Seaboard System (SBD) Railroad Diesel Locomotive Roster

Home » Appalachian Railroads » Seaboard System (SBD) Railroad » Seaboard System (SBD) Railroad Diesel Locomotive Roster

Diesel Locomotive Roster of the Seaboard System (SBD) Railroad

Seaboard System Railroad

Below is a diesel locomotive roster for the Seaboard System (SBD) Railroad, organized by manufacturer and then by model. This roster includes the number of units the SBD owned for each model. There are numerous websites, books, and archived reference materials that include the details of each individual locomotive.

This Seaboard System (SBD) diesel roster is compiled from the inherited fleets of the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL), Louisville and Nashville (L&N), Clinchfield Railroad (CRR), Atlanta and West Point (A&WP), and Georgia Railroad (GA) at the time of the 1982 consolidation. It also includes new locomotives purchased specifically for the Seaboard System. 

Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

  • MP15T: 20 locomotives. (Purchased by SBD) A versatile switcher model for yard and local freight service.
  • SW7/SW9: 44 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) Older switcher units used for industrial and yard duty.
  • SW1500: 15 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) More powerful switchers used for heavier yard work.
  • GP7: ~100 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL and L&N) Many of these older road switchers were in various states of retirement or rebuilding.
  • GP9: ~150 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL and L&N) A large portion of the inherited road switcher fleet.
  • GP16: 149 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) These were rebuilt GP7/GP9 units from the SCL.
  • GP38AC: 50 locomotives. (Inherited from L&N) L&N’s variant of the GP38, often used in coal-hauling service.
  • GP38-2: 79 locomotives (Inherited from SCL) and 70 locomotives (Inherited from L&N). A large, reliable fleet of road switchers.
  • GP40: ~100 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL and L&N) Fast freight locomotives that were a key part of the SCL and L&N fleets.
  • GP40-2: 78 locomotives (Inherited from SCL), 27 locomotives (Inherited from L&N), and 4 locomotives (Inherited from Georgia/A&WP). A large number of these were received from predecessors.
  • SD35: 35 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL and L&N) Older, six-axle units.
  • SD40: 114 locomotives. (Inherited from L&N) A reliable fleet for heavy freight service.
  • SD40-2: 116 locomotives (Inherited from SCL) and 124 locomotives (Inherited from L&N/CRR). This was the SBD’s most numerous high-horsepower locomotive.
  • SD45: 46 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) Six-axle, high-horsepower units.
  • SD45-2: 15 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) An updated SD45.
  • SD50: 81 locomotives. (Purchased by SBD) These were acquired new for the SBD fleet, serving as high-horsepower road power. 

General Electric (GE)

  • U18B: 15 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) Lighter-weight units for local freights.
  • U25B: 12 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) Early GE “U-boats”.
  • U30B: 12 locomotives (Inherited from SCL) and 4 locomotives (Inherited from L&N). An early 3,000hp model.
  • U33B: 38 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) Six-axle U-boats.
  • U36B: 108 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) A large fleet of powerful freight units.
  • B23-7: 73 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) Reliable units acquired in the late 1970s.
  • BQ23-7: 10 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) Unique variant with an extended cab for crew.
  • C30-7: 105 locomotives (Inherited from SCL) and 44 locomotives (Inherited from L&N). Six-axle, high-horsepower units.
  • B36-7: 120 locomotives. (Purchased by SBD) A significant order of new four-axle units for SBD. 

American Locomotive Company (ALCO)

  • C420: 27 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL/ACL) Versatile four-axle road switchers.
  • C628: 18 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL/ACL) Powerful six-axle units.
  • RS-11: 15 locomotives. (Inherited from ACL) Medium-horsepower road switchers. 

Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW)

  • S-12: 55 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL) Switchers from both the ACL and SAL.
  • AS-616: 63 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL/ACL) Powerful road switchers. 

Fairbanks-Morse (FM)

  • H16-44: 15 locomotives. (Inherited from SCL/ACL) Road switchers from the FM “Hood” series. 

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

Contact Us

Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the railroads or model railroading.

Go back

Your message has been sent

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org