. Later in their SCL years, they were renumbered again and assigned into the heavy yard duty and assigned 4500-series numbers. ACL's lone unit was renumbered 1099 when the line acquired former MKT E8s. At the SCL merger, it was assigned number 600 and then later received SCL number 1950.

Louisville & Nashville's four SDP35s (1700–1703), ordered in spring 1964 to replace aging E and F units in passenger service, were completed and delivered without steam generation equipment installed, after approval of several passenger train cancellations from government regulatory agencies during the locomotives' assembly, leaving L&N with a surplus of passenger locomotives. After delivery L&N assigned the SDP35s to general freight service, installing radio control locomotive equipment in the steam generator compartment and using the engines in locotrol service until 1969. In 1966, when the EMD 645 prime mover superseded the EMD 567, the SDP35 was replaced in EMD's catalog by the EMD SDP40.

Original owners

::data[format=table]

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes	Total	35
Seaboard Air Line Railroad	20	1100–1119
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad	1	550
Louisville and Nashville Railroad	4	1700–1703
Union Pacific Railroad	10	1400–1409
::

Preservation

Seaboard Air Line Railroad 1114 is displayed by the depot in Hamlet, North Carolina. It is owned by the National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame.

References

• Louisville & Nashville Diesel Locomotives. Charles B. Castner, Ronald Flanery, Lee Gorden , 1997 TLC Publishing.

• Thompson, J. David. EMD SD35 and related models Original Owners. Retrieved on August 27, 2006

• National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame. Retrieved on May 27, 2009.

References

1. (1996). "A field guide to trains of North America". Houghton Mifflin.

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