The SW1001 was developed because EMD's SW1000 model had proved unpopular among industrial railroad customers, as the heights of its walkway and cab eaves were much greater than those of earlier EMD switcher models. The overall height was similar, but the SW1000's roof was much flatter in curvature. Industrial railroads that only operated switchers often had facilities designed to the proportions of EMD's earlier switchers.[1]
The SW1001, in essence, placed the hood and powertrain of the SW1000 with the underframe and cab of the earlier SW1200. The EMD 645-series diesel engine had a deeper crankcase and oil pan than the SW1200's EMD 567-series engine. The engine had to be mounted on risers for sufficient clearance, raising the whole hood about 6 in (152 mm) above the walkway compared to the SW1000, and requiring a spacer under the hood. The cab was similar to that of the SW1200, but not identical; it is longer, and has a different window arrangement. The SW1001 uses the same pilot plates as the SW1000; given the lower frame height, these protrude above the walkway deck height, giving the most obvious SW1001 spotting feature.[1]
In Africa five were supplied to the Boke project in Guinea in the early 1970s and[2] 18 were acquired by the railways of Morocco (ONCF) in 1982 as type DI 500.[3] In Asia the Korean National Railway acquired 28 between 1969 and 1971.[2]
One was acquired in 1980 by Foster Yeoman (vehicle code Y44),[4] and another by Hanson Aggregates in 2000[5] both for use on quarry industrial sites in the England. They are based at Whatley Quarry and Merehead Quarry, both part of Mendip Rail operations.
Five were bought for the government railways of Saudi Arabia in 1981.[2]
Additionally 60 variants with a redesigned cab were built under license as the Renfe Class 310 for the railways of Spain between 1989 and 1991.
Rolling stock of Korail