EMD "GP38" Series

Last revised: October 27, 2023

By: Adam Burns

The EMD GP38 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January, 1966 and December, 1971.

It was designed for general freight service, with over 700 units produced. The locomotive has a power output of 2,000 horsepower and is known for its reliability and versatility, making it a popular choice among North American railroads.

By the time the GP38/AC and later "Dash 2" models were released EMD was a veteran builder that knew what railroads were looking for; these variants also sold extremely well, partiuclarly the GP38-2 which saw some  2,213 completed between 1972 and 1985.

There are only very minor differences with the GP38 and GP38AC while the GP38-2 carries an updated prime mover and newer electronics.

The locomotive looked almost identical to the GP35 thanks to that model's standard carbody and cab design that EMD stuck with through the 1980s. Because of the GP38's success, hundreds remain in widespread use all across the country, particularly on regionals and shortlines.

To date, there is only one GP38 known to be officially preserved, Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia #80 at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

Photos

Missouri Pacific GP38-2 #2022 and SD40-2 #3277 at Taylor, Texas, circa 1982. Mike Bledsoe photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Overview

The original GP38 was no different from earlier second-generation models in terms of horsepower and was even de-rated a bit at only 2,000 hp (as compared to the GP30’s 2,250 and GP35’s 2,500 hp).

The original model was somewhat successful but not nearly so as the the later GP38-2. In any event, the GP38 carried the new 16-cylinder model 645 prime mover which replaced the 567 of the GP35 and had been EMD's standard diesel engine dating all of the way back to the original FT cab unit of 1939.

The locomotive featured General Motors' standard model D77 traction that could produce the same tractive effort of the earlier GP30 and GP35; 61,000 pounds starting tractive effort and 50,000 pounds continuous.

At an undisclosed location not listed on the slide, a recently delivered Penn Central GP38 lays over between assignments in early October of 1969. American-Rails.com collection.

The GP38, which debuted in 1966 and was built through 1971, and the later GP38-2 which was built between 1972 and 1984, followed the earlier GP30 and GP35.

The GP38 models were both tremendously successful with nearly 3,000 units sold (the GP38 sold around 730 and the GP38-2 sold over 2,100).

The GP38-2 model sold better, as did most "Dash 2" models, because of its further upgrades from the original which included things like a new type of traction motor blower duct, a modular electronic cabinet system and bolted battery box access doors.

A trio of new Lehigh Valley GP38-2's lead an eastbound general manifest past Steel Tower in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania during December of 1972. American-Rails.com collection.

Railroads to purchase the original GP38 included:

• Detroit Toledo & Ironton (200-206)


• Bangor & Aroostook (81-88)


• Original Norfolk Southern (2001-2007)


• Erie Mining (700-701)


• Phelps Dodge Corporation (47-54)


• Texas-Mexican Railway (857-860)


• Missouri Pacific (572-577)


• Maine Central (251-263)


• Clinchfield Railroad (2000-2009)


• Baltimore & Ohio (3800-3849, 4800-4819)


• Chesapeake & Ohio (3850-3899, 4820-4829), 


• Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (2000-2014), 


• Tennessee Alabama & Georgia #80


• Aberdeen & Rockfish #400


• Monongahela Railway (2000-2004)


• Gulf Mobile & Ohio (701-720)


• Southern (2716-2822)


• Penn Central (7675-7939)


• Missouri-Kansas-Texas (300-303)


• Burlington Northern (2072-2077)


• Louisville & Nashville (4000-4019)


• Santa Fe (3500-3560)

Also, the General Motors Diesel GP38 was built only for Canadian Pacific who purchased twenty-one (3000-3020).

Norfolk & Western GP38AC #4107, wearing the experimental "Skunk" paint scheme bearing a large white strip around the carbody; December, 1982. Location not recorded. American-Rails.com collection.

As for the GP38AC variant, it was essentially identical to the GP38 save for its model AR10 alternator in replace of the GM-built D32 generator allowing for increased tractive effort.

The locomotive was built between February, 1970 and December, 1971 with 261 examples built for; Norfolk & Western (4100-4149), Illinois Central (9500-9519), Louisville & Nashville (4020-4049), Gulf Mobile & Ohio (721-733), DT&I (210-220), St Louis-San Francisco (633-662), Southern (2823-2878), Pacific Power & Light Company #11, Grand Trunk Western (5800-5811), Lehigh Valley (310-313).

A former Rock Island GP38-2, formerly named the "Fred McKim," is ahead of this Missouri Pacific freight at Austin, Texas in May, 1980. Following the Rock's shutdown, Missouri Pacific picked up the railroad's fleet of GP38-2's. Mike Bledsoe photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Except for the later GP40 and GP40-2 models, the GP38 and GP38-2 were EMD’s most successful second-generation Geeps and like the earlier GP35 fit exactly what railroads were looking for in terms of horsepower while also including the manufacturers’ excellence in quality and reliability.

Because of the model’s success, it comes as no surprise that the unit can still be widely seen across the country from short lines and Regionals to Class Is.

In any event, be on the lookout for them because there are still hundreds roaming around out there!  Also, of particular note about the GP38 series.

Data Sheet

One of the Katy's few GP38's it owned, #303, is seen here at the shops in Parsons, Kansas in 1969. American-Rails.com collection.

Production Rosters

GP38

Total Built = 706

Reused Serials

Export

GP38AC

Total Built = 261

GP38-2

Total Built = 2,213

Export

General Motors Diesel Division (GMDD)

A set of six, new Burlington Northern GP38's were photographed here with time freight #97 (formerly Great Northern's "West Coaster") near Minot, North Dakota on March 3, 1970. Harr, Hedrich-Blessing photo. Author's collection.

In 1982 Trains Magazine selected Baltimore & Ohio GP38 #3802 as its All American Diesel for the locomotive's performance, service, reliability and the fact that it was an extremely successful design found all across the country.   The unit ended its career on CSX as #9699.

Unfortunately, even after it was planned to be handed over to the B&O Railroad Museum upon retirement the famous Geep was initially in danger of being sold to a leasing firm. Thankfully the near-blunder was averted and as promised the museum received it as a donation from CSX.

Today it awaits restoration back into its original Chessie System colors (when it received its All American status) as well as the nameplates it originally received.  Today, the GP38, GP38-2, and GP38AC can still be regularly found on small and large railroads.  

Sources

• Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

• Marre, Louis A. and Pinkepank, Jerry A. Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide, The: A Comprehensive Reference Manual To Locomotives Since 1972.  Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1989.

• McDonnell, Greg. Locomotives: The Modern Diesel & Electric Reference, 2nd Edition. Buffalo: Boston Mills Press/Firefly Books, 2015.

• Solomon, Brian.  EMD Locomotives.  Minneapolis: MBI Publishing Company, 2006.

• Solomon, Brian.  GE and EMD Locomotives:  The Illustrated History.  Minneapolis:  Voyageur Press, 2014.

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