Eastern Railroad Discussion > dakota minnesota and eastern

I saw a picture on here of a DM&E sd50 but it looked like a cross between an SD45 with a SD70M cab is this a one of a kind unit?

As I understand it ths is a real live kitbash unit. MPI took parts from several units to construct it.

The cab of DM&E SD50M-3 5000 is not an SD70M cab, but an MK5000C cab, which they picked up from Boise Locomotive's surplus equipment. Makes the beast even more interesting.

But given the 16V-645F3's bad reputation and poor performance, why put it in the rebuilt unit instead of, say, a 16V-645E3 or a 16V-710G3? I hope the unit will perform better than its SD50 counterparts.

JF

The MKC cab was put on home built Santa Fe SD45B 5502. It probably got an engine change or whatever MK called their four cylinder reduction from the 20-645, but other than that, it's a stock unit. No pieces or parts from other units.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson wrote:
>
> The MKC cab was put on home built Santa Fe SD45B 5502. It
> probably got an engine change or whatever MK called their four
> cylinder reduction from the 20-645, but other than that, it's a
> stock unit. No pieces or parts from other units.
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA


Were you present during the rebuilding?? Perhaps a grab iron or two was borrowed from another unit? Possibly an air valve? Your assurance does not past muster.