LLPX 2808 in February 2005.
(Morven, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons)
EMD SD38-2 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The EMD SD38-2 is a model of six-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) from 1972 to 1979. EMD built 90 of these medium road-switchers, which were used in both yard and mainline roles. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the SD38-2 was an upgraded SD38 with modular electronic control systems, HT-C trucks, and many other detail improvements. The locomotive's power was provided by an EMD 16-645E 16-cylinder engine, which could generate 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kilowatts). These units were constructed with either 3,200 or 4,000 US gal (12,000 or 15,000 L; 2,700 or 3,300 imp gal) fuel tanks and were available with or without dynamic brakes. It shared the same 64-foot-8-inch (19.71 m) frame as the SD40-2 and SD45-2, which gives it a length over couplers of 68 feet 10 inches (20.98 m).
Original owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Hydro | 3 | 382-384 | |
| Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad | 13 | 870-879, 890-892 | |
| Chicago and Illinois Midland Railway | 6 | 70-75 | |
| Chicago and North Western Transportation Company | 10 | 6650-6659 | |
| Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway | 5 | 209-213 | |
| Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway | 13 | 656-668 | |
| Jari Railway | 2 | 10-11 | Export to Brazil, 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge |
| Louisville and Nashville Railroad | 5 | 4500-4504 | |
| McCloud River Railroad | 1 | 39 | |
| Northern Alberta Railway | 4 | 401-404 | Built by GMDD |
| Orinoco Mining Company | 5 | 1028–1032 | Export, Venezuela |
| Reserve Mining | 9 | 1237–1245 | |
| St. Louis–San Francisco Railway | 4 | 296-299 | |
| Southern Pacific Transportation Company | 6 | 2971–2976 | |
| United States Steel | 1 | 1 | |
| Yankeetown Dock | 3 | 20-22 | |
| Totals | 90 |
Squaw Creek Southern 11, an EMD SD38-2.
(Nate Beal, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builders: General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD); General Motors Diesel, Canada
Model: SD38-2
Build date: 1972–1979
Total produced: 90
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR C-C
• UIC Co′Co′
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge[a]
Wheel diameter: 3 ft 4 in (1.016 m)
Wheelbase, Truck: 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
Wheelbase, Pivot centers: 43 ft 3.5 in (13.195 m) between bolsters;
Width: 10 ft 3+1⁄8 in (3.13 m) over handrail supports
Height: 15 ft 7+1⁄4 in (4.76 m) over cooling fan guard
Locomotive weight: 368,000 lb (167,000 kg)
Fuel capacity: 3,200 or 4,000 US gal (12,000 or 15,000 L; 2,700 or 3,300 imp gal)
Prime mover: EMD 16-645E
Engine type: V16 Two-stroke diesel
Aspiration: Roots-blown
Alternator: AR10E1-D14 generator-alternator
Generator: AR10E1-D14 generator-alternator
Traction motors: 6 × D77/78 DC
Cylinders: 16
Gear ratio: 62:15
Performance figures
Power output: 2,000 hp (1,500 kW)
Career
Locale: North America, South America
