EMD GP15#Rebuilds
{{Short description|Model of 310 American 1500hp Bo′Bo′ diesel-electric locomotives}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = EMD GP15 (-1/T/AC)
| powertype = Diesel-electric
| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| driverdiameter = {{cvt|40|in|sigfig=4}}
| minimumcurve = {{cvt|120|ft|sigfig=3}}
| image = UnionPacificGP151.jpg
| caption = Union Pacific Yard (UPY) 742, a GP15-1 idles in Union Pacific's Global 1 intermodal yard in Chicago, IL.
| builder = General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
| aarwheels = B-B
| cylindercount = 12 (-1/AC)
8 (T)
| primemover = EMD 12-645E (-1/AC)
EMD 8-645E3C (T)
| rpmrange low = 235
| builddate = June 1976 – March 1982 (-1)
October 1982 – April 1983 (T)
November & December 1982 (AC)
| buildmodel = GP15-1
GP15T
GP15AC
| maxspeed = {{cvt|53|mph}} (with 65:12 gearing)
{{cvt|70|mph}} (with 62:15 gearing)
{{cvt|76|mph}} (with 61:16 gearing)
{{cvt|82|mph}} (with 60:17 gearing)
| locoweight = {{convert|246000|lb|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} (-1)
{{cvt|244000|lbs|sigfig=6}} (T)
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|47000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}}
| over couplers = {{convert|54|ft|11|in|abbr=on}}
| width = {{cvt|10|ft|3+1/8|in}} (over hand rail supports)
| height = {{cvt|15|ft|2+1/2|in}}
| poweroutput = {{convert|1,500|hp|MW|2|abbr=on|lk=in}}
| fuelcap = {{convert|2400|impgal|abbr=on}}
| lubecap = {{cvt|135|usgal|sigfig=3}}
| coolantcap = {{cvt|210|usgal|sigfig=3}}
| sandcap = {{cvt|56|cuft|sigfig=3}} (basic)
{{cvt|72|cuft|sigfig=3}} (special)
| totalproduction = 310 (-1)
28 (T)
34 (AC)
| locale = United States
| rpmrange idle = 300
| rpmrange max = 904
| enginetype = V12 2-stroke diesel (-1/AC)
V8 2-stroke diesel (T)
| aspiration = Roots blower (-1/AC)
Turbocharger (T)
| cylindersize = {{convert|9.1|x|10|in|0|abbr=on}} (-1/AC)
| displacement = {{convert|7,740|cuin|L|abbr=on}} (-1/AC)
| alternator = AR10 (AC)
| generator = AR10-D14 (-1/T)
| tractionmotors = 4×D77 (-1/T)
| t/m amps cont = 920 Amperes (with 62:15 gearing) (-1/T)
| transmission = diesel electric
| locobrakes = Straight air
| trainbrakes = Westinghouse 26L air brake
}}
The EMD GP15 is a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between June 1976 and April 1983. Intended to provide an alternative to the rebuilding programs that many railroads were applying to their early road switchers, it is generally employed as a yard switcher or light road switcher. There were 3 variants made: the GP15-1, the GP15T, and the GP15AC. The GP15-1 and GP15AC are powered by a 12-cylinder EMD 645E engine, which generates {{convert|1,500|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. The GP15T differs in that it uses a turbo charged 8-cylinder instead of the roots blown 12-cylinder to generate the same horsepower. The GP15AC differs from the others as it uses an AC alternator connected to the engine instead of a DC generator to drive the traction motors. The radiator section is similar to those found on the EMD SD40T-2 and EMD SD45T-2 "tunnel motors," leading some observers to incorrectly identify the units as such or as GP15Ts, and giving them the nickname "baby tunnel motors".{{cite book |last1=Foster |first1=Gerald L. |title=A field guide to trains of North America |date=1996 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |isbn=0-395-70112-0 |location=Boston |page=30}} A number of GP15-1s remain in service today for yard work and light road duty.
History and variants
= GP15-1 =
The GP15-1 was the most popular variant as it did not contain either of the newer technologies of the other two variants (turbocharging or AC control). EMD built a total of 310 units for American railroads in this variant between June 1976 and March 1982.
