Former PTRA Units
Rebuilt by MK/MPI in the late 90's, the Houston Port Terminal Railroad Authority once had a fleet of 32 MK1500D genset locomotives (24 owned by PTRA, 8 owned by HB&T/BNSF). However, by 2023 they were being phased out in favor of leased GP38-2's from GATX/GMTX.
Now in 2025 all the MK1500D's have been sold off, though several still reside as plant switchers for some of the many customers along and around the Houston Ship Channel. For example, Frontier Logistics in Pasadena acquired eight of the locomotives from the PTRA. Here are four of them, including the former PTRA 9624, painted in a heritage paint scheme in 2012 as a nod to former PTRA liveries.
PTRA MK1500D #9624
PTRA MK1500D #9620
PTRA MK1500D #9604
PTRA MK1500D #9602
PTRA 9603, 9615, 9616, and 9617 are also on the property here.
Pasadena, TX
February 15th, 2025
Former PTRA Units
Rebuilt by MK/MPI in the late 90's, the Houston Port Terminal Railroad Authority once had a fleet of 32 MK1500D genset locomotives (24 owned by PTRA, 8 owned by HB&T/BNSF). However, by 2023 they were being phased out in favor of leased GP38-2's from GATX/GMTX.
Now in 2025 all the MK1500D's have been sold off, though several still reside as plant switchers for some of the many customers along and around the Houston Ship Channel. For example, Frontier Logistics in Pasadena acquired eight of the locomotives from the PTRA. Here are four of them, including the former PTRA 9624, painted in a heritage paint scheme in 2012 as a nod to former PTRA liveries.
PTRA MK1500D #9624
PTRA MK1500D #9620
PTRA MK1500D #9604
PTRA MK1500D #9602
PTRA 9603, 9615, 9616, and 9617 are also on the property here.
Pasadena, TX
February 15th, 2025