my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Southern Pacific GP38-2

SP 4800 - 4844

SP 4845 - 4873

45 units delivered

29 units leased/bought

see also: GP38-2 Walkaround.

see also: GP38-2 photo directory.

4-stack GP38-2 from Tom Fassett, and from the photos contributed; the only unit to be Speed Lettered.

Southern Pacific's first GP38-2's 4800 - 4844 were purchased in 1980, some units spent many years? in storage until the economy picked up to justify their use. Initially assigned to duty in Texas and Arkansas, they eventually migrated to California.

Other than normal freight duties, their most well known job was during the 'snowfighting season'. Wintertime used to find a host of them powering flanger and spreader trains over Donner Pass, with their six axle cousins lending their brute force to the Rotary Snowplow jobs, if and when they become necessary.

	As delivered, these came with an 'L' shaped engineers window, snowplow, anticlimbers, 'Q' fans, 3000 gallon fuel tank and SP's 5 light package both front and rear. One unusual feature on these non-turbo units, was the fitting of virtually 'flush' exhausts.

Courtesy Rob Sarberenyi - we can show you a close-up of the flush exhaust stack. Dimensions are as follows: Stack is 12" inside diameter Stack lip protrudes 1" above the base Base is 21 ½" square Base measures 7/8" thick

Four units:

• 4839,
• 4840,
• 4841,
• 4843.

were modified for snowfighting service, with snow shields over the inertial air intakes, extended height icicle breaker bars, all weather windows, horn heaters and some had snow shields of various construction over the center cab windows. These also had their Blomberg M trucks swapped for Blomberg B's from SSW units, so as to get 4 brake shoes.

Two other units, 4809 and 4817 which had also been modified for snowfighting service, were fitted with 'hump creep controls' in 1986 for use with the Speno Rail Grinding train.

Southern Pacific did lease 28 ex CSXT GP38-2's from Helm Leasing, under various agreements. Originally numbered in the 151 to 170 series (not contiguous) these units were rebuilt by AMF-Montreal and painted in Southern Pacific paint, but still under lease. With the imminent arrival of the AC4400's, numbered in the same range, the GP38-2's were renumbered after the 1980 built units ie 4845 and up. However, this number series wasn't contiguous either, with units wearing various numbers from 4846 to 4873, and some (see photos) not even wearing SP paint...

As well as the later lease units, lettering can vary on the original series. 4820 has smaller "sans serif" lettering that can be found on Microscale sheet 87-612.

In regard to the exhausts: SP has modified some units to a 'four-stack' arrangement. 4 exhaust stacks... not sure of the exact arrangement of all units. They may be a mix of the flush and normal, and the way they are mounted may vary.

References:

• SPSF Motive Power 1986 by Joe.W.Shine, page 71.
• SP 1987/88 Motive Power Pictorial by Joe.W.Shine, Page 98. Photo's.
• SP.....into the '90's by Joe.W.Shine, Page 173. Also has some photo's of these units.
• SP 1995 Motive Power Annual by Bill Shippen - Four Ways West Publications.
• Southern Pacific Rails - a motive power finale by Peter Limas has a number of images and data concerning SP GP38-2's.

Additional information on this page contributed by Andrew Martin.