Conrail was the largest owner of EMD GP15-1's, receiving 100 units between July and December 1979, placing them into series CR 1600-1699. All were equipped with an Automatic Train Control box and had a normal aspirated inertial air filter. They also had a radiator cooling fan arrangement like those of regular road switchers, using electric fans rather than the unreliable belt driven type. All the units were equipped with MU capabilities and cab signals, allowing the locomotives to work road assignments as well as yard and local duty anywhere on the system.

It seemed as if Conrail assigned these locomotives to some areas more other than others. For example, in Eastern Pennsylvania during the late 1990's a number of GP15-1's were assigned to Lancaster and Lansdale. However, Conrail assigned them only occasionally to Harrisburg, Reading, or Allentown. Even though EMD designed the GP15-1 for road service, hauling regular merchandise freights, Conrail disliked using them in such service, preferring to use them light duty work on locals. Of course, there probably were exceptions. In 1998, Conrail repainted CR 1699 for Operation Lifesaver duty.

Comprehensive EMD GP15-1 Roster

The roster below is comprehensive for Conrail's GP15-1 between their rebuilding in 1976 and the last unit's retirement in the 1990s, and contains all predecessor units of the locomotive class that Conrail inherited. If numbers are missing from the roster, Conrail intentionally left them open. It does not contain retirement dates and dispositions due to their complex nature. All the units were retired prior to June 1999. Special thanks to Martin Baumann for supplying most of the roster information.

               Builder's
CR #   Built   Number   
========================
1601   07/79   
1602   07/79
1603   07/79
1604   07/79
1605   07/79
1606   07/79
1607   07/79
1608   07/79
1609   07/79
1610   07/79
1611   08/79
1612   08/79
1613   08/79
1614   08/79
1615   09/79
1616   09/79
1617   09/79
1618   09/79
1619   09/79
1620   09/79
1621   10/79
1622   10/79
1623   10/79
1624   10/79
1625   10/79
1626   10/79
1627   10/79
1628   10/79
1629   10/79
1630   10/79
1631   10/79
1632   11/79
1633   10/79
1634   10/79
1635   11/79
1636   10/79
1637   11/79
1638   11/79
1639   10/79
1640   11/79
1641   11/79
1642   11/79
1643   11/79
1644   11/79
1645   11/79
1646   11/79
1647   11/79
1648   11/79
1649   11/79
1650   11/79
1651   11/79
1652   12/79
1653   12/79
1654   12/79
1655   12/79
1656   11/79
1657   11/79
1658   12/79
1659   12/79
1660   12/79
1661   12/79
1662   12/79
1663   12/79
1664   12/79
1665   12/79
1666   12/79
1667   12/79
1668   12/79
1669   12/79
1670   12/79
1671   11/79
1672   11/79
1673   11/79
1674   11/79
1675   11/79
1676   11/79
1677   11/79
1678   11/79
1679   11/79
1680   11/79
1681   12/79
1682   11/79
1683   12/79
1684   12/79
1685   08/79
1686   08/79
1687   08/79
1688   08/79
1689   08/79
1690   08/79
1691   09/79
1692   09/79
1693   09/79
1694   09/79
1695   09/79
1696   09/79
1697   09/79
1698   09/79
1699   09/79   Repainted 1998 Operation Lifesaver