SD90MAC.com "When all works well, the units are actually bullet proof and can pull incredible amounts of tonnage at track speed." CaseyJones1533 While generally considered a failure by railroaders and railfans alike, the SD90MAC-H is worthy of mention in the history books, and in my opinion, also would have been worthy of preservation. A product of the mid-1990s horsepower race between Electro-Motive Division and General-Electric, EMD's SD90MAC-H was the first single engine, 6000 hp diesel locomotive on the market, followed shortly after by GE's AC6000CW.

Construction Roster | SD90MAC-H Statistics | Photo Roster (65) | Detail Photos (32)

A tribute to the 6,000 horsepower Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC-H

Timeline of Notable Events 10/1995 - The first 4300 hp convertible SD90MAC is built with the intention of upgrading to the 6000 hp engine when it was available. None were ever converted. 8/1996 - The first SD90MAC-H (phase one design) is built, originally numbered UP 8160, better remembered as UP 8500. /1997 - EMDX 8204, a specially-painted SD90MAC-H, is put on display for EMD's 75 anniversary. 6/1998 - The first SD90MAC-Hs with a redesigned carbody (phase two design) are built as demonstrators for EMD 12/1999 - The last SD90MAC-H rolls off the factory floor, probably CP 9303, one of a four unit order. In total, only 68 were built over four years. 2/2000 - The last 4300 hp convertible SD90MAC is built for leasing company CEFX. In total, 410 were built over six years. 6/2000 - A demonstrator with a 12-265H engine is built with 4500 hp and designated SD89MAC. 12/2005 - The lease on UP 8500 and 8522-8561 expires and the units are returned to EMD for lease service. 2007-08 - Some SD90MAC-Hs see service on the Wheeling & Lake Erie. 2008-09 - Twenty-one phase one SD90MAC-Hs are scrapped at Metro East Industries leaving only one phase one version remaining. 2010 - Fortescue Metals Group of Australia acquires nine SD90MAC-Hs, all of which were converted to 4300 hp, some in the US and some in Australia. 2011 - Canadian Pacific's four SD90MAC-Hs are scrapped in Lachine, QC. 2013-14 - EMDX 91 becomes a testbed for the EMD 1010J Tier 4 engine. 2014 - Four phase two SD90MAC-Hs are scrapped in Chicago. Fall 2014 - FMG acquires eight more SD90MAC-Hs which are unloaded in Australia 12/2014. 2015-16 - PRLX 8500, the first first SD90MAC-H and the last phase one version left, is scrapped at Mayfield, KY. 2015-16 - Fourteen phase two SD90MAC-Hs believed scrapped at Mayfield, KY. 12/2016 - Cummins and the Indiana Railroad roll out their QSK95 freight locomotive (CECX 1919), rebuilt from PRLX 8559. Read More 1/2020 - Athearn's HO scale phase two SD90MAC-H models hit stores. Example of SD90MAC-H phase two

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On(and off)line since May 4, 2007

Note
The 'convertible' SD9043MAC will not be featured here.
The SD90MAC has higher tractive effort than the AC6000CW.