#4123

EMD SD38-2

🇨🇦 Canada ·built by General Motors Diesel· from 1972· North American class of diesel-electric locomotive

🛤️ diesel locomotive diesel ✓ in service

6 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. LLPX SD38-2 2808: Morven· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Chicago & North Western CNW 6651 (SD38-2) (10570567206): Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China· CC0
3. Chicago & North Western CNW 6652 (SD38-2) (10570811373): Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China· CC0
4. EMD SD38-2 Squaw Creek Southern 11: Nate Beal· CC BY 2.0
5. SD38-2 MRS 5109-1 - Jorge A. Ferreira Jr: Jorge A. Ferreira Jr.· CC BY-SA 3.0
6. BNSF 8246 Leads SB Manifest in Lenexa, KS 4-3-20: Tyler Silvest· CC BY 2.0

what is it?

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.

base stats

speed 105 km/htop speed
power 1.5 MWpower output
weight 167 tin working order
built 90made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 54 years ago, in 1972.
1.5 MW is about 18 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
Weighs about as much as 28 African elephants (~6 t each).
20.7 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.

diesel locomotive: A diesel engine on board drives the wheels, usually through a generator (diesel-electric).

spec sheet

built: 1972–1979
status: in service
number built: 90
kind: Diesel-electric
traction: diesel
origin: 🇨🇦 Canada
builders: General Motors Diesel, Electro-Motive Diesel
top speed: 105 km/h
power: 1.5 MW
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
wheel arrangement: Co′Co′
length: 20.7 m
weight: 167 t

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q642450, Wikipedia: EMD SD38-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.