The F9's first distinguishing feature is that the car body filter grille is ahead of the front porthole, according to "The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide." That is only the first distinctive sign of the F9, however. The F9 locomotive features five vertical louvers and a 48-inch DB fan, according to Pennsylvania Railroad Phase Charts. It has a 9-foot truck wheel base, and a 40-inch wheel diameter. The F9 locomotive is 50 feet, 8 inches long. The F9 model also had subsequent siblings, called the F9A and F9B. Although both qualify as F9s, the F9 base model is eight inches longer than the F9B.
Several external subtleties are common to both the F9 and its locomotive predecessor, the F7. However, trainspotters can compare the the two modelsto distinguish the production changes made by General Motors. The F9 has a split drip strip, whereas that of the F7 was rounded. Unlike the F7, the F9 has no rear overhang. Its cabin stands 15 feet high and 10 feet, 7 inches wide. The EMD F9 also has 30-inch minimum turning radius, which could be apparent if trainspotters spot an F9 as it rounds a corner.
The F9 features a 1750-horsepower, 16-cylinder, two-stroke diesel engine that propels the train up to 65 mph. The F9 is noticeably faster than the F7, because the F7's engine has 250 less horsepower. The F9 locomotive engine carries 567-cylinder displacement. The F9 could produce 56,500 pounds of starting effort. The EMD retained 40,000 lbs. of continuous tractive effort at 9.3 mph. The F9's Winton engine had a minimum rpm of 275, and a maximum rpm of 835. This level of power allowed GM to promote the F9 as a more cost-effective way to efficiently haul freight.
The EMD F9 has many names. Union Pacific's "500 series," for example, was designated as F9, according to the company's locomotive listings from 1968, 1969 and 1971. Even GM's GP7M and GP9M models were designated as F9s in the company's 1971 Locomotive Reference data book. In its heyday, the F9's prominence made its detection easier. At least 18 different North American railroads purchased at least one F9 at one point or another. Due to its production number and its historic impact, the F9 is an enduring monument in locomotive history.
