Locomotive id question

[Mikeygaw]

I've spotten an Amtrak diesel on an MOW train, and have not been able to locate the unit on any of the Amrak rosters i use for reference.

[adrianspeeder]

I think that is the type of locos that ed wrangles down there in teeeeexas

Adrianspeeder

[oskar]

I think I have seen pictures of that kind and I belive they said a it was a GP15D





kevin

[chad thomas]

My Amtrak roster shows it as a MP15B

[CSXrules4eva]

Yes according to the 2005 edition of the Locomotive News and Rosters Amtrak 575 is a MPI GP15 it says it was rebuilt in 2004. The book also says that there are 10 of these units on the Amtrak roster. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile, Mikey, where exactly was that shot?

Larry

[locomutt]

Well people,I don't know what it is.
My Contemporary Diesel Spotters Guide shows GP-15s with the air intake on the
bottom of carbody; Not up high like the picture.
And MP-15s look a lot like regular SW-1500s

[Anonymous]

The locomotive is an MP15B built by MotivePower in Boise, Idaho. It looks just like an EMD GP15 because it is basically the same animal. Originally, EMD used MotivePower as a contractor to build the GP15 - which was in its catalog for a while - under the EMD brand name. From what I understand, MotivePower was free to market the unit to the rest of the world as theirs under the MP15B name, but in this country, it would be a GP15 and marketed by EMD.

Ok, now it gets muddy...sometime last year there was an announcement from MotivePower that they are building MP15's for Amtrak. I called EMD and asked about the supposed deal not to call it an MP15 in the U.S. and it wasn't supposed to be from MP. The answer was, "Well, that's the way we decided to do this sale."
My personal take on it is that the GP15 was being dropped from the EMD catalog and they didn't want to get involved, so they let MotivePower have it outright.

[Mikeygaw]

that was shot on the foot bridge over the NEC and Frankford yard that connects Wheatsheef Lane (sp?) between Frankford and Aramingo Ave, with a view of Frankford Jct. and the NJT/CSAO line the connects to the NEC at Frankford Jct. I tend to use the Frankford Ave entrance to the bridge, it's not far from where the EL leaves Frankford Ave., and the entrance on the other side tends leave way to much accessibility to the yard. And by the way, i'm usually there between 1 and 3 in the afternoon Moday through Thursday

[edblysard]

Yup, Adrian, same critter...
That is a MK1500D with a modified cab, its shorter, to clear the overhead wires...listed as a MP15B.

EMD has dropped the GP15 from the catalog, but still markets the GP20...

All of them, the MP15B, the MK1500D, GP15 and GP20, are Morrison Knudson, (then Motive Power Inc, now Boise Locomotive), products.

The GP15 and GP20 were built by Boise Locomotive under license from EMD as EMD “products”, the MP15B, MK1500D, the MK2000 AC and the MK1200Gs were sold strictly as MK products.

Look at the July issue of Trains and you will see another of their locomotive, the MK1200G.

The MP15B purchase by Amtrak was also in Trains a few issues back, maybe as far back as last year...

Ed

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

My Amtrak roster shows it as a MP15B

[:D]

[adrianspeeder]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

My Amtrak roster shows it as a MP15B

[:D]

[ericsp]

I noticed that the locomotive on the EMD website is a GP20D. Is not the GP15 we are talking about here actually called the GP15D? I supposed they have the D to disgui***he diesel from the LNG versions and to avoid confusion with the GP15 and GP20.
http://www.gmemd.com/en/locomotive/switcher/gp20d/

[edblysard]

The D stands for D/C traction motors...
The LNG versions carry a G at the end...
see the MP1200G in the July Trains

The New GP15 and the GP20 are both D/C...the 15 is 1500HP, the 20 is 2000 hp with dynamic brakes.

All of them have the Catapliier engines, with some EMD mods.

The GP15 is an exact copy of the MK1500D, was just catalogued as a EMD GP15...

Want to see one at work look at:
http://165.91.110.43/trains/NewBNSF/PTRA.htm
(not the big orange one, the ones to the right) my ride at work....
same as the MP15B, with a regular height cab.

MP also made a 2000 hpA/C unit, the MP6201, on a old SD 40 chopped frame with three axel trucks.
Now that rascal was fun to work with...loaded fast, kicked hard, stopped just as fast as it loaded up...


Ed

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomutt

Well people,I don't know what it is.
My Contemporary Diesel Spotters Guide shows GP-15s with the air intake on the
bottom of carbody; Not up high like the picture.
And MP-15s look a lot like regular SW-1500s

Yep, those Contemporary Spotters Guides aren't so contemporary any more... The new GP15D is different from the GP15-1, and the MPI MP15D (descendant of the MK1200G) is different from the EMD MP15/MP15DC/MP15AC!!!

Confused yet??? [%-)]

-Mark
www.fuzzyworld3.com

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fuzzybroken

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomutt

Well people,I don't know what it is.
My Contemporary Diesel Spotters Guide shows GP-15s with the air intake on the
bottom of carbody; Not up high like the picture.
And MP-15s look a lot like regular SW-1500s

Yep, those Contemporary Spotters Guides aren't so contemporary any more... The new GP15D is different from the GP15-1, and the MPI MP15D (descendant of the MK1200G) is different from the EMD MP15/MP15DC/MP15AC!!!

Confused yet??? [%-)]

-Mark
www.fuzzyworld3.com

You Betta Ya!!!!!![%-)]

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

It's all very confusing until you actually see them. The GP15D & GP20D are EMD locomotives in name only, being built by MPI and marketed by EMD. Ed is right, the new model designations are probably only to conform with prior EMD usage. It would be interesting to see what kind of designation EMD would use for the MP2000C, the six-axle switcher that Ed enjoyed so much: SD38D perhaps[:-^]

GE is equally guilty of recycling model designations, especially when it comes to various U-series export designs.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

It's all very confusing until you actually see them. The GP15D & GP20D are EMD locomotives in name only, being built by MPI and marketed by EMD. Ed is right, the new model designations are probably only to conform with prior EMD usage. It would be interesting to see what kind of designation EMD would use for the MP2000C, the six-axle switcher that Ed enjoyed so much: SD38D perhaps[:-^]

GE is equally guilty of recycling model designations, especially when it comes to various U-series export designs.

I know this isn't part of this subject, but I have always been curious about the name CSSHEGEWISCH -

So went and looked it up! This was a freight/storage station for Chicago SouthShore? And there is a town named Hegewisch - say that fast a few times! Am I close?

[nanaimo73]

WELL DONE MOOKIE ! I've been wondering about that too.[:)]

[Anonymous]

Hegwisch is a neighborhood on the southeast side of Chicago. The Chicago South Shore and South Bend commuter trains stop there.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

To Mook and all of the others who are wondering:
Hegewisch is the Chicago neighborhood in which I grew up (its closer to Indiana than to the rest of Chicago) and my first train rides were on the South Shore. Ford's Chicago assembly plant is about three blocks from my parents' house so I'm very familiar with auto-racks and high-cubes. Also used to have about a half dozen steel mills within 10 miles of home.