EMD MP15DC

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• AAR	B-B
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Trucks	Blomberg B
Wheel diameter	40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve	55° (107 ft (32.614 m)
Wheelbase	24 ft 2 in (7.366 m) between bolsters; 9 ft 0 in (2.743 m) between axles in each truck
Length	47 ft 8 in (14.53 m) or; 48 ft 8 in (14.83 m); depending on build date
Width	10 ft 0+3⁄4 in (3.067 m)
Height	15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
Loco weight	248,000 lb (112,493 kg)
Fuel capacity	1,100 or 1,400 US gal; (4,200 or 5,300 L; 920 or 1,170 imp gal)
Lubricant cap.	197 or 284 US gal (746 or 1,075 L; 164 or 236 imp gal)
Coolant cap.	230 US gal (871 L; 192 imp gal)
Sandbox cap.	0.849 or 1.133 m3 (30.0 or 40.0 cu ft)
Prime mover	EMD 12-645E
RPM:
• RPM low idle	235 RPM
• RPM idle	318±4 RPM (normal); 517±15 RPM (switching 2 mode)
• Maximum RPM	904±4 RPM
Engine type	V12 diesel
Aspiration	Mechanical using a Roots blower
Displacement	645 cu in (10.57 L) / cyl; 7,740 cu in (126.8 L);
Generator	D32
Traction motors	4 × D77/78 DC
Cylinders	12
Cylinder size	9+1⁄16 in × 10 in (230 mm × 254 mm)
Gear ratio	62:15

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
Model	MP15DC
Build date	1974–1980
Total produced	351

EMD MP15DC
EMD MP15DC
	Mosaic 212, an EMD MP15DC Fort Meade, Florida
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
Model	MP15DC
Build date	1974–1980
Total produced	351
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• AAR	B-B
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Trucks	Blomberg B
Wheel diameter	40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve	55° (107 ft (32.614 m)
Wheelbase	24 ft 2 in (7.366 m) between bolsters; 9 ft 0 in (2.743 m) between axles in each truck
Length	47 ft 8 in (14.53 m) or; 48 ft 8 in (14.83 m); depending on build date
Width	10 ft 0+3⁄4 in (3.067 m)
Height	15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
Loco weight	248,000 lb (112,493 kg)
Fuel capacity	1,100 or 1,400 US gal; (4,200 or 5,300 L; 920 or 1,170 imp gal)
Lubricant cap.	197 or 284 US gal (746 or 1,075 L; 164 or 236 imp gal)
Coolant cap.	230 US gal (871 L; 192 imp gal)
Sandbox cap.	0.849 or 1.133 m3 (30.0 or 40.0 cu ft)
Prime mover	EMD 12-645E
RPM:
• RPM low idle	235 RPM
• RPM idle	318±4 RPM (normal); 517±15 RPM (switching 2 mode)
• Maximum RPM	904±4 RPM
Engine type	V12 diesel
Aspiration	Mechanical using a Roots blower
Displacement	645 cu in (10.57 L) / cyl; 7,740 cu in (126.8 L);
Generator	D32
Traction motors	4 × D77/78 DC
Cylinders	12
Cylinder size	9+1⁄16 in × 10 in (230 mm × 254 mm)
Gear ratio	62:15
Maximum speed
Performance figures
Maximum speed	65 mph (104.6 km/h)
Power output	1,500 hp (1,119 kW)
Tractive effort	62,000 lbf (275.79 kN)

The EMD MP15, sometimes referenced as MP15DC, is a 1,500 hp (1,119 kW) diesel–electric road switcher locomotive model produced by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between 1974 and 1980. It was equipped with a V12 12-645E engine sporting a Roots blower. The length was either 47 ft 8 in (14.53 m) or 48 ft 8 in (14.83 m) depending on the build date.^[1]

The early MP15 and the SW1500 were similar in appearance and applications. They were fitted with the same engine in a similar appearance. The primary difference is the MP15's standard Blomberg B trucks.^[1]

Development

Switchers up to the SW1500 had been restricted to AAR type A switcher or Flexicoil lightweight trucks, both with a 96 in (2,438 mm) wheelbase. In 1973 60 special order Mexico-only SW1504s were built on a slightly longer frame, allowing EMD's standard Blomberg B trucks, with a 108 in (2,743 mm) wheelbase, to be used. In EMD's eyes (among others) this made the new locomotive a road switcher rather than a pure switcher, since it was capable of road speeds up to 60 mph (97 km/h) or so. The new model MP15DC designation thus meant Multi-Purpose locomotive, 1500 hp, DC generator. Originally the locomotive was simply designated the MP15; the arrival of the alternator/rectifier MP15AC in 1975 changed the name.

With the success of the MP15, there was a demand for a model with an advanced AC drive system. The MP15AC replaced the MP15DC's DC generator with an alternator producing AC power which is converted to DC for the traction motors with a silicon rectifier. The MP15AC is 1.5 ft (457 mm) longer than an MP15DC, the extra space being needed for the rectifier equipment. The alternator-rectifier combination is more reliable than a generator, and this equipment became the standard for new diesel-electric locomotive designs.