The Missouri Pacific Railroad purchased more units than the other three buyers combined. For spotting purposes, the MP models have a number of visually distinguishing features, though not all were applied consistently to the MP units:
- The MP units have a grab iron ladder mounted on both sides of the long hood end;
- MP's initial order of GP15-1s rode on Blomberg M trucks rather than the more common Blomberg B (all subsequent units were delivered with Blomberg B trucks) — and, while the standard Blomberg B truck carries two brake shoes per wheel, many MP units were equipped with only a single brake shoe per wheel;
- #1555–#1574 were outfitted with the standard 81" nose, while the remaining units (all built in December 1976 or later) came with an 88" nose;
= GP15T =
File:Apalachicola Northern GP15T 722.jpg
EMD built 28 examples of a variant, the GP15T, between October 1982 and April 1983. It was a very close cousin to the GP15-1, but used a turbocharger in order to generate more power from a smaller engine. Power was provided by an 8-cylinder diesel engine that generated {{convert|1,500|hp|MW|2|abbr=on|lk=in}}, the same as the GP15-1, but with four fewer cylinders.
28 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads. The Chessie System received the majority of them as C&O 1500–1524 (25 units), while the rest went to the Apalachicola Northern Railroad in Florida as AN 720–722 (3 units).
| class="wikitable"
! Quantity ! Notes | ||
| align="center"
|25 |1500-1524 | ||
| align="center"
|Apalachicola Northern Railroad |3 |720-722 | ||
| Totals | 28 |
|---|
= GP15AC =
File:UPY 722-EMD GP15AC (45880320755).jpg
The GP15AC is a variant built between November and December 1982. This model differs from the GP15-1 due to Missouri Pacific specifying new AR10 AC alternators instead of rebuilt D32 DC generators. The only external difference between the GP15AC and the GP15-1 is a straight side sill (shared with the EMD GP15T) not related to the transmission difference.
34 examples of this locomotive model were built in total: 30 for Missouri Pacific Railroad, and four for Venezuela's IFE.
| class="wikitable"
! Quantity ! Notes | ||
| align="center"
|30 | | ||
| align="center"
|4 | | ||
| Totals | 34 |
|---|
Rebuilds
Union Pacific has rebuilt 22 of their GP15-1's into GP15N
Preservation
In 2021, CSX donated GP15T #1507 (built 1982 as C&O #1507) to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.{{Cite web |first= |title=CSXT 1507 |url=https://borail.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/9D02B622-B241-4E22-936E-473733350660 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315200050/https://borail.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/9D02B622-B241-4E22-936E-473733350660 |archive-date=15 March 2024 |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=B&O RR Museum Archives}} It is the first GP15 class locomotive to be preserved.{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{cite web|title=GP15-1 specification page|work=GATX Rail Locomotive Group|url=http://www.gatx.com/rail/locomotive_group/GP15-1.asp|access-date=June 25, 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408101848/http://www.gatx.com/rail/locomotive_group/GP15-1.asp|archive-date=April 8, 2005}}
- {{cite web|title=The History of EMD Diesel Engines |work=Pacific Southwest Railway Museum |url=http://www.sdrm.org/roster/diesel/emd/history/ |access-date=December 14, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722194452/http://www.sdrm.org/roster/diesel/emd/history/ |archive-date=July 22, 2014 }}
- {{Marre, Pinkepank - Diesel spotters guide}}
Further reading
- Sperandeo, Andy. "The EMD GP15-1: EMD's down-sized road switcher." Model Railroader, January 1990, 110–115.
External links
{{commons category|EMD GP15-1 locomotives}}
- [https://archive.org/details/emd-gp15t-operators-manual-1st-edition-september-1982 EMD GP15T Operator's Manual]
- Sarberenyi, Robert. [http://www.trainweb.org/jaydeet/gp15.htm EMD GP15-1, GP15AC, and GP15T Original Owners]
{{EMD GPs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emd Gp15-1}}
Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of the United States
Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1976
Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States