HO GP15T Locomotive with DCC & Sound, Apalachicola Northern #722 Overview
Apalachicola Northern was a 96-mile shortline running between Chattahoochee and Port Saint Joe, Florida. They rostered 3 unique GP15T's which they ordered from EMD in 1983. They featured a non-dynamic hood, turbo charged prime mover, nose mounted Gyra light, and canvas sunshades. Delivered in a bright yellow scheme, by the mid 1990's they received a vibrant dark blue paint job. By 2010/11, the GP15T's were purchased by the Genesee and Wyoming Group. Two (ex #720 and 722) were sent for use on their Bay Line Railroad in Alabama.
The EMD GP15-1 is a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between June 1976 and March 1982. Intended to provide an alternative to the rebuilding programs that many railroads were applying to their early road switchers, it is generally employed as a yard switcher or light road switcher. A total of 310 units were built for American railroads. A number of GP15-1s remain in service today for yard work and light road duty.
EMD built 28 examples of a variant, the GP15T, between October 1982 and April 1983. It was a very close cousin to the GP15-1, but used a turbocharger in order to generate more power from a smaller engine.