MoPac Power - SCREAMING EAGLES

MoPac Diesel Power - Second Generation
GP15-1, GP50, GP15 AC

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EMD GP15-1, GP50, GP15 AC
MoPac Diesel Power - Second Generation

MP 1707 - a GP15 AC on southbound UP freight on the former Missouri Pacific Houston-Brownsville line (near Bloomington); February '86 - © Gary Morris Photo

After many years of successfully bearing the weight of the company's hopes and aspirations on their backs, the aging MoPac Geeps were one by one beginning to fall. In a an age of C-C power and mile-long coal trains, there was still a need for the low horsepowered road switcher. EMD had the answer when it introduced the GP15 as a replacement for GP7's, 9's and 18's all over the country.

At the same time the Missouri Pacific also purchased the GP50, the successor to the very popular GP38-2, still versitile and with more horsepower.

Primed with Power - the 1970's-'80's

click on the thumbnails for a larger image

the GP15-1

MODEL	BUILDER	FIRST DELIVERY	FINAL DELIVERY	TOTAL
GP15-1	EMD	6/76	4/82	160 units

June 1976 saw the first GP15-1's delivered to MoPac.

Instead of the normal EMD 16-cylinder engine for this model, MoPac specified to have this group delivered with 12-cylinders rated at 1,500 hp... an unusual move made due to the fact that these locos were specifically to replace an aging yet indespensible fleet of GP7's, 9's and 18's throughout the system.

These rear vents on these engines were of a different design than other models offered by EMD which sometimes leads observers to mistakenly identified the Geeps as having 'tunnel motors' (as they had a similar appearance to the specialized locos used by mountain railways with many tunnels such as the Southern Pacific).

MP 1580 - © Brian Paul Ehni photo, used with permission.

GP15-1 1582 - sitting in the CHTT Roundhouse in Chicago Heights. April 1981. - ©JD Santucci Photo

MP GP15-1 #1582 - is at the diesel shop at Centennial Yard in Fort Worth, Texas in 1988. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo.

MP GP15-1 #1599 - is at the Centennial Yard diesel shop in Fort Worth, Texas in 1988. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo.

MP GP15-1 #1605 - sits on a storage track at Tower 55 as a Katy freight passes through. The track that the MOP unit is on, nor the two railroads no longer exist today. Picture taken in 1984. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo.

MP GP15-1 1605 - sits on a service track at Tower 55 in Fort Worth in March 1984. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo.

MP 1608 - © Brian Paul Ehni photo, used with permission.

GP15-1 1619 - observes damage to L&N MP1SDC 5029 at Yard Center Diesel Shop, December 198+ - "Tuch" Santucci Photo

MP GP15-1 #1634 - is ready for local service in San Antonio in 1986. - Steve Rude Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

MP GP15-1 #1634 - This unit isn't so odd in itself, but it does have a life-preserver (marked U.P.R.R.) stowed on the handrail; at Longview, Texas - J.C.T. Photo. Contact J.C.T. for a list Train Picture CD's for sale

Mo-Pac GP15 #1657 - is Brand New and has yet to turn a revenue mile in this photo. Note the lack of the firecracker antenna, the unit awaits the installation of radio equipment in Sedalia, Missouri. - Photographer Unknown/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

MP 1693 and 6007 - at Sosan Yard in San Antonio, Texas in 1981 - Jay Glenewinkel Photo

MP 1704 - caught in Houston, TX on 8/19/85 - photo from James Gilley collection

7/76 - MoPac buys the EMD SD40-2c, "c" was MoPac's designation of these units as being for coal train pool service.

1/78 - MoPac's first GE B23-7 is built.

the GP50

MODEL	BUILDER	FIRST DELIVERY	FINAL DELIVERY	TOTAL
GP50	EMD	11/80	1/81	30 units

MP 3500 - photographed in Fort Worth also in January 1983 - Mike Bledsoe Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection.

MP 3514 is seen at Little Rock, Arkansas on this first day of September, 1984. - © Ronald Estes, Rail Images/ T. Greuter Collection ·

11/81 - MoPac's first GE B30-7 is arrives on the roster.

the GP15 AC

MODEL	BUILDER	FIRST DELIVERY	FINAL DELIVERY	TOTAL
GP15AC	EMD	11/82	12/83	30 units

MP GP15-AC #1716 - is in San Antonio, Texas in 1987. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo.

MP 1722 - A group of GP15-AC's (#1715-1744) delivered in November 1982, would be the road's final aquistion in MoPac blue paint. MP 1722 shown here is parked at Wichita, Kansas on March 27, 1983 - © Ronald Estes, Rail Images/ T. Greuter Collection ·

Brand new GP15AC 1724 - waiting its turn to be placed in service at Yard Center Diesel, 12/82. - "Tuch" Santucci Photo

MP GP15-AC 1726 - along with a GP38 works local service in Fort Worth close to Tower 55 in March 1984. - Jay Glenewinkel Photo.

MP 1731 - A MoP train lead by a GP15-AC. Missouri Pacific was just one of many railroads that crossed the Mississippi River at Kentucky Street, into Millington, Tennessee,1983-84 - Elden Baker Photo, Trainwatching at Kentucky Street

Brand new GP15AC 1744 - waiting its turn to be placed into service at Yard Center Diesel, 12/82. - "Tuch" Santucci Photo

Featured Photographers:
Gary Morris, Glen Beans, Paul De Luca, Jay Glenewinkel, J.C.T., Steve Rude, J.D. Santucci, Bob Yanosey, Train Nutz, George Elwood, Railblazer, James E. Gilley collection, Elden Baker, Ronald Estes, Chris John, and Lee Berglund

Sources:
Missouri Pacific Diesel Power by Kevin EuDaly

Every effort has been made to get the correct information on these pages, but mistakes do happen. Reporting of any inaccuracies would be appreciated.


	trainweb.org/screamingeagle l Last Update to this page: 18 April, 2008

	All images & text © 2000-2008 T. Greuter / Screaming Eagles, unless otherwise noted. All Rights Reserved.