Greetings All,
Locomotive Spotlight #5-2022
Conrail MP15DC #9624
Welcome to another locomotive spotlight. Today I'm dipping my toe once again into the post April 1st, 1976 era as we take a look at the 1:1 and 1:87 scale Conrail MP15DC #9624.
Some Prototype Information
On April 1st the Consolidated Rail Corporation, Conrail, took over the operations of seven bankrupt Northeast railroads. Included in the Conrail takeover was the Reading Railroad, a once proud coal and passenger hauler and an innovative RR that provided a well respected customer based "Bee Line Service" introduced in 1966.
The Reading Railroad (pronounced Redding) also known as the Reading Company was founded in 1833 and lasted until the April 1, 1976 creation of Conrail at which time the Reading had been bankrupt since 1971.
Here is a 1970 photo of a Reading train at Hagerstown MD.
Reading Norfolk Southern Heritage Unit at Lynchburg, VA in 2017 showing the Bee Line Service logo.
The Reading RR, reporting marks RDG, conveyed ten EMD MP15 switch engines #s 2771 - 2780 to Conrail's opening day roster of 4,877 locomotives. The units would be renumbered to CR #s 9621-9630.
So What is an EMD MP15DC
The MP15 series were the final EMD end cab switch engines introduced to replace the EMD SW1500 in the mid 1970s. Introduced as the MP15 the designation changed with the introduction of AC technology.
Here is ex RDG Conrail MP15DC #9624 at Reading PA in 1987.
Photo by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. courtesy of Creative Commons.org
The EMD MP15DC was a bit longer than the earlier SW series at 48-feet and also featured a bulkier and boxier car body and cab, even more-so than the updated car bodies of the SW1500 and SW1000.
The MP15DC was built through 1980 and ultimately sold some 351 units, and turned out to be the best selling model of the series.
Of note, EMD actually considered the MP15DC a true road switcher rather than just a yard switcher. While it carried the look of the latter, internally it was indeed a small road switcher that also offered 62,000 pounds of starting tractive effort and 48,800 pounds continuous (using General Motors' D77 traction motors).
The MP15DC came with a multiple unit (MU) option (allowing more than one unit on the head-end to be controlled from the lead cab) as well as the ability to operate with dynamic brakes (another feature which EMD would install if requested).
Ex RDG Conrail MP15DC #9624 at Reading PA in 1987.
Photo by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. courtesy of Creative Commons.org
Photo by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. courtesy of Creative Commons.orgThe locomotive also utilized Blomberg trucks as had been featured on the SW1500 variant for Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México, doing away with AAR and Flexicoil trucks used on the SW1500 and earlier models.
Model Information
Our Conrail MP15DC is an Atlas Master Series model that was purchased as part of the great train store haul on June 03, 2022. Here it is as purchased.
A completed 9624 at the Terminal Yard engine terminal gives us a good look at the details of this locomotive.
What a difference a decade makes!!!
The years 1966 to 1976 were amazing for the amount of changes that occurred in the RR industry. In 1966 the NYC and PRR are preparing their fleets for a merger that mayor may not take place. The New York Central discontinues its named trains in 1967 and the 20th Century Limited makes its final run in December, 1967.The New York Central - Pennsylvania Railroad merger takes place in February, 1968. The New Haven is forced into the newly created Penn Central in January, 1969. Penn Central is bankrupt in June, 1970. Amtrak takes over most inter city passenger service in May, 1971. Seven bankrupt northeast class one railroads are joined together to form the quasi government backed Consolidated Rail Corporation.
Here is the Conrail MP15DC #9624 with the SW1500 working the Bedford Turn with a mix of early and later Conrail rolling stock.
Final Thoughts
With the amount of model railroading possibilities between 1966 and 1976 what's a train-aholic like myself to do? I find the NYC, PC and early CR years fascinating. I have a small amount of CR rolling stock and motive power and plenty of equipment from their predecessor roads to put together some early Conrail consists.
While I prefer the May 1976 Conrail my CR locomotives and rolling stock don't necessarily reflect the prototype for this era. But if I don't get caught up in the prototype details this seven engine consist looks pretty cool to me!
Coming soon the Conrail MP15DC #9624 couples up to a string of TOFC flats in Terminal Yard. Next installment will feature the TOFC cars that also came from the great train haul of June 03, 2022.
Sources and Additional Reading:
Trains of the 1970s Kalmbach Publishing.
Thanks for reading!!!
See you soon!!!
The occasional time shifts on the N.Y.C.T.L. allow us to see a nice range of locomotives and rolling stock from the pre-PC merger to Conrail! The MP15DC is a great looking locomotive! Thanks for the background information about these units and about the Reading! The #9624 looks good working the N.Y.C.T.L. both in photos and video! The mixed seven unit consist looks pretty sweet!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ralph!!! It's a slippery slope moving past the April 1st 1976 date!
DeleteIt's nice to see the NYCTL becoming ofage, as they say. While we enjoy our PC era trains, it's always good to have a 'different' look on the railroad.
ReplyDeleteYour background work is always fascinating and a great read with documentation. Both the PC and CR would be proud of your due diligence.
The seven engine consist looks great on the high line, I'm sure runs great!
Thanks again for another Locomotive Spotlight!
thank you Sir Neal!! Glad you enjoyed the foray into the post 1976 era!!!
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