Part of General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division (EMD) “Dash 2” series was this six-axle unit equipped with a 16-cylinder 645 prime mover capable of 2,000 horsepower output. The 64-foot, 8-inch frame bracketed HT-C Flexicoil trucks with a fuel tank (3,200 or 4,000 gallon) placed between. EMD’s SD38-2 was offered with or without dynamic braking. Production started in 1972 with the debut of EMD’s Dash 2 line and the last SD38-2s were delivered in 1979.
ABOVE: Bessemer & Lake Erie tied Elgin, Joliet & Eastern for the largest SD38-2 fleets with each road owning 13 units. B&LE 892 moved to Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range’s roster in the 1980s; it shown at Forbes, Minn., in March 1982 with DM&IR 204 (another SD38-2). –Robert C. Anderson photo, Kevin EuDaly collection
The production total for EMD’s SD38-2 was 90 units and the largest concentration was found on Bessemer & Lake Erie (870-879 and 890-892) and Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (656-668) with a baker’s dozen each. Chicago & North Western was the next buyer with the most SD38-2s with its roster of 10 examples (6650-6659). From those three railroads the fleet sizes shrink to single digits but find homes on a variety of roads, including export outside North America.
ABOVE: Frisco’s four SD38-2s (296-299) was representative of a handful of U.S. Class 1s, that frequently used these units in yard/hump service. SL-SF 296 is shown at at its job site of Tulsa, Okla., on August 4, 1979 –J. Harlen Wilson photo, Kevin EuDaly collection
U.S. Class 1s buying SD38-2s included C&NW, Frisco, Louisville & Nashville (with five units 4500-4504), and Southern Pacific (with six units 2971-2976). EMD’s SD38-2 found favor with ore haulers and steel roads, such as the already mentioned Bessemer & Lake Erie and Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range, as well as others like Reserve Mining with its nine units 1237-1245 and United States Steel with a single SD38-2 numbered 1. Other U.S. buyers included Chicago & Illinois Midland, McCloud River (one unit numbered 39), and Yankeetown Dock’s trio (20-22). Canadian SD38-2 operators included BC Hydro with three units (382-384) and Northern Alberta Railway with four units (401-404). Export customers included Jari Railway of Brazil with a pair (10 and 11) of 5-foot, 3-inch gauged examples and Orinoco Mining Company of Venezuela with five units (1028-1032).
ScaleTrains.com recently announced it will add a Rivet Counter HO-scale EMD SD38-2 to its line. First production offerings will include BC Hyrdo; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (two schemes); Frisco; Louisville & Nashville; Southern Pacific; and Yankeetown Docks (two schemes). Follow the link to see the offerings, which are expected to arrive during August 2022.
ScaleTrains.com
scaletrains.com
Keep up with the latest news in Model Railroad News!
