EMD "GP38"/"GP38AC"/"GP38-2" Locomotives

Last revised: January 23, 2022

By: Adam Burns

The Electro-Motive Division's (EMD) GP38, GP38AC and GP38-2, the fourth entry of second-generation diesel locomotives, were extremely successful four-axle models that would only further establish EMD as the premier diesel locomotive builder of that era.

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, and it hit a home run yet again with the GP38/GP38-2.

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.

The original GP38 was actually 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.

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.

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).

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).

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.

EMD GP38 Production Roster

Owner	Road Number(s)	Quantity	Date Built
Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad	400	1	1968
Baltimore & Ohio	3800-3849, 3837 (2nd), 4800-4819	71	1967-1971
Bangor & Aroostook	81-88	8	1966-1967
Burlington Northern	2072-2077	6	1970
Chesapeake & Ohio	3850-3899, 4820-4829	60	1967-1970
Clinchfield Railroad	2000-2009	10	1967
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton	200-206	7	1966-1969
Erie Mining Company	700-701	2	1967
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio	701-720	20	1969
Louisville & Nashville	4000-4019	20	1970
Maine Central	251-263	13	1966-1967
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy)	300-303	4	1969
Missouri Pacific	572-577	6	1966-1967
Monongahela Railway	2000-2004	5	1969
Norfolk Southern Railway (Original)	2001-2007	7	1966-1967
Penn Central	7675-7939	265	19691-1971
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	2000-2014	15	1967-1970
Phelps Dodge Corporation	47-54	8	1966-1971
Santa Fe	3500-3560	61	1970
Southern Railway	2716-2822	107	1969-1970
Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway (TAG)	80	1	1968
Texas-Mexican Railway (Tex-Mex)	857-860	4	1966-1971

GP38AC Production Roster

Owner	Road Number(s)	Quantity	Date Built
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton	207-220	14	1970-1971
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio	721-733	13	1971
Illinois Central	9500-9519	20	1970
Lehigh Valley	310-313	4	1971
Louisville & Nashville	4020-4049	30	1970-1971
Norfolk & Western	4100-4159	60	1971
Pacific Power & Light Company	11	1	1971
Southern Railway	2823-2878	56	1971
St. Louis San Francisco Railway (Frisco)	633-662	30	1971

GP38-2 Production Roster

Owner	Road Number(s)	Quantity	Date Built
Angelina & Neches River Railroad	2000	1	1980
Armco Steel Corporation	B84	1	1975
Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railroad	508-510	3	1973-1975
Atlanta & West Point	6007-6008	2	1979
Belt Railway Of Chicago	490-495	6	1972
Boston & Maine	201-212	12	1973
Burlington Northern	2078-2109	32	1972-1974
Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway	108-109	2	1977-1978
Chicago & North Western	4600-4634	35	1979
Chicago, SouthShore & South Bend	2000-2009	10	1981
Cleveland Electric Illumininating Company	100-108	9	1975
Clinchfield Railroad	6000-6006, 6045	8	1978-1979
Colorado & Wyoming Railway	2001-2002	2	1973
Conrail	8163-8281	119	1977-1979
Curtis, Milburn & Eastern Railroad	810, 817-819	4	1981
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton	221-228	8	1975
Durham & Southern	2000-2003	4	1972
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern	700-704	5	1972-1973
Florida East Coast	501-511	11	1977-1978
Fort Worth & Denver (BN)	2150-2154	5	1980
Georgia Railroad	6009-6010	2	1979
Grand Trunk Western	5812-5836	25	1978-1980
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio	740-754	15	1972
Illinois Central Gulf	9600-9639	40	1974
Illinois Terminal	2001-2004	4	1977
Kansas City Southern	4000-4011	12	1974-1978
Lehigh Valley	314-325	12	1972
Long Island Rail Road	250-277	28	1976-1977
Louisville & Nashville	4050-4144, 6011-6044	129	1972-1979
Milwaukee Road	350-365	16	1973-1974
Mississippi Export Railroad	65-66	2	1975-1979
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy)	304-321	18	1972-1976
Missouri Pacific	858-959, 2111-2237, 2290-2334	274	1972-1981
Penn Central	7940-8162	223	1972-1973
Phelps Dodge Corporation	1-4, 9, 55-56, 58	8	1973-1982
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie	2051-2056	6	1977
Providence & Worcester	2006-2009	4	1980-1982
Public Service Company Of Indiana	WG1, WG2	2	1974
Rock Island	4300-4355, 4368-4879	66	1976-1978
San Manuel Arizona Railroad	16-17	2	1974
Seaboard Coast Line	500-555, 6046-6065	76	1973-1980
Soo Line	790-799, 4410-4452	53	1977-1983
South East Coal Company	3821-3823	3	1979
Southern Pacific	4800-4844	45	1980
Southern Railway	5000-5256	257	1972-1979
St. Louis San Francisco Railway (Frisco)	400-478, 663-699	117	1972-1976
Texas-Mexican Railway (Tex-Mex)	861-867	7	1974-1985
Toledo, Peoria & Western	2001-2011	11	1977-1978
Union Pacific	2040-2059, 5139-5162	44	1974-1975
Vermont Railway	201-202	2	1972-1974

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.  

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