GM introduced the F9 in 1953 and the E9 in 1954. Both saw a power boost over their predecessors, the F9 from 1,500 to 1,750 horsepower and the E9 from 2,250 to 2,500 horsepower. Three F9s were about equal to four FTs while one F9 was about equal to one E1 or E2 even though the Es came with two engines while the Fs had only one.

This card shows Canadian Pacific FP7 1417, which was built in February 1952.

Unfortunately for those who love streamliners, the streamlined look was on its way out. The utility provided by a 1,750-hp GP9, including better visibility for the cab crew and walkways for switch crews, led railroads to buy 17 GP9s for every F9. Meanwhile, passenger service was declining, so GM sold less than a third as many E9s as it had E8s.

This card shows Canadian National FP9 6611, which was delivered in January 1955.

Canadian railroads were always a little behind the U.S. in trends, which may be why the last cards provided by Greg Palombo were for Canadian locomotives. By the time these locomotives were made, GM may have dropped the data card format in favor of this postcard format.

Note also that photographs replaced paintings on these cards. The EMD style department no doubt continued to exist but any artwork it produced was made less public than it had been in the late 1940s and early 1950s.