See all of our listings, visit: Ika's Train Store
The Electro-Motive Division's (EMD) GP38-2, the fourth entry of second-generation diesel locomotives, were extremely successful four-axle models that would only further establish EMD as the premier diesel locomotive builder of that era. By the time the GP38/AC and later "Dash 2" models were released EMD was a veteran builder that knew what railroads were looking for, and it hit a home run yet again with the GP38/GP38-2. There are only very minor differences with the GP38 and GP38AC while the GP38-2 carries updated prime mover and newer electronics. The locomotive looked almost identical to the GP35 thanks to that model's standard carbody and cab design that EMD stuck with through the 1980s. Because of the GP38's success, hundreds remain in widespread use all across the country, particularly on regionals and shortlines. To date, there is only one GP38 known to be officially preserved, Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia #80 at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. **American-Rails
The AAR wheel arrangement system is a method of classifying locomotive wheel arrangements that was developed by
the Association of American Railroads {AAR} (including third rail electric locomotives). It is not used for Steam Locomotives which use the Whyte Notation System instead. The AAR system counts axles instead of wheels. Letters refer to powered axles, and numbers to unpowered (or idler) axles. "A" refers to one powered axle, "B" to two powered axles in a row, "C" to three powered axles in a row, and "D" to four powered axles in a row. "1" refers to one idler axle, and "2" to two idler axles in a row. A dash ("–") separates trucks, or wheel assemblies. A plus sign ("+") refers to articulation, either by connecting bogies with span bolsters or by connecting individual locomotives via solid drawbars instead of couplers. "B-B" means there are two identical trucks. Each truck has two powered axles, a currently popular configuