Spotted this unit in Union today while I was working. Is this an MP15? It appears larger than the usual SW1500's that normally come through here. Sorry, I'm not good at identifying diesels. Maybe someone could trace it's heritage as well. Pat Moreland, Union Mo.
According to the Helm Roster it is a former Mexican Railroad NdeM SW1504. I had never heard of that locomotive model before. Nice catch. Bob Wintle Parsons, Ks.
Ok, here's what wikipedia says: The EMD SW1504 was a 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. The type was sold only to Mexico's national railroad, Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México; 60 examples were built between May and August 1973. With the breakup of NdeM, the locomotives have passed to the variety of successor railroad operators in Mexico, some have been sold to leasing companies in the USA. The SW1504 was fundamentally a SW1500 mounted on EMD's Blomberg trucks, instead of the Flexicoil trucks or switcher trucks available on the SW1500. The Blomberg truck, universally used on EMD's larger four-axle units, was larger than the Flexicoil truck and required a 2 ft (610 mm) increase in overall length. These locomotives were in many respects a transitory design between the SW1500 and EMD's later MP15DC. The spotting clues are the Blomberg trucks and the ventilation slots in the large box on the long hood between the rear stack and the front of the cab. Disclaimer I know that Wikipedia has a history of being inaccurate, but it's the easiest way to find info in a hurry. Also the railroad info on there seems to be some what to fairly accurate.
Catchy Color - looks nice! Thanks for sharing, Pat. Man, looks like it could plow snow with that fan!
Thanks for your help and comments guys. I've never heard of an SW1504 either. What a rare bird! I was hoping, and I knew it was a long shot, that it might be an MP15 with Frisco heritage. Marre/Sommers book Frisco in Color states that the MP15's were five feet longer than the SW1500's, and to me, this unit looks longer than an SW1500. I like the paint scheme as well. If you're modeling a large urban area, one of these lumbering around industrial spurs would be an eye catcher, in my opinion. But I'm sure none of the model manufacturers offer an SW1504. Thanks again, Pat Moreland Union Mo.
Even if it was an MP15DC, it has no chance at frisco hood. Dead give away: the box in front of the cab.
Any idea what the purpose is of that rectangular box with the louvers in front of the cab? Thanks, Bob and Ethan, for doing some research on this unit. And though I wouldn't teach a history lesson based on Wikipedia, it does seem to have accurate information about locomotives, both steam and diesel. Pat Moreland, Union Mo.
According to Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives by Greg McDonnell, it's an air-filter box. Rich
