Norfolk Southern

After the split of Conrail in 1999, both CSX and NS received former CR GP38-2’s as part of the deal. NS began to patch them into their number series. Some also received full repaints while keeping their CR features such as small EMD front plow, front and rear ditch lights, and cab signal box. Another unique feature were the original installed class lights on both ends, when most railroads had theirs removed.

 

NS FEATURES:

• Lighted class lights

• Leslie 3-chime horn

• Short fuel tank

• Small front EMD plow

• Lighted number boards

• Forward and rear ditch lights

• Sinclair antenna

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #5280 Ex-CR #8077, mid phase w/ chicken wire grilles, drop steps on both ends, squared paper air filter box, rear “weedcutter” plow, 4 stack exhaust, Blomberg M trucks

• #5295 Ex-CR #8100, mid phase w/ chicken wire grilles, drop steps on both ends, squared paper air filter box, standard 2 stack exhaust, Blomberg M trucks

• #5334 Ex-CR #8166, late phase w/ corrugated grilles, front anticlimber and rear drop step, rear “weedcutter” plow, angled paper air filter box, flush 2 stack exhaust, Blomberg B trucks

 

 

Milwaukee Road

In the early 1970’s the Milwaukee Road found that it needed to replace their aging fleet of low-horsepower switching units due to the rising costs of maintenance. They intended to replace them with their GP9’s. But they needed replacements for the GP9’s in local service so they purchased two groups of new EMD GP38-2’s. The first group, #’s 350-355 were built in June 1973 without dynamic brakes. The 2nd group came in the fall of 1974 with dynamic brakes and were assigned to their western extension until it was embargoed and then abandoned in 1980.

 

MILW FEATURES:

• New solid, (No chains) front and rear handrails

• 1,700 Gallon Fuel Tank

• All Weather cab windows

• Front and rear snow plows

• Beacons where appropriate

• Cab Vents

• Roof-mounted Prime Electric bell

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #350 Non-dynamic brake hatch, beacon, early cut levers, no notch pilots

• #354 Non-dynamic brake hatch, beacon, early cut levers, no notch pilot

• #363 Billboard style lettering, dynamic brake hatch, beacon, late coupler cut levers, notched pilot

 

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

By the early 1970s, many first generation diesels were reaching the end of their service lives. The most common replacement locomotive became the GP38-2. EMD began production of the 16-cylinder, non-turbocharged, 2000 horsepower engine in 1972. Unlike the GP38’s engine, which drove a generator to supply power to the traction motors, the GP38-2s prime mover drove an alternator which produced AC electrical current that was rectified to DC to power the four traction motors. Another major change for the GP38-2 was the introduction of the “dash 2” modular electrical cabinet. For more than 40 years, the GP38-2 has worked main line freights, locals, switching jobs, yard service, helpers, snow fighting trains, and hump power. Many remain in service today.

 

GP38-2 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Operating Class Lights

• Operating Number boards

 

GENESIS DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Coupler cut levers

• Trainline hose

• Full cab interior

• Windshield wipers

• Wire grab irons

• MU hoses

• See-through cab windows

• Walkway tread

• Lift rings

• Sander lines

• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector

• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance

• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, & breather pipes

• Body-mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers

• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain for trouble free operation

• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation

• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow

• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track

• LED Lighting for trouble free operation

• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power

• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more

• Accurately-painted and –printed paint schemes

• Packaging securely holds the model for safe storage

• Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”

 

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound

• Dual cube speakers for optimal sound quality

• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC

• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode

• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC

• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode

• Precision slow speed control

• Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights

• Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes

• CV chart included in the box

Order Due Date: October 28, 2022

Anticipated Delivery Date: December 2023

Looking for more Athearn EMD GP-38 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

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