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Nostalgia & History > MPI MemoriesDate: 01/13/20 19:26 MPI Memories Author: Nomad I grew up in Pocatello, ID, which was (almost) always a one-railroad town. Fortunately, the monotony of armor yellow was often broken up by our being down the line from Boise's local locomotive rebuilder. Originally Morrison Knudsen, now a division of Wabtec, the place created a steady stream of motive power variety passing through Poky. Some of it was old junk headed west, some was shiny, newly-rebuilt (and later, newly-built) power headed east. It was always good to see something different.
With the news that manufacturing there will come to an end in 2020, I thought I'd post some of the stuff I saw over the years. #1: 1992 had a newly rebuilt GP28M for BN and a Tri-Rail F40PHC-2C (says my notes). An MK rep was aboard and invited my brother and I up into the cab of these two for a look around...I don't know if that sort of thing ever happens anymore. #2: In 1996, two of MK's lease fleet SD45's were on hand. This one was a former CR of the "P" variety. As far as I know this was a unique paint scheme for MK's leasers. #3: The other SD45 on hand had more obvious lineage. Both of these would be owned by Wisconsin Central soon. Date: 01/13/20 19:32 Re: MPI Memories Author: Nomad 4. Still in 1996, one more member of the MK lease fleet was passing through.
5. 1996 brought one of MK's first foray (that I know of) into building brand new locomotives with a 5000-HP MK5000 demonstrator passing through. Six were built; three painted for SP and three as MK demonstrators. 6. A lot of retired CSX junk seemed to go to MK. Here, a Chessie-painted GP38 was headed that way... Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/20 19:56 by Nomad. Date: 01/13/20 19:40 Re: MPI Memories Author: Nomad 7. ....along with a Seaboard-painted GP40. (Still 1996 for both CSX photos.)
8. And last one for 1996, a freshly rebuilt SP45T-2 for KCS is on its way East. 1996 was a busy year for MK. 9. Jumping ahead to 2001, MK had scrapped the MK5000 program but the six units built got a new life when they were sold to Utah Railway. They didn't work out too well as MK5000's and were eventually rebuilt into SD50 equivalents. Date: 01/13/20 19:55 Re: MPI Memories Author: Nomad 10. 2007 - a pair of MP20C-3's were on their way south to Pacific Harbor Lines in LA.
11. 2007 - Metro-North GP40FH-2 12. Jumping ahead again to 2017, an MP14B was passing through on its way to Texas. Sadly, railfanning in Poky will be getting a little less interesting this year. Date: 01/13/20 21:30 Re: MPI Memories Author: atsf121 Fascinating variety, bummer they are closing up the Boise shop. I loved peeking over the fence the couple of times I was there.
Nathan Posted from iPhone Date: 01/14/20 07:41 Re: MPI Memories Author: NYSWSD70M Very nice series!
For the record, the first "all new" units to come out of Boise were the 1991 MBTA F40PHM-2C's. Frames were fabricated at MK with some parts coming from EMD or EMD vendors. Thanks for posting! Posted from Android Date: 01/14/20 12:09 Re: MPI Memories Author: ctillnc In #7, that's an ex-SAL GP40 delivered a year before SCL in the "Jolly Green Giant" paint. Too bad SCL didn't adopt JGG.
Date: 01/14/20 12:41 Re: MPI Memories Author: NYSWSD70M ctillnc Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > In #7, that's an ex-SAL GP40 delivered a year > before SCL in the "Jolly Green Giant" paint. Too > bad SCL didn't adopt JGG. I agree. The "patched" units looked great. They even used a green SCL logo! Posted from Android |