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

EMD Lease

After their initial lease expired, many CR GP38-2’s were returned to EMD which in turn leased them back to other railroads. While quite a few were simply patched, a batch got the full “EMD Lease” paint treatment. During the 1990’s, these could be found on just about any railroad. #788 was painted into a very unique Operation Livesaver scheme.

 

EMDX FEATURES:

• Built as Penn Central

• Lighted number boards

• Short fuel tank

• Lighted class lights

• Correct horn per road number

• Sinclair antenna

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #788 Ex-CR #7988, mid phase w/ chicken wire grilles, Operation Lifesaver, Leslie 3-chime horn, front small EMD plow, rear “Weedcutter” plow, unique scheme

• #813 Ex-CR #8013, mid phase w/ chicken wire grilles, 4-stack exhaust, Nathan 3-chime horn, front small EMD plow, rear “Weedcutter” plow, black fuel/air tanks, small cab numbers

• #825 Ex-CR #8025, mid phase w/ chicken wire grilles, Nathan 3-chime horn, front “Weedcutter” plow, maroon fuel/air tanks, large cab numbers, named “The Kristen”

 

 

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

---