Athearn Genesis - HO Scale - EMD MP15AC Diesel Locomotive - w/ DCC & Tsunami2 Sound - Union Pacific (UP) #Y1463 - Yellow/Gray/Red with Red/White Lettering, Stripes & Blue, Red/White Striped UP Shield Logo (Era: 2013+) (SKU 141-66364)
Available On: December 1, 2024
PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
The EMD MP15 is a light road switcher that was built between 1974 and 1980. It came in two designs, the MP15DC and the MP15AC. It was billed as replacement for the EMD SW1500
The MP15DC’s standard Blomberg B trucks were capable of transition and road speeds up to 60 mph (97 km/h), allowing use on road freights. Soon there was a demand for a model with an advanced AC drive system. The MP15AC replaced the MP15DC’s DC generator with an alternator producing AC power which is converted to DC for the traction motors with a silicon rectifier. The MP15AC is 1.5 ft (457 mm) longer than an MP15DC, the extra space being needed for the rectifier equipment. The alternator-rectifier combination is more reliable than a generator, and this equipment became the standard for new diesel-electric locomotive designs.
The MP15AC is easily distinguished from the DC models. Instead of the front-mounted radiator intake and belt-driven fan used on all previous EMD switchers, these have intakes on the lower forward nose sides and electric fans. Side intakes allowed the unit to take in cooler air, and the electric fans improved a serious reliability issue found in its earlier DC sisters.
In the early 1970s railroads were starting to convert to AC power, the six largest buyers, Milwaukee (64), Southern Pacific (58), Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (45), Nacionales de México (25), Long Island (23), and Louisville & Nashville (10), were all buying AC road locomotives. 36 more units were sold to 8 other customers.
MP15AC LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:
SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE
Union Pacific
Through mergers and lease agreements, UP acquired quite a few MP15AC’s. By the 2010’s, the paint was showing it’s age and UP started to repaint many of their locomotives. They added barrier stripes on the ends, added yellow frame stripes, and used a smaller lettering font size. Many can be found operating around yards and terminals.
UP FEATURES:
ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:
Looking for more Athearn MP-15 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!