MK5000 s

[UK Colin]

Hi Everyone,

Greetings from the UK. I'm a railway enthusiast of many years but am fairly new at the American railfan game. I'm hooked on your freight trains, we have nothing like them here in the UK. 

I have just watched a DVD, which must be a few years old, of the Utah Railway's MK5000s hauling coal over Soldier Summit. I have a number of railroad reference books I have managed to get via SPV and Amazon and, although the MK5000s are mentioned, I cant find out what eventualy happened to them. I know that the Utah Railway has gone but were the MK5000s scrapped or do they survive some where?

I would be grateful for any information you can give me.

Thanks

Colin

[nanaimo73]

Morrison-Knudsen built the 6 MK5000C locomotives during 1994 and 1995, with Cat engines and Kato generators. MotivePower (formerly Morrison-Knudsen) rebuilt them during 2003 as MK50-3 locomotives, with EMD engines and generators from retired SD50s.

They still operate on the Utah Railway.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?mid=398  

[broncoman]

Does anyone know how reliable they have been since they have been made into virtually SD50s?  It looks as if those trucks are something MK came up with.  Are they any better or worse than a HTCR II?

[beaulieu]

Does anyone know how reliable they have been since they have been made into virtually SD50s?  It looks as if those trucks are something MK came up with.  Are they any better or worse than a HTCR II?

The trucks are MLW Hi-Ads as used on late model Montreal Locomotive Works locos, after the demise of Alco. 

[dldance]

Utah RR is still alive and working the hill. Also some industrials around Salt Lake City.  Their base of operations has moved from Helper to SLC.

dd

[UK Colin]

Thanks Guys,

I knew that the Utah Railway had been taken over by Genesee & Wyoming Inc but I did not realise it was still operating as The Utah Railway. Thanks to the internet and you guys I'm now a bit wiser!

I'm glad that the MK5000s are still alive and well, they make a wonderful noise that reminds me of the 2nd generation diesels we had here in the UK, Class 37s in particular.

Thanks for your help.

Colin 

 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The MK5000C could be considered an attempt to Morrison-Knudsen/MPI to break into the mainline freight locomotive market.  5000 HP on DC traction motors was pushing the limits of the technological envelope at the time.  Couple that with a different prime mover (Cat 3516)and main alternator and it's not too surprising that nobody bought them.  They would have been oddballs almost anywhere.