The D&H South’s electrification project was completed by 2005, and one immediate result was a shortage of available multisystem units, so the motive power department had to get new motors in a hurry.

Thus the K5 – a class K motor with an extended carbody to fit a multisystem drivetrain and optionally – in the K5p variant that were built for Amtrak’s Alouette – HEP electronics, which produces 7600 (6800 for the K5p) horsepower and can operate at speeds up to 100mph.

52 were built for the PV&T, all of which are still in use.

In 2025, Amtrak traded in all six of their K5p motors for ILW eco-110p high-speed motors. The K5ps were not worn out in the least, but Amtrak had just made a huge order for eco-110p power and wanted to weed out some of the oddball power on their roster. ILW then turned around and sold these units to the Portland shops, which refurbished them (by turning off the HEP power takeoff circuitry and directing all the generated power to the wheels) and sent them to the Ottawa Central for use on their newly electrified mainline to Sudbury.