Athearn #G74527 MP15AC DCC Ready LIRR #163

Description

LI FEATURES: Operating front and rear ditch lightsTwo different paint schemesSinclair antennasHorn style per prototype road numberRunning from Manhattan to Suffolk County in New York, LIRR is the oldest railroad in the US still operated under its original name and charter. It is also the busiest commuter railroad in North America. In 1977, LIRR acquired MP15AC units #150-172.ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES: #154Solid blue and yellow scheme#163Solid blue and yellow scheme#157Bluegreyyellow scheme#158Bluegreyyellow schemeLOCOMOTIVE FEATURES: Full cab interiorWire grab ironsCoupler cut leversSee-through cab windowsFlexible rubber trainline hoseFlexible rubber MU hosesWindshield wipersLift ringsBlomberg-B trucksSander linesDirectional constant lightingWalkway TreadFine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearanceHeadlight brightness remains constantSeparately applied photo-etched metal and injection molded detail partsDetailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipesDCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connectorAccurately-painted and –printed paint schemesMcHenry® scale knuckle couplers – Kadee® compatibleFully-assembled and ready-to-runScaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and moreGenesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrainAll-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flowWheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling powerPackaging securely holds model for safe storageReplacement parts availableMinimum radius: 18″ NEW FEATURES: Operating ditch lights (if equipped)Operating ground lightsNewly designed motor is more powerful and quieter than beforeDCC-ready models feature 21-pin plugPROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATIONThe EMD MP15 is a light road switcher that was built between 1974 and 1980. It came in two designs, the MP15DC and the MP15AC. It was billed as replacement for the EMD SW1500The MP15DC’s standard Blomberg B trucks were capable of transition and road speeds up to 60 mph (97 km/h), allowing use on road freights. Soon there was a demand for a model with an advanced AC drive system. The MP15AC replaced the MP15DC’s DC generator with an alternator producing AC power which is converted to DC for the traction motors with a silicon rectifier. The MP15AC is 1.5 ft (457 mm) longer than an MP15DC, the extra space being needed for the rectifier equipment. The alternator-rectifier combination is more reliable than a generator, and this equipment became the standard for new diesel-electric locomotive designs.The MP15AC is easily distinguished from the DC models. Instead of the front-mounted radiator intake and belt-driven fan used on all previous EMD switchers, these have intakes on the lower forward nose sides and electric fans. Side intakes allowed the unit to take in cooler air, and the electric fans improved a serious reliability issue found in its earlier DC sisters.In the early 1970s railroads were starting to convert to AC power, the six largest buyers, Milwaukee (64), Southern Pacific (58), Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (45), Nacionales de México (25), Long Island (23), and Louisville & Nashville (10), were all buying AC road locomotives. 36 more units were sold to 8 other customers.