EMD GP15D
Encyclopedia
The GP15D is a four-axle B-B switcher
built by MotivePower Industries and Electro-Motive Diesel. It is supplied with a Caterpillar
3512 (called a 12-170B15-T2 by EMD) V12
prime mover which develops a total power output of 1500 hp. To date, only 10 units have been produced by EMD, all of which were manufactured during June of 2000. The GP15D is also a hood unit
with lowered long and short hoods based on MotivePower Industries' earlier MP1500D locomotives. The changes between the MP1500D and the GP15D are primarily in the control electronics, making them easier to use than the older model.
Although the GP15D is marketed as a switcher, it has a top speed of 70 mph (113 km/h), making it suitable for road switcher
duties as well. The GP15D is also similar in appearance to the contemporaneous GP20D
, except that the 10 GP15D units produced to date do not have dynamic brakes.
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
built by MotivePower Industries and Electro-Motive Diesel. It is supplied with a Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
3512 (called a 12-170B15-T2 by EMD) V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
prime mover which develops a total power output of 1500 hp. To date, only 10 units have been produced by EMD, all of which were manufactured during June of 2000. The GP15D is also a hood unit
Hood unit
A hood unit, in railroad terminology, is a body style for diesel and electric locomotives. On a hood unit, the body of the locomotive is less than full-width for most of the locomotive's length, with walkways on the outside of the locomotive. In contrast, a cab unit has a full-width carbody for...
with lowered long and short hoods based on MotivePower Industries' earlier MP1500D locomotives. The changes between the MP1500D and the GP15D are primarily in the control electronics, making them easier to use than the older model.
Although the GP15D is marketed as a switcher, it has a top speed of 70 mph (113 km/h), making it suitable for road switcher
Road switcher
A road switcher is a type of railroad locomotive used for delivering or picking up cars outside of a railroad yard. Since the road switcher must work some distance away from a yard, it needs to be able to operate at road speeds, it must also have high-visibility while it is switching, and it must...
duties as well. The GP15D is also similar in appearance to the contemporaneous GP20D
EMD GP20D
The GP20D is a four-axle B-B switcher built by MotivePower Industries and Electro-Motive Diesel. It is supplied with a Caterpillar 3516 V16 prime mover which develops a total power output of . To date, only 40 units have been produced by EMD, all of which were manufactured during June of 2000...
, except that the 10 GP15D units produced to date do not have dynamic brakes.
Original Buyers
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIT Group/Capital Finance | |
|
|
| Total | 10 | ||