SD35 Diesel Locomotive

Prototype Information

The EMD SD35 rolled out in 1964 as a six-axle road unit built for heavy freight. Its 16-cylinder 567D3A engine delivered 2,500 horsepower, while Flexicoil trucks gave it the pulling power to handle long trains on steep grades. Railroads picked it as a tougher alternative to the GP35 and a solid upgrade from the earlier SD24.

Between 1964 and 1966, EMD turned out 360 SD35s. The Pennsylvania, Southern, and Norfolk & Western took the biggest fleets, using them to move heavy tonnage across their main lines. The locomotive sat in the middle of EMD’s lineup, bridging the gap between the GP35 and the 3,000-horsepower SD40.

Many SD35s stayed in service into the 1980s, with some later rebuilt or sold to short lines. A handful remain preserved today, showing how EMD refined the six-axle road-switcher into a standard freight hauler.