EMD GP38

The EMD GP38 ^[1] is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1966 and December 1971. The locomotive's prime mover was an EMD 645 16-cylinder engine that generated 2,000 horsepower (1.49 MW). The company built 706 GP38s for North American railroads.^[2]

In 1972, EMD began making an updated model, the GP38-2, as part of its Dash-2 line.^[3]

Original orders

Rebuilds

A number of GP38s have been rebuilt into the equivalent of a GP38-2.

Conversely, a number of higher horsepower 40 Series locomotives have been rebuilt into the equivalent of a GP38-2 (GP38AC), by the removal of the turbocharger and the substitution of twin Roots blowers.

In 2007, Norfolk Southern rebuilt #2911 which is an ex Penn Central GP38 into an experimental zero-emissions Battery-Electric locomotive known as the Altoona Works BP4. The new locomotive was renumbered as NS #999.^[5] It has since been sold to Rail Propulsions Systems, where it was upgraded for eventual use in the Los Angeles Basin region. ^[6] ^[7]

Preservation

Conway Scenic Railroad 252, built as Maine Central (MEC) 252, is preserved and operates on excursions on the former MEC Notch Route.^[8]
Conway Scenic Railroad 255, built as Maine Central 255, was acquired in October 2021 and serves alongside 252.^[8]
Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway 80, is preserved in operational condition at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.^[9]^[10]
West Chester Railroad 7706, built as Penn Central 7706, is preserved and operates on tourist trains on the former PRR line.^[11]^[12]^[13]
Chessie System 3802, built as Baltimore & Ohio 3802, is preserved and operates at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.^[14]
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines 2000, is preserved on the Cape May Seashore Lines in Tuckahoe, New Jersey.^[15]^[16]

References

^ Bachand, Jean-Denis. "EMD GP38". The Diesel Shop. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
^ Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A field guide to trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 34. ISBN 0-395-70112-0.
^ McDonnell, Greg (2002). Field guide to modern diesel locomotives. Waukesha, Wisc.: Kalmbach Publishing. pp. 108–109. ISBN 0-89024-607-6. OCLC 50411517.
^ Sarberenyi, Robert. "GP38 Roster". www.trainweb.org. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "Norfolk Southern 2014 Sustainability Report - Environmental Performance | A Battery-Powered Alternative". nssustainability.com. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
^ Corselli, Andrew (2 June 2020). "Agent 999: RPS Restores Zero-Emission Locomotive". Railway Age. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023.
^ Cupper, Dan (November 12, 2019). "NS to dispose of executive F units, other roster oddities". Trains. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
^ a b Franz, Justin (2021-10-19). "Conway Scenic Acquires Second Maine Central GP38". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
^ Cotey, Angela (2016-05-09). "Museum unveils Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia-painted GP38 NEWSWIRE". Trains. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
^ "History of TAG Railway 80 Locomotive". Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
^ Speicher, Jake (19 December 2012). "Exelon Power Donates Locomotive to West Chester Railroad". Patch. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
^ Laepple, Wayne (10 December 2012). "West Chester Railroad receives GP38 donation". Trains. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
^ "Equipment Roster". West Chester Railroad. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
^ "B&O #3802". B&O Railroad Museum. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
^ "Cape May Seashore Lines acquires predecessor diesel". Trains. 2023-09-20. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
^ "The Return of Engine 2000!". Seashore Lines. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-12.

Marre, Louis A. & Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1989). The Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide. Waukesha, WI: Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-89024-088-4. LCCN 88083625. OCLC 19959644.
Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-026-7.
Sarberenyi, Robert. EMD GP38 and GP38AC Original Owners

External links