EMD GP38-2
 Mosaic 3801 at Agrock Yard near Brewster, Florida | |
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | gm-emd |
| Model | GP38-2 |
| Build date | January 1972 – |
| Total production | 2,208 |
| AAR wheel arr. | B-B |
| Length | 59 ft 2 in (18 m) |
| Prime mover | EMD 16-645 |
| Cylinders | 16 |
| Transmission | AC alternator, DC traction motors |
| Power output | 2,000 hp (1.5 MW) |
| Locomotive brakes | Straight air, dynamic braking |
| Locale | North America |
An EMD GP38-2 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP38-2 was an upgraded version of the earlier GP38. Power was provided by an EMD 645E 16-cylinder engine, which generated 2000 horsepower (1.5 MW).[1]
Spotting features
The GP38-2 differs externally from the earlier GP38 only in minor details. There is a cooling water level sight glass on the right side of the hood, and the battery box covers are bolted down, instead of hinged. It can be distinguished from the contemporary GP39-2 and GP40-2 in that its Roots blown engine had two exhaust stacks, one each side of the dynamic brake fan if fitted, while the turbocharged GP39-2 and GP40-2 has a single stack.
GP38-2W
The GP38-2W is a Canadian variant of the GP38-2. It is easily distinguished by its wide-nose Canadian comfort cab. 51 of these locomotives were produced for Canadian National Railway during 1973–1974.
There are snow-shields above the inertial-filter central air intakes behind the cab; the electrical boxes and equipment blower behind the cab also differ in detail from a standard GP38-2. They are otherwise identical.[2]
Original Buyers
1,801 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads, 254 for Canadian railroads and 133 for Mexican railroads. In addition to these, 20 more examples were built with high short hoods containing steam generators for use on Mexican railroads.[3]
<flickr limit=6>EMD GP38-2</flickr>
References
- ↑ Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
- ↑ Foster, Gerald (1996). A Field Guide to Trains of North America. Houghton Mifflin Field Guides, 74–75. ISBN 0-395-70112-0.
- ↑ Marre, Louis A., and Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1989). The Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide. Waukesha, WI: Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-89026-088-4.
External links
US Government test of GP38-2 with biodiesel.
4-axle general purpose (GP) diesel locomotives built by EMD | |
|---|---|
| General Purpose (GP) | BL1 · BL2 · GP7 · GP7B · GP9 · GP9B · GP15-1 · GP15AC · GP15T · GP18 · GP20 · GP20D · GP28 · GP30 · GP30B · GP35 · GP38/38-2L/38-2W · GP38AC · GP38-2 · GP38-H3 · GP39 · GP39DC · GP39X · GP39-2 · GP40 · GP40P · GP40P-2 · GP40TC · GP40X · GP40-2 · GP49 · GP50 · GP59 · GP60 · GP60B · GP60M |
| (See also: List of EMD locomotives) | |
 | This diesel locomotive-related article is a stub. You can help Spotting World by expanding it. |
