MK5000C
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| MK Rail MK5000C | |||||||||||||
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 ex-Utah Railway 5005 leading through Spanish Fork Canyon in June of 2010 | |||||||||||||
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MK5000C is a 5,000 hp (3.7 MW) North American diesel-electric locomotive developed by MK Rail. At the time of its creation, it was one of the most powerful diesel locomotives with one diesel engine, second only to the Soviet TE136, 2TE126, and 2TE136 (6000 hp).
In the early 1990s MK Rail, a long time locomotive remanufacturer, announced its plan to compete directly with Electro-Motive Diesel and GE Transportation by beginning its own high-horsepower locomotive program, starting with a 5,000 hp (3.7 MW) DC drive locomotive and continuing with 5,500 hp (4.1 MW) and 6,000 hp (4.5 MW) AC drive locomotives in later years.
In response to the MKRail program, GE announced the 6000 hp AC drive GE AC6000CW, and EMD announced the 5,000 hp (3.7 MW) EMD SD80MAC, and later the 6,000 hp (4.5 MW) EMD SD90MAC, both which were AC drive locomotives.
The MK5000C was powered by the 5000 hp Caterpillar V12 3612 diesel engine. This diesel engine remains one of the largest engine blocks used in rail service in North America. The Cat 3612 features a 280 mm (11.0 in) bore with a 300 mm (11.8 in) stroke and has a 1,121 cu in (18.37 L) displacement per cylinder, 13,456 cu in (220.50 L) total. The 3612 has dual turbochargers that are liquid aftercooled. The 3612 idles at 300 rpm and has a maximum speed of 1000 rpm.
The Caterpillar 3612 drove a Kato 16P12-27000 main alternator which was capable of handling 8400 amperes at 1315 V DC at 1000 rpm. The power generated by the main alternator drove 6 MK1000 traction motors, each with a gear ratio of 83:20 and connected to 40-inch (1,016 mm) wheels which allowed the MK5000C a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h). The MK5000C rode on two 3 axle Dofasco designed bolster-less trucks, the same that many Canadian MLW and GE designed locomotives ride on.
The first 3 MK5000Cs were 71 ft 2 in (21.69 m) long, while the last three were 73 ft 4 in (22.35 m) in length, all six were 15 ft 11+1⁄2 in (4.864 m) tall and 10 ft (3.0 m) wide. The MK5000C weighed 396,000 lb (180 t).
Like most modern locomotives, the MK5000C was microprocessor controlled, using an in-house designed system called the MK-LOC. This system monitored the performance of all aspects of the locomotive and controlled the power output as well as the traction control/adhesion of the locomotive. The MK5000C also had electro-pneumatic braking, provided by the EPIC 3102 air brake system which can be found on locomotives of other builders.
The MK5000C carried 5300 US gallons (20,100 L) of diesel, 246 US gal (931 L) of lubricating oil, and 320 gallons (1,210 L) of coolant. This coolant system was unlike that of most other North American locomotives, using a water/antifreeze mix; only a few Caterpillar-repowered switchers and the Electro Motive Division SD90MAC share this trait.
The MK5000C generated 118,000 lbf (525 kN) of continuous tractive effort, and produced around 35% adhesion on dry rail.