Limon, Colorado local train with rare MK50-3, Utah Rail, locomotive

Caught the Limon local with a very rare MK50-3 (former MK5000C). Only six of these locomotives were made by MK Rail back in 1994. When it was built it was the most powerful single engine locomotive ever made at 5,000 horsepower. Originally powered by a Caterpillar, V12, 3612 diesel engine, the locomotive had issues from the start. Utah Rail bought then rejected the locomotives as they were unreliable. All six locomotives had their original engines swapped out with the tried and true EMD, 16 cylinder, 645F3B, rated at 3,500 horsepower.

[@jeffreydeeds9225]

Spectacular catch, Tom! Thanks for your patience and diligence to catch this train. The sounds of the slack being taken up, then extending again, and then taken up a second time were fantastic. With the incredible amount of noise the rolling stock was making, I presume the cars to be empty. Again, great catch and thanks much for sharing. I really enjoyed it.

[@travelingtom923]

Yes I believe they were empty.

[@HematomaFalafalPatrol]

Good catch, and I didn't know these guys were reengined. It seems odd to me that the 645F3B was what they were re-engined with given that it proved temperamental on the SD50. From what I understand pushing the 645 to 3500 horses was a stretch whether with 16 cylinders or 20. Rebuilding with a 645 at a 3000 rating like on the SD40 or a bigger 710 would have made more sense to me, but maybe someone who knows more could chime in

[@travelingtom923]

I totally agree. A extra 500 horsepower isn't going to do much for that locomotive except consume more fuel. I suppose if you are trying to sell that locomotive again to another railroad 3,000 hp isn't a great selling point during that time frame. You could put in a 710, as well as converting it to a AC locomotive. It would probably be a 4,000 HP locomotive nearly identical to the innards of a SD70M. You could put a ton of money into the conversion and still have a 4,000 HP locomotive that is unreliable. Not sure how much money was put into this locomotive as it is. But I am pretty sure you could have bought two SD50's or SD60's and still had money left over.

[@DomAZ]

Awesome capture (it's number 5002). That was nice to see the train passing thru different places.

[@RyRyWags]

Nice! Is that 5000 or 5002 on Utah Railway? You can delete my comment if I'm incorrect.

[@travelingtom923]

5002 thanks for the correction!

[@johnalder6028]

Nice video nice day for filming as well.

[@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530]

Excellently filmed, a fantastic video and a great freight train

[@travelingtom923]

Thank you.

[@TroublesomeSlateTruck]

Good Job.

[@FrigginKlar]

👍