EMD SD38-2

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.

The SD38-2 was powered by the EMD 16-645E prime mover, a 16-cylinder version of the 645 series engine that produced 2,000 horsepower. The 645 engine family used a cylinder displacement of 645 cubic inches per cylinder and represented EMD's standard powerplant architecture through much of the 1960s and 1970s. The locomotive rode on HT-C high-traction trucks, a three-axle truck design that distributed weight more evenly and improved adhesion compared to earlier Blomberg-style arrangements. Units were built with either 3,200 or 4,000 US gallon fuel tanks depending on customer specification, and dynamic brakes were offered as an option rather than as standard equipment. The SD38-2 shared its 64 foot 8 inch frame with heavier Dash 2 models including the SD40-2 and SD45-2, giving it an overall length over couplers of approximately 68 feet 10 inches. The DC traction system employed in the SD38-2 was conventional for its era, using direct current traction motors in a configuration that EMD had refined over many years of production experience. The modular electronic systems introduced with the Dash 2 series allowed individual circuit boards to be swapped out during servicing rather than requiring extensive on-site repair, a practical improvement that reduced locomotive downtime. The combination of a proven engine, robust truck design, and improved electrical architecture made the SD38-2 a dependable if unglamorous workhorse within the constraints of its power class.

Models by: Intermountain · ScaleTrains