Here are a couple of recent NS sightings,,,, Starting with the "rail train" NS 910... : http://hhodnett.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=518249 Harold
Odd but true... the local switch job: a pair of SW1500's and a GP15-1: http://hhodnett.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=518250 Harold
A close up of a GP15-1 for those that have not seen it,,, very uncluttered roofline: http://hhodnett.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=518252 Harold
Early in the morning, NS train 350 heads eastbound: http://hhodnett.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=518254 Harold
Here's the power for train P84... an all ex-CR SD50 lashup! http://hhodnett.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=518255 Harold
I have caught a "triple con" lashup a few times now,,, It is interesting that NS got rid of most of their SD50's then they inherited the CR SD50's.. Harold
Harold, Interesting loco, that GP15-1 - where do they still have them, and what do they use them for, if you know?
The GP15-1's are interesting locos... I read in Trains magazine that NS was getting rid of 40+ of them. That'll leave about a dozen of them on the roster. They invaded this part of NC to take the place of the SD9M's that NS had on their East Carolina business unit. That should mean regular sightings of them around here! Harold
Is NS the only railroad the have GP-15's? I know these came from Conrail, but have never heard of other railroads having them. Were these sort of "developed specifically" for Conrail?
Not really. They GP15-1 was developed as an EMD factory alternative to GP7/9/18 rebuilds. They re-used the older DC generator and traction components to keep costs down (thus the -1 designation). First cataloged in 1976 , Chicago & North Western was the first buyer, then Missouri Pacific, Frisco, and finally Conrial. MP and CR opted for the inertial air filtration option . These have the familar blower duct, intake grills and dustbin hatch (straight from a GP38-2) Non-inertial units have rows of grills with air filters behind them (similar to early EMDs up to the 35 series), this system was standard (it was another way to keep costs down). C&NW and Frisco had non-inertial GP15-1s. MP also ordered GP15ACs in 1982. These could basically be called GP15-2s, as they use the AC alternator and rectifer transmission system all -2s use. MP ordered these with inertial air filters. In late 1982 EMD, in an effort to make the GP15 more fuel efficient, came up with the GP15T. This model uses a turbocharged 8-cyl 645 as opposed to a blower equipped 12-cyl 645. Chessie System ordered GP15Ts and specced dynamic brakes (a first for the GP15 line) and inertial air filters, and the shortline Apalachicola Northern order three GP15Ts with non-inertial air filters.
My very first cab ride was in a Frisco GP15-1 in Ft. Smith, summer of 1980, with the night switch crew. The "baby tunnel motor" was a workhorse, performing its chores easily. Frisco had its GP15s mostly on the Central Division, around Ft.. SMith, AR and Hugo, OK as replacements for the long-lived GP7s. At least one if not two CLass II/III lines now have GP15-1s on their roster, mostly ex-CNW. These little engines will work great on local chores, in-town switching, and over-the-road trains for regionals & shortlines. The black NS unit looks nice- first NS diesel I've seen that wears this scheme well.
They're getting around! California Northern had 14 of the 25 C&NW GP15-1s, they sent 3 back to UP and transferred 2 to subsidiary San Joaquin Valley. UP sold 3 C&NW GP15-1s to LLPX (1513-1515). Friscos GP15-1s of course went to BN and then BNSF, but a few have now been sold off as well... one is on the bay Coast Railroad (former Eastern Shore) in a snazzy paint job. Two are on Progressive Rails Wisconsin Northern as well. Conrails GP15-1s went to NS and CSX. CSX traded 12 to LLPX in 2000. NS recently held a private auction for 40 of thier GP15-1s. In January 2007, these units will go to their respective buyers (should be interesting to see who got them!) As of yet, UP still has all of MPs GP15-1s and GP15ACs (the ones not wrecked anyway). CSX still has the former C&O GP15Ts, and AN still has their 3 as well.. Come January, we'll find out where those 40 NS GP15-1s are going.