EMD GP38-2
88" Nose

Union Pacific  No. 2142

Ubiquitous GP38-2: DC-Powered At A Terrific Price!

In the 1960s, EMD identified the need for a medium-horsepower road switcher with no turbocharger for improved reliability.

The original designed-for-reliability GP38 – with the rack settings on its 16-cylinder 645 prime mover set at a very conservative 2,000 horsepower, tried-and-true traction motors and other components – sold well.

But the addition of easy-to-maintain modular electronics made its successor – the GP38-2 – wildly successful with 2,188 locos sold.

The externally identical GP38AC with an AC generator accounted for another 240 sales.

GP38-2 production began in 1972 and lasted through 1987.

Beginning in 1977, late-production GP38-2s came equipped with an 88" long low nose.

Fuel tank size was specified by the customer and units came equipped with Blomberg M trucks (although many were built with reconditioned standard Blomberg trucks from traded-in units).

From hauling road and way freights to commuter (on the Long Island Railroad) and long-distance passenger trains (Mexican steam generator-equipped models), the GP38-2 could be found in all kinds of service.

Hundreds could also be found in local, yard and heavy industrial switching service.

In recent years, they still command a respectable price on the used locomotive market – assuming their original Class I owners want to get sell them!

The GP38-2 was so successful that even in 2006 some Class I roads were still purchasing remanufactured/rebuilt units built to GP38-2 standards.

Features:

• Dynamic brake option (as appropriate)
• Magnetic knuckle couplers
• Dual machined brass flywheels
• Limited availability

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