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Western Railroad Discussion > One of a Kind?Date: 03/11/25 07:53 One of a Kind? Author: swaool Spotted yesterday (3/10/2025) in the BNSF yard at Burlington IA was BUGX 5000, which most of you will recognize as the former MK-50-3 demonstrator, later DM&E 5000. Jeff Van Cleve photo, my collection. This unit was created at M-K from ATSF SD45B 5501, which itself was a rebuild of ATSF SD45 5581, nee-ATSF 1181 (32557, 12/66). I've attached the only shot I have of ATSF 5501; it's the unit with its doors open behind the tan van which also has its doors open. Slide mount says JAN 84, from back in the day when you could park on the right-of-way at Summit (and get your vehicle in everyone's shots). I'm also including a rescan of the entire interesting consist which was GP40X/SD45/SD45B/SD45B/SD45. There was a pusher set of GP30/30/35 on the rear. I'm guessing this might have been a pet coke train? The hoppers were loaded.
Anyway, to get back to the BUGX unit, anyone know where it was headed? TIA for any info. mike woodruff north platte ne    Date: 03/11/25 08:00 One of a Kind? MPEX 5000 Author: cozephyr MPEX 5000, SD50M-3, was on BNSF at Denver, CO, 10 December 2008. Thanks, Mike, for posting a March 2025 photo of this rare unit.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/25 08:01 by cozephyr.  Date: 03/11/25 09:52 Re: One of a Kind? MPEX 5000 Author: hawkfather Here's another shot of 5501 taken 1/18/84 at San Berdoo
John Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/25 09:53 by hawkfather.  Date: 03/11/25 10:13 Re: One of a Kind? MPEX 5000 Author: MILW86A Per a local source at Burlington its going to Middletown, IA.
MILW86A Date: 03/11/25 10:39 Re: One of a Kind? MPEX 5000 Author: ShortlinesUSA Yep, a lot of BUGX units going to storage in Middletown to rust in peace. It's a secure facility so at least they won't get graffiti and every railfan artifact taken "for safe keeping."
Posted from Android Date: 03/11/25 18:50 Re: One of a Kind? MPEX 5000 Author: santafe199 What an interesting beast! And it has direct connections to two of the three railroads I worked for during my career (Santa Fe and DM&E)…
Posted from iPhone Date: 03/12/25 10:14 Re: One of a Kind? MPEX 5000 Author: GP25 Looks like they took the Cab from an MK5000C unit.
Did the MK5000C get scapped? Jerry Martin Los Angeles, CA Central Coast Railroad Festival Date: 03/12/25 12:05 Re: One of a Kind? MPEX 5000 Author: ShortlinesUSA Just the same type of MPI-fabricated cab used on this unit. No MK5000Cs were harmed in creation of this unit.
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