SW(eet) 1500

Prototype Monday 3

Ahhh... the EMD SW1500. It's my favourite engine. There's just something about it...

The EMD SW1500 was constructed directly after the SW1200 and was the builder's second model to employ its upgraded model 645 prime mover. As with the SW1000 (which was the first to use the 645 engine), the SW1500 featured a bulkier carbody and was a bit heavier from earlier models although its intended use remained the same, working light branch lines or in industrial settings. With the horsepower rating, weight, and top speed the switcher was essentially a road switcher (it offered nearly the same ratings as the GP7 released a decade earlier). Once again railroads found the SW1500 to their liking and many Class Is purchased the model, very likely due to its extra horsepower allowing it to be used in numerous applications. Today, SW1500s remain quite common doing the tasks they were originally intended for on large and small railroads around the country. from: http://www.american-rails.com/emd-sw1500.html

According to rrpicturearchives.net the Quebec Gatineau Railway (QGRY) has or had seven SW1500s:

Unit #	History	Model	Serial#
QGRY 1500	ex-PC 9534	SW1500	7355-25
QGRY 1501	Ex CR Exx PC 9508 SW 1500	SW1500	37066
QGRY 1502	Ex-PC 9580	SW1500	73622-21
QGRY 1504	ex-PC 9509	SW1500	37067
QGRY 1505	ex-PC 9538	SW1500	7355-29
QGRY 1506	ex-PC 9554	SW1500	7355-45
QGRY 1507	ex-PC 9519	SW1500	7355-10

 

On my layout I have one custom painted QGRY SW1500 numbered 1504 (see pics above). For additional switching, I'll also have some help from two Genesee & Wyoming Atlas HO Silver Series EMD MP15-DCs. The MP15DC replaced the SW1500 in EMD's catalog, and is superficially very similar to the predecessor model, using the same engine (a V12 EMD 645-series powerplant) in a similar design of hood and bodywork. The primary difference is the MP15’s standard Blomberg B trucks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_MP15DC

All three units have Soundtraxx Tsunami DCC sound decoders installed.