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ddechamp71
March 6th, 2007, 02:00 PM
Hello all, today I've a question dealing with the awesome DVD box "The Ultimate Tehachapi" from Pentrex, including 2 DVDs that display 8 hours (yes, eight!) of railfanning action in the Tehachapi Mountains.

At the beginning of the first DVD, maybe 3 minutes from the start, one can see a strange lashup at Kern Junction (and one can see this lashup again further in the DVD, somewhere between Bealville and the Loop if I remember).

This lashup is strange because of one of the units: basically a SD45 (chassis length, truck and fuel tank shape, flared radiators on the end of the long hood - but this loco is not a flared radiator SD70 because of what I wrote just before), but with a safety cab which is not exactly the same as the sample on a SD70/SD80/SD90: the nose's roof seems to be more sloped than what is provided on that types of locos, more looking like what is found on a DDA40X for example.

Furthermore, as far as I remember there's no input on this loco in the DVD, and I didn't see any marking on her, even not a leasing company logo (and the picture is too blurred to allow to read the road number). But this loco is unpossible to miss as she wears a deep blue paintscheme....

So today, my question, especially for those who watched this DVD, is: what are this loco history and features?

Thanks for all input!

Dominique, stinkin' cheese eater from France, modelling the Tehachapi Pass in Z scale (and wondering if I have to do some kitbashing on one of my SD45s:shade: )

Flash Blackman
March 6th, 2007, 02:11 PM
SD45X? But they didn't have safety cabs and are probably too old for this video anyway.

Deep blue color means lease unit?

Maybe some type of rebuild with the SD45 long hood added?

ddechamp71
March 6th, 2007, 02:22 PM
SD45X? But they didn't have safety cabs and are probably too old for this video anyway.

Deep blue color means lease unit?



No, I don't mean this. But I was puzzled by the lack of any marking matching this paintscheme.



Maybe some type of rebuild with the SD45 long hood added?

Possible, possible....The mistery remains unsolved!

Dom

stewarttrains98
March 7th, 2007, 08:17 AM
Could it possibly be a Sp unit that was considered as a Boise Built? Forget the exact model number they gave it but there where 3-5 of them built. Depending on when the footage was shot, it may be after SP got rid of them. Just my.02 worth.

SP 9811
March 7th, 2007, 12:42 PM
Thats the MK5000C. SP 501-503.
Here's some info I got from Wikipedia, I think this may be the unit in question...." One of the MK5000C cabs was used on DM&E (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DM%26E) 5000, a former ATSF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atchison%2C_Topeka_and_Santa_Fe_Railway) SD45B (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_SD45) rebuilt into a "SD50M-3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SD50M-3&action=edit)". This unit is still in service as MPEX 5000, and can be found in lease service on various railroads in North America."
With more looking I found this....
http://www.visi.com/~mfrahm/dme/roster/locos/6axle/SD50-3/5000.html (http://www.visi.com/%7Emfrahm/dme/roster/locos/6axle/SD50-3/5000.html)
Thom

Matthew Roberts
March 7th, 2007, 01:05 PM
I knew of the MK5000Cs, but that SD50M-3 looks ever wilder!

:ooh5qn: :ooh5qn: :ooh5qn: :ooh5qn:

ddechamp71
March 7th, 2007, 07:56 PM
OK guys, thanks a lot! That's exactly the locomotive I saw on that video! It's strange the video maker hadn't even a single word about it.....Furthermore as this video is awesome...

BTW, thanks for the input!:shade:

Dom

SP 9811
March 7th, 2007, 08:01 PM
OK guys, thanks a lot! That's exactly the locomotive I saw on that video! It's strange the video maker hadn't even a single word about it.....Furthermore as this video is awesome...

BTW, thanks for the input!:shade:

Dom

They probably didnt know what it was!:teeth: I have some videos that have some of the locomotive descriptions wrong:thumbs_down:

RRfan
March 22nd, 2007, 01:07 AM
Wen you said 8 hours of railroading i almost fell out of my chair

ddechamp71
March 23rd, 2007, 11:14 PM
Wen you said 8 hours of railroading i almost fell out of my chair

However, that's the truth!

http://www.pentrex.com/tutdvd.html

Dom