All rebuilt as MK50-3s, in service on the Kyle Railroad
The MK5000C is a 5,000 hp (3.7 MW) North American diesel-electric locomotive developed by MK Rail. At the time of its introduction in 1994, the MK5000C was the most powerful single prime mover diesel-electric locomotive ever made, a title it would hold for only for one year until GE Transportation released its competing 6,000 hp (4.5 MW) AC6000CW model in 1995.
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.
