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A Question about MP15s

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A Question about MP15s
Posted by techguy57 on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 8:57 AM
Quick prototype question: The Con-cor model picture has the hood sloping toward the cab, but the actual UP engine I see there is no slope. Is this common and is there a reason? (I will post this on the Trains mag forum as well).

Mike
techguy "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity. Lick it once and you suck forever." - Anonymous
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Posted by Randy Stahl on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 9:01 AM
The Milw MP15AC did not have the sloping rear hood. I think the DC versions may have.
Randy
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 11:02 AM
The only slope I see is on the back of the aircleaner box.
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Posted by techguy57 on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 12:07 PM
The DC I've seen doesn't have the slope either. There is a lowered area with rungs to it See the picture on the upper right of the following page:

http://www.trainweb.org/railfanchicago/Northwest%20Burbs%20Gallery.htm

I took this picture at the UP office in Crystal Lake. Sorry there aren't more pictures up on the site yet.

Mike
techguy "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity. Lick it once and you suck forever." - Anonymous
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Posted by ericsp on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 6:38 PM
I don't remember if UP had any MP15s before it took over Southern Pacific. I don't think they did. So those MP15s you are seeing are probably ex-SP. Here is a page with photos.

http://espee.railfan.net/spmp15dc.html

According to that page SP had a larger air filter that resulted in the box in front of the cab.

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Posted by adrianspeeder on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 7:35 PM
K-Line had a good model of them, i have about five. I like the MP15, kinda like the switcher that was all growed up.

Adrianspeeder

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Posted by edblysard on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 7:40 PM
Pre SP merger...
MP15DC, 92 units, most from CNW and MP.

MP15AC, 37 units, EMD #115 , demo sold to GRR as 1013, retired, rebuild and leased to UP, returned to Helm 3/94
MKT #s 56 thru 59
MILW #s 434-465

Both MP15 D and AC units have the slight slope in front of the cab.
Some of the MoPac MP15 DC have a rather odd looking box around the bottom of the stacks that can hide the slope from ground level, it is a exhaust silencer.

(source, Union Pacific Switchers and Slugs, by Don Strack)

For fans of switch motors, and UP, this is a excellent book...has a great chapter on my favorite ugly duck...the SW10, a home built switcher rebuilt from their SW9s and 12s, and most of the UP TR5 calf and cows.

By rebuilding these, UP put off buying the MP15, and the SW15, getting all of these through leases and mergers.

Ed

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Posted by M636C on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 9:29 PM
Back in 1977 I saw the then new MP15DC units of the TRRA, and I'm pretty sure they had a very small filter box and a noticeable slope up from the cab. These were the most basic MP15DCs I ever saw, basically SW1500s with Blomberg trucks. They were painted plain black with small yellow lettering, no money wasted there, either.

Peter
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Posted by ericsp on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 10:40 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Both MP15 D and AC units have the slight slope in front of the cab.

Except for Southern Pacific's MP15s and MP15ACs. I does look like they have a small area of slope. However, most of the slope on these locomotives have the air filter box.
MP15

MP15AC

These came out rather small, below are their addresses.
http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/mp15_photos/2693_sp-mp15dc-bob_dengler.jpg
http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/mp15_photos/2718_sp-mp15ac-keith_belk.jpg

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

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