According to American Rails the MP15 locomotive series had no MU capability. In photos the unit has MU cables and the data sheet states it has 62:15 gears. Why wasn't it able to MU??
Indianapolis Railroad - Indy Rail! Route of the Brickyard Flyer! Established 1976.
They are able to MU, and were built that way.
TrAcKr76 According to American Rails the MP15 locomotive series had no MU capability. In photos the unit has MU cables and the data sheet states it has 62:15 gears. Why wasn't it able to MU??
Milwaukee Road would assign a MP15AC to the Waukesha Branch that departed the Mainline at Brookfield Wisconsin. When the Patrol came in nightly they would MU the MP15AC at the front and attach the cars from Waukesha on the back and away they would go.
It was an option. The ones we had were built without it.
TrAcKr76According to American Rails the MP15 locomotive series had no MU capability. In photos the unit has MU cables and the data sheet states it has 62:15 gears. Why wasn't it able to MU??
I finally looked at the actual American Rails page. It appears to note that it was MP15DCs, not ACs, that had no MU capability.
That blanket assertion seems strange to me since there is an illustration listed as being "MP15DC"s on that page which shows two locomotives coupled cabs out. Without MU, switching with this consist would essentially involve dragging one of the engines. That seems like a high price to have a cab at each end of a consist. Did any railroads install MU on MP15DCs later in their lives?
The MP15DC was designed because railroads sought a switcher that could work on the road. Here, MU capability is an asset, and it was offered. All Class One units had it.
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