The MP15AC is easily distinguished from the DC models. Instead of the front-mounted radiator intake and belt-driven fan used on all previous EMD switchers, these have intakes on the lower forward nose sides and electric fans. Side intakes allowed the unit to take in cooler air, and the electric fans improved a serious reliability issue found in its earlier DC sisters.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Engine

The MP15 used a 12-cylinder version of the 645E series engine developing 1,500 hp at 904±4 rpm. Introduced in the SW1500, this was a 2-stroke, 45-degree V type, with a 9 1⁄16-inch bore by 10-inch stroke, giving 645 cubic inches displacement per cylinder.^[2]^{: 0–1, 7B-SSS-1} The 645 series, introduced in 1966, was EMD's standard engine through the 1980s.^[3]^: 26^[4]

Original buyers

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
Alcoa	1	7
Alton and Southern Railway	1	1522
Altos Hornos de México	5	146–148, 159, 166
American Cyanamid	2	18, 19
Arizona Public Service	1	2
Bauxite and Northern Railway	2	15, 16
BC Hydro	3	151–153
Belt Railway of Chicago	4	533–536
Birmingham Southern Railroad	2	260, 261
Cambria and Indiana Railroad	2	19, 20
Chicago and Northwestern	15	1302–1316
Cities Service	1	109
Conn. Davison Chemical Division	4	121, 122, 131, 132
Genesee and Wyoming Railroad	2	45, 46
Georgetown Railroad	2	1011, 1012
Graysonia, Nashville & Ashdown Railroad	1	80
Gulf Oil	1	101
Houston Belt & Terminal Railroad	5	60–64
Industrial Minera México	2	383, ?
Kansas City Southern Railway	4	4363–4366
Kelly's Creek and Northwestern Railroad	2	1, 2
Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion Railroad	4	25–28
Louisville and Nashville Railroad	10	5030–5039
Manufacturers Railway	3	251, 252, 254
Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago	1	4
Missouri Pacific Railroad	62	1530–1554, 1356–1392	#1530 was the first MP15 built
North Louisiana and Gulf Railroad	4	42–45
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad	25	1574–1598	15 units sold to Union Pacific in 1985 (1574-1583 and 1584, 1587, 1588, 1596 and 1598). Repainted and numbered 1300-1314 by UP in 1987.
Point Comfort and Northern Railway	5	11–15
Quebec Iron and Titanium	2	9, 10
Reading Company	10	2771–2780	Equipped with remanufactured and renewed ALCO RS-3 truck assemblies, including the General Electric 752 traction motors.^[6] To Conrail as #9621–9630
Rockdale, Sandow and Southern Railroad	3	13–15
Southern Pacific Railroad	12	2690–2701
Southern Railway	88	2348–2435
St. Louis–San Francisco Railway	5	361–365	To Burlington Northern Railroad as #4000–4004, later renumbered to #1000–1004
St. Mary's Railroad	2	504, 505
Swift Chemical Company	1	1976
Tennessee Eastman	1	2
Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks	7	761, 771, 772, 801, 802, 821, 822
Texas and Northern Railway	2	998, 999
Texas City Terminal Railway	3	35–37	Split from the last Missouri Pacific order of MP15DCs. Painted and lettered for Missouri Pacific
Union Railroad	24	10–33
U.S. Steel	15	170, 955–968
Total	351

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Solomon, Brian (June 15, 2016). Field Guide to Trains: Locomotives and Rolling Stock. Voyageur Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7603-4997-7 – via Google Books.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d EMD MP15DC Locomotive Service Manual (2nd ed.). Electro-Motive Division. November 1980. 32S980.
^ ^a ^b Pinkpank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Books. pp. 10, 12–13, 48–50. LCCN 66-22894.
^ ^a ^b Pinkepank, Jerry A.; Marre, Louis A. (1979). Diesel Spotters Guide Update. Kalmbach Books. pp. 4–9. ISBN 0-89024-029-9.
^ Johnston, Howard; Harris, Ken (2005). Jane's Train Recognition Guide. HarperCollins Publishing. pp. 414, 425. ISBN 978-0-06-081895-1.
^ EMD MP15 Specifications for Order A-74741. Electro-Motive Division. September 1973. 8097-5.

References

Combs, John (2006). "Alaska Railroad Locomotive Roster". John's Alaska Railroad Web Page. Retrieved May 14, 2006.
"MP15DC specification page". GATX Rail Locomotive Group. Archived from the original on April 8, 2005. Retrieved April 5, 2005.
Hayden, Bob, ed. (1980). Model Railroader Cyclopedia-Volume 2: Diesel Locomotives. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-89024-547-9.
Strack, Don (2004). "Union Pacific Railroad Locomotive Model Quantities – All-Time (1934–2002)". Utah-Rails. Archived from the original on April 24, 2005. Retrieved April 6, 2005.

[:0-1] Solomon, Brian (June 15, 2016). Field Guide to Trains: Locomotives and Rolling Stock. Voyageur Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7603-4997-7 – via Google Books.

[service_manual-2] EMD MP15DC Locomotive Service Manual (2nd ed.). Electro-Motive Division. November 1980. 32S980.

[pin73-3] Pinkpank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Books. pp. 10, 12–13, 48–50. LCCN 66-22894.

[pin79-4] Pinkepank, Jerry A.; Marre, Louis A. (1979). Diesel Spotters Guide Update. Kalmbach Books. pp. 4–9. ISBN 0-89024-029-9.

[joh05-5] Johnston, Howard; Harris, Ken (2005). Jane's Train Recognition Guide. HarperCollins Publishing. pp. 414, 425. ISBN 978-0-06-081895-1.

[6] EMD MP15 Specifications for Order A-74741. Electro-Motive Division. September 1973. 8097-5.

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EMD MP15DC

Contents

Development

Engine

Original buyers

See also

Notes

References