EMD GP38-2

An EMD GP38-2 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP38-2 was an upgraded version of the earlier Canadian National Railwayas provided by an EMD 645E 16-cylinder engine, which generated 2000 horsepower (1.5 MW).

Spotting features
The GP38-2 differs externally from the earlier GP38 only in minor details. Its most distinctive identifying feature is the cooling water level sight glass on the right side of the long hood. The battery box covers of the Dash 2s are bolted down instead of hinged. It can be distinguished from the contemporary GP39-2 and GP40-2 in that its Roots blown engine had two exhaust stacks, one each side of the dynamic brake fan if fitted, while the turbocharged GP39-2 and GP40-2 has a single stack. The GP39-2 has two radiator fans on the rear of the long hood like the GP38-2, however the GP40-2 has three. It was also available with either a high short hood, common on Norfolk Southern units, or a low short hood, which is found on most other railroads.

GP38-2W
The GP38-2W is a Canadian variant of the GP38-2. It is easily distinguished by its wide-nose Canadian comfort cab. 51 of these locomotives were produced for Canadian National Railway during 1973–1974.

There are snow-shields above the inertial-filter central air intakes behind the cab; the electrical boxes and equipment blower behind the cab also differ in detail from a standard GP38-2. They are otherwise identical.

Original buyers
1,801 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads and industrial concerns, 257 for Canadian railroads and industrial, 156 for Mexican railroads and industrial and one unit for the Saudi Government Railroad. A total of 29 of the GP38-2s were built with high short hoods containing steam generators for use on Mexican railroads.

In popular culture
The GP38-2 is a player-drivable locomotive in Microsoft Train Simulator. Parts of the EMD GP38-2 are used to form the children's TV series Chuggington character, Dunbar.