EMD MP15AC

Infobox Locomotive
name=EMD MP15AC
powertype=Diesel-electric

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caption=CP 1422. ex-SOO 1552, nee Milwaukee Road 486 MP15AC.
gauge=RailGauge|ussg
locale=North America
poweroutput=1,500 hp (1,120 kW)
builder=General Motors Electro-Motive Division
builddate=August 1975 – August 1984
totalproduction=246
buildmodel=MP15AC
nicknames=Little Beaver
The EMD MP15AC is a 1,500 hp (1,120 kW) diesel switcher/road-switcher locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between August 1975 and August 1984. 246 examples were built, including 25 for export to Mexico, and four built in Canada. The MP15AC was a development of the earlier MP15DC model, but replaced the earlier model'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 its predecessor. 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 its earlier DC sisters.

Railroads that originally bought MP15ACs were the Southern Pacific, Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT), TFM, Conrail, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and the Milwaukee Road. Former Milwaukee Road units are now owned by the Soo Line (Itself an American operating subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific); those not painted in the Canadian "Golden Beaver" scheme, have worn a Soo Line patch job; those wearing it are often called "Bandits". Six former Milwaukee units returned to "home rails" in 2008, serving the growing regional Wisconsin & Southern Railroad WSOR in Milwaukee, Madison, and Horicon. In addition, Union Pacific has bought many examples on the used locomotive market.

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