Building ARR 1552 MP-15C by Patrick Durand October 2008

The Alaska Railroad obtained four EMD MP15C locomotives in 1993. Rated at 1500 horsepower they were assigned numbers above 1550 to avoid confusion with the former F unit fleet. Built in 1977, the former Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion Railroad #26 was builders number 776021-1 and was renumbered 1552 for the ARR.

The photo by Randy Thompson of 1552 on the fuel rack at the Anchorage Shops was the basis for my modifications to represent 1552 as of May 1997. These units have undergone changes with beacons, ditch lights, horns, plows and collected a lot of dirt over the last 15 years. Pick your prototype photo and date and then stick with it. All four MP15C locomotives were scheduled for retirement in the winter of 2008/09.

Base for this model is the Atlas Master Series Gold Item #9454 Alaska Railroad #1552 HO MP-15C Locomotive.

Start by salvaging horns from front of cab and moving them forward. Make a bracket of flat brass stock bent to an A frame shape and affix the two horns following the proto photo. The bracket is then mounted at the rear of the top radiator housing so the bell of the horns extends over the radiator to keep them thawed out. The old horn location will require a piece of styrene to simulate the old horn bracket extending from the front of the cab. At the same time trim back the extension on the front of the cab roof to represent a scale 2 or 3 inch overhang.

The firecracker antenna is mounted right on the front edge of the roof centerline. Another small teardrop shape antenna is about 12 inches to the left also on the front edge. The wire connections for these antenna extend down the front wall of the cab around the old horn bracket. The Stratolite Beacon is mounted on the cab roof centerline 50 inches from the front edge and can easily be made operational by installing a bulb through the cab roof since there is room below if you are careful about working around the back up light.

The canvas radiator cover is made from masking tape cut and folded to shape. This piece is shaped and then removed from the model and infused with thin ACC and allowed to cure. This fixes the shape and eliminates the adhesive on the tape from creeping with age. After weathering the canvas it is then applied to the front of the radiator with a small bit of GOO so it is removable anytime you might want to make a change.

The snow plow was only employed for a short time. I found one in my EMD junk box to which I added the new cutting edge per the proto photo. After it was applied the outer edges were trimmed to match the photo. Short MU stands with double connectors were added to the end platforms.

Two vertical hand grabs are added to the front edges of the hood. One on each side of the front radiator grill. These were not painted yellow but left bright or stainless steel color. These are 36" high.

Touch up paint used is CSX Blue and CNW Yellow.

Parts List:
Details West
SR-284 Speed recorder (Right rear journal under the cab)
BE 292 Bell (moved slightly back on top of hood)
RB 106 Stratolite Beacon (Centerline of cab roof
RA-157 Firecracker Antenna (center front edge of cab roof)