EMD SD38-2

Technical Specifics

The EMD SD38-2 was introduced in 1972 as part of Electro-Motive Division's Dash 2 series, a broad family of upgraded locomotives that replaced the earlier hyphen-series models. The Dash 2 designation signified a comprehensive refinement program in which EMD incorporated modular electronic control systems intended to simplify troubleshooting and reduce maintenance time in the field. The SD38-2 succeeded the SD38, carrying forward the same basic six-axle road switcher concept while benefiting from the systematic improvements applied across the entire Dash 2 lineup. Production continued through 1979, with approximately 83 to 90 units completed over the course of the model's run. Because of its relatively modest 2,000 horsepower output compared to contemporaries like the SD40-2, the SD38-2 occupied a specialized niche in railroad purchasing decisions. Railroads that required reliable tractive effort for heavy switching, hump yard work, or slower-speed tonnage service found the model attractive, since its power was better suited to those demanding low-speed applications than to high-speed mainline freight movement. The locomotive's six-axle configuration gave it excellent adhesion characteristics relative to its horsepower rating, making it well suited to industries and terminals where pulling force mattered more than outright speed. The SD38-2 was never a high-volume seller in the way the SD40-2 became, but it found loyal customers among railroads with specific operational needs. Its long service life on many properties attests to the durability of the Dash 2 platform generally, and surviving units continued to work in yard and industrial assignments well into the decades following their construction.

Model Train Manufacturers

Brands that produce EMD SD38-2 in HO scale

Prototype Reference

Real-world information about this equipment type