MKT 1986 Ford F700 Hi-Rail Gang Truck
Purchased by the Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad (MKT) in 1986, this truck served as a section gang maintenance truck. This is the truck called upon when a broken rail was found or some other heavy maintenance need were to arise.
After the merger with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) in 1988, this truck served the UPRR for many years before being retired and sold off. Purchased by Rock & Rail in Canyon City, CO, the hi-rail was used by their maintenance crews until age started taking its toll on the truck.
Placed up for auction on IronPlanet, SARHM contacted Rock & Rail after the truck had sat on their page for some time. After a brief discussion, Rock & Rail decided to donate the truck to SARHM. In 2019, we moved the truck from Colorado to Elmendorf, TX via flatbed trailer.
Once here it was discovered that the right rear brake cylinder had ruptured, coating the brake drum with brake fluid, reducing the truck’s ability to stop safely. Other issues found with the truck were, the front rotors were overheated enough times that the disc cracked, leaving radial fractures extending from the center of the hub, out toward the edges.
With a recently rebuilt transmission, only 2k miles on it, the motor needs to be completely rebuilt as according to the Rock & Rail representative that handled the vehicles conveyance. Other issues such as the hydraulics system needing to be gone through as there are several leaks that can be found.
The plan for this truck is a complete rebuild and return to operation. Representing SARHM like its smaller counterpart, the ultimate goal for the old MKT F700 is to use it in future SARHM track maintenance needs when tourist operations kick off.
Purchased by the Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad (MKT) in 1986, this truck served as a section gang maintenance truck. This is the truck called upon when a broken rail was found or some other heavy maintenance need were to arise.
After the merger with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) in 1988, this truck served the UPRR for many years before being retired and sold off. Purchased by Rock & Rail in Canyon City, CO, the hi-rail was used by their maintenance crews until age started taking its toll on the truck.
Placed up for auction on IronPlanet, SARHM contacted Rock & Rail after the truck had sat on their page for some time. After a brief discussion, Rock & Rail decided to donate the truck to SARHM. In 2019, we moved the truck from Colorado to Elmendorf, TX via flatbed trailer.
Once here it was discovered that the right rear brake cylinder had ruptured, coating the brake drum with brake fluid, reducing the truck’s ability to stop safely. Other issues found with the truck were, the front rotors were overheated enough times that the disc cracked, leaving radial fractures extending from the center of the hub, out toward the edges.
With a recently rebuilt transmission, only 2k miles on it, the motor needs to be completely rebuilt as according to the Rock & Rail representative that handled the vehicles conveyance. Other issues such as the hydraulics system needing to be gone through as there are several leaks that can be found.
The plan for this truck is a complete rebuild and return to operation. Representing SARHM like its smaller counterpart, the ultimate goal for the old MKT F700 is to use it in future SARHM track maintenance needs when tourist operations kick off.
