EMD GP38-2 at a glance
| Builder | General Motors Electro-Motive Division / General Motors Diesel |
|---|---|
| Power | 2,000 hp |
| Prime mover | EMD 16-645E, Roots-blown V16 two-stroke diesel |
| Wheel arrangement | B-B — four powered axles |
| Production | 1972–1986 for the principal North American production run |
| Length | About 59 ft 2 in over couplers |
| Typical maximum speed | 65 mph |
| Typical weight | About 250,000–260,000 lb depending on configuration |
Why railroads liked it
The GP38-2 paired EMD's proven 645-series engine with the improved modular electrical controls of the Dash 2 generation. Its 2,000-horsepower, non-turbocharged design was less powerful than some road locomotives, but it was well suited to local freight, switching, work trains and other assignments where reliability and controllability mattered more than maximum horsepower.
How to identify it
Look for a four-axle EMD road-switcher with two two-axle trucks, a relatively low long hood and the proportions of EMD's GP family. Exact identification can be difficult because GP38, GP38-2 and rebuilt GP locomotives can look similar, so road number and detail differences are important.
What does GP38-2 mean?
GP comes from EMD's General Purpose road-switcher family. The 38 identifies the model family, while -2 marks the Dash 2 generation with improved modular electrical/control equipment.
Where it works
GP38-2s became common on local and regional freight, yard transfers, industrial jobs and work trains. Their moderate horsepower and four-axle layout also helped make them useful on secondary routes and, later, on regional and short-line railroads.
Identification reminder
Locomotives are rebuilt, repainted and modified during long careers. Use several clues together—road number, trucks, hood and radiator details, cab shape and known roster history—rather than relying on paint alone.
Want to know more?
Ask Ask the Conductor about this locomotive, how it works, where it ran or how it compares with another model.
Ask the Conductor