Prototype. By the 1970s railroads began using their own shops to rebuild GP7s and GP9s for light-duty work, such as switching or making transfer runs. General Motors Electro-Motive Division designed the GP15-1, essentially a road switcher version of the firm’s MP15 switcher, to compete with these rebuilding programs.
A new GP15-1 was available only with the trade-in of an older Geep. Electro-Motive remanufactured the older diesel’s trucks, traction motors, and main generators for use on the new locomotive.
The 1,500-hp GP15-1 diesels had a normally aspirated (non-turbocharged) engine. An AC version (GP15AC) and turbocharged version (GP15T) were also available.
The first 25 GP15-1s were delivered to the Chicago & Northwestern in 1976. Receiving 100 GP15-1’s in 1979, Conrail had the largest fleet of these rebuilt Geeps. Many GP15-1 diesels remain in service today on railroads around the country.
All the dimensions of the Atlas N scale GP15-1 match prototype drawings in the January 1990 Model Railroader.
All the GP15-1’s handrails are separately applied and made of flexible engineering plastic. These parts have in-scale profiles.
Paint coverage on the model is smooth and lettering placement is correct per prototype photos. Painted details include the fuel filler cap and emergency shut-off on the side sill (painted red), and the cab window frames (painted silver.) All handrails are blue, although some prototype photos show Conrail GP15-1’s with the handrails at the stairwells painted white.
A printed-circuit (PC) board is mounted on top of the frame and has a golden white light-emitting diode on each end to illuminate the headlights, which operate according to the locomotive’s direction.
The GP15-1 is easy to convert to Digital Command Control. Simply loosen the screws at each end of the frame and remove the PC board. Then replace the PC board with an appropriate drop-in DCC decoder and tighten the screws. Both the Digitrax DN163A2 and the Train Control Systems ASD4 are examples of decoders that will work with this model.
After this brief break-in period, the GP15-1 had a starting speed under .5 scale mph at 3.5 volts. The model accelerated smoothly to a top speed of 80 mph at 12 volts. This speed is the same as that for one of the gear ratios available on the prototype.
The N scale GP15-1 easily negotiated 9¾” curves. Thanks to its eight-wheel electrical pickup, the model’s headlight didn’t flicker as I ran the Atlas GP15-1 through no. 4 turnouts.
With its accurate details and smooth performance, this GP15-1 is an excellent N scale replica of its light-duty prototype.
Price: $79.95 (undecorated $74.95)
Manufacturer
Atlas Model Railroad Co.
378 Florence Ave
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlasrr.com
Road names (two road numbers): Conrail, Burlington Northern, California Northern, Chicago & North Western, CSX, St. Louis-San Francisco, Missouri Pacific, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific
Features
Blackened metal RP-25 contour wheels in gauge
Body-mounted Accumate magnetic knuckle couplers at correct height
Drawbar pull: .48 ounces
Eight-wheel drive and electrical pickup
Five-pole skew-wound motor with dual brass flywheels
Minimum radius: 93/4″
Weight: 3 ounces
I have this locomotive that came in a trainman line starter set that i purchased a few months back to get back into model railroading. the set as whole is very impressive but the loco definately shines!
and it easily pulls 15 n scale cars with no problems.
Great job Atlas!
It's very impressing. It has details many HO locos don't. At first sight it appears like a HO loco. Fantastic. Things like this loco takes a lot of people to change to N scale.
Just got my MoPac, BEAUTIFUL! Cant wait to get my FRISCO!
I'm a 'Doubting Thomas'. I considered purchasing this GP before reading your articleand after reading your article, I will make the purchase and get back to you with my results……Thank You, Bill Sowka.
Just got my second GP15-1 Diesel with Conrail road name.
They look and run great. The best part was the price from Walthers, so low I picked up another…Check it out, WOW!
This is a nice little engine for the price.
I have just started a small collection of HO stuff. I think I want to start an N scaled collection as well. No reason I can't have both right? 🙂
Fantastic detail job from Atlas, and low speed running
sounds truely impressive !
My wife bought me an Atlas Trainman starter set for Christmas to get me back into Model Railroading. My BNSF GP15 easily pulls my now 10 car train which is more than MR stated it would pull according to their tests. Thanks Atlas, very nice model.
Too bad it does not come with a DCC chip on board. I hate having to hunt though the online shops for a decoder. Our shop is so back woodsy I am surprised they can find the door to get out at night….
sounds good to me only snag i run pennsyvania.
I bought a used one and convertered it to dcc the only problem I had was I had to take off the shims off the light board and put them on the dcc board, but the engine is the best switcher I have now. smooth UP shame to dirty it up.
great locomotive. i had mine running for 5 hours at a show pulling variuos loads. no problems at all. and it looks great.