GP15 question

[CNW 6000]

What is the difference between the GP15 and GP15-1?  Is it conceivable that there'd be a GP15-2?  Why or why not?

[scottychaos]

There is no difference between the GP15 and GP15-1, because the GP15 doesnt exist! ;)

there were only three variants of the GP15-1 that were built new by EMD.

GP15-1

GP15T

GP15AC 

It was called a "dash-1" rather than a dash-2 because it wasnt part of the dash-2 line.

The  GP15T does not have it's T because of "tunnel motor",  the "T" stands for turbo, not "tunnel motor"..even though it has the same air intake arrangement as the SD tunnel motors. none of the GP15 varients were ever "tunnel motors" in the sense of the SD40T-2 and the SD45T-2.

there was never a "GP15" or a "GP15-2"

There may be locos floating around today called "GP15-2" but if so, the dash-2 designation is due to rebuilding..it wasnt a dash-2 when new.

Here are a few I caught a few weeks ago..ex-Conrail/NS units going for rebuilding at American Motive Power in Dansville, NY:

Scot

 

 

[CNW 6000]

I guess I was getting at: could a GP15-1 be upgraded with a "-2" upgrade like the SD40 to SD40-2?

[snagletooth]

 The way i always understood it was the GP15 series was originally planned  as a locomotive built from any usable trade in parts from early Gp' and F's. It was a tax break as it used enough parts to be considered rebuilt, not new. Hence GP15-1, an upgraded GP7, but not to -2 standards. The GP15T, as already stated, is a turboed version, and the GP15AC were equippted with an AC alternater (as oppossed to traction motors, much like a GP38AC) that were built new, not from rebuilt parts.

[scottychaos]

I guess I was getting at: could a GP15-1 be upgraded with a "-2" upgrade like the SD40 to SD40-2?

yes, it could..but it wasnt..not by EMD as a new model anyway.

Scot

[Newyorkcentralfan]

Not mentioned is that the GP15T is an eight cylinder engine while the -1 and the AC are twelve cylinders.

[CNW 6000]

So the chassis is too dated to rebuild then generally?

[beaulieu]

So the chassis is too dated to rebuild then generally?

No, the frame is new, NS I think just found them a little low on power for how they wanted to use them.  

[CNW 6000]

It would be interesting to see just how eco-friendly someone could make one. 

[Anonymous]

you have three gp15 model types the first is the gp15ac that BN (slsf),CNW, and MP purchased the louvers behind the cab identify this model .Next is the GP15-1 which MP(Mopac) and conrail purchased no louvers dash 2 w/ anti climber .finally there is the gp15T which only Chessie (CSXT) purchased and is the only model that had turbocharger and dynamic brakes and dash-2 w/anti climber. The Gp15ac,gp15-1 are similar but the gp15t is the real highbreed of the gp15 models series.if you see pictures of  these units you will notice the differences . These locomotives were used on travelling switch engines or TSE because they had a standard cab with a tiolet something the MP15dc,mp15dc didnt .Alot of the railroads used traded in older locomotives to lower the cost Emd offered a two for one depending on the trade in and how nuch could be refurbished toward the new unit. Finally Dash2 is  to specify the introduction of solid state wiring which reduced the amount of electrical wiring  into the locomotive design. and increased reliability.

[carnej1]

 It has always been my understanding that the GP15-1 used a rebuilt generator (dc) from a GP7/9 trade in and had the older, non modular electronics. The GP15AC(12-645 Roots Blown engine like an Sw1500) and GP15T (8 cyl. Turbo engine) had Alternators and Dash 2(modular) electronics. I believe the same is true for the 3 MP15 (Mp15ac. MP15dc, Mp15t) variants cataloged during the same period.

NOTE that all of these locomotives had DC traction motors (there were no AC motored Diesels in North America at that time and actually to this day there are no AC switchers in NA (but there are some in Europe and other parts of the world)).

[oltmannd]

 It has always been my understanding that the GP15-1 used a rebuilt generator (dc) from a GP7/9 trade in and had the older, non modular electronics. The GP15AC(12-645 Roots Blown engine like an Sw1500) and GP15T (8 cyl. Turbo engine) had Alternators and Dash 2(modular) electronics. I believe the same is true for the 3 MP15 (Mp15ac. MP15dc, Mp15t) variants cataloged during the same period.

NOTE that all of these locomotives had DC traction motors (there were no AC motored Diesels in North America at that time and actually to this day there are no AC switchers in NA (but there are some in Europe and other parts of the world)).

Mostly right.   The GP15-1 had a DC main generator.  But, it did have modular electronics.  The control system was pretty much a gussied-up battery field excitation system on modular cards - many of them unique to the GP15-1.  The AC and T models had AC main gens with the full complement of Dash-2 cards.

So, in reponse to a previous question, you couldn't upgrade a GP15-1 to a GP15-2 ala an SD40 because you don't have the AC main gen to start with.  That's a big bucks item that probably wouldn't be worth the cost to pursue.

[oltmannd]

It would be interesting to see just how eco-friendly someone could make one. 

There is no hope for the 12-645E being eco-friendly, except at sea level on a cool day, unless soot and smoke are eco-friendly!

It would make a good rebuild platform for a hybrid or multi-engine gen set scheme, though.

[CNW 6000]

I was thinking of some kind of hybrid when I said that.

[elvis]

Scott,

This is my first heavy research for a model and I'm working on my skills. Can you identify this model. I believe its an AC. Notice the 4 stack exhaust. Also how can I find the MP history on it? I'm curious as to why the numbering is changed from 1677 to 677. cn you tell me how to find the informaiton for future work?

 

[BaltACD]

elvis

Scott,

This is my first heavy research for a model and I'm working on my skills. Can you identify this model. I believe its an AC. Notice the 4 stack exhaust. Also how can I find the MP history on it? I'm curious as to why the numbering is changed from 1677 to 677. cn you tell me how to find the informaiton for future work?

No pictures - no explanations.

[LensCapOn]

oltmannd

 

It would be interesting to see just how eco-friendly someone could make one. 

 

There is no hope for the 12-645E being eco-friendly, except at sea level on a cool day, unless soot and smoke are eco-friendly!

Alco fans so wish they were...

[ATSFGuy]

Why did GP15's have a see through grill like the SD40T-2/SD45T-2's had?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

It's borrowed from EMD's export designs.  That's the intake for cooling air for the radiators.