EMD GP38

EMD GP38. The EMD GP38 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by the General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1966 and 1971. As a member of EMD's successful GP series, it was designed as a 2,000 horsepower general-purpose road switcher for mainline freight and switching duties. Its introduction provided railroads with a reliable and versatile workhorse during a period of significant industry transition and consolidation.

Development and production

The GP38 was developed as a logical progression from the earlier EMD GP35, utilizing the new EMD 645 engine platform to achieve its 2,000 horsepower rating. Its design and production coincided with a major wave of railroad mergers in the United States, including the creation of the Penn Central Transportation Company and the Burlington Northern Railroad. A total of 706 units were constructed for numerous Class I railroads, major regional carriers, and industrial operators across North America. Key purchasers included the Southern Railway, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and the Canadian National Railway.

Design and specifications

The locomotive was built on a standard B-B wheel arrangement truck design, providing a versatile balance of power and adhesion. Its prime mover was a 16-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine, a model that would become ubiquitous across EMD's product line for decades. Standard features included a GM D77DC or GM D78DC traction motor and a robust General Electric or Westinghouse main generator. The locomotive's conventional carbody design, with a high short hood, was functionally identical to its predecessor, the EMD GP40, though with a lower horsepower output.

Operational history

Upon delivery, GP38s were immediately put to work in a vast array of services, from hauling mainline freight trains to performing yard switching chores. They saw extensive use on railroads like the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and the Illinois Central Railroad. Their reliability and straightforward mechanics made them favorites among shop crews, ensuring long service lives. Many units survived the formation of large successor carriers like CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway, where they remained in secondary and local service for many years.

Variants and derivatives

The basic GP38 design spawned several important variants. The most direct was the EMD GP38-2, introduced in 1972, which featured the improved Dash 2 series of solid-state electrical controls. A six-axle version, the EMD SD38, shared the same power plant but was built on a heavier C-C truck frame for increased tractive effort. For the export market, EMD built a similar model known as the EMD GT38. Furthermore, the locomotive's core EMD 645 engine was also used in the more powerful EMD GP39 and the turbocharged EMD GP40.

Preservation and notable examples

Several GP38s have been preserved in museums and on tourist railroads, representing an important era in diesel locomotive history. Examples can be found at institutions like the Illinois Railway Museum and the North Carolina Transportation Museum. Notably, the very first production unit, built for the Southern Railway as its #2600, is preserved in operational condition. Many other units remain in active work service for shortline and regional railroads, such as the Iowa Interstate Railroad and the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad, demonstrating the model's enduring utility. Category:Diesel locomotives Category:General Motors locomotives Category:Locomotives of the United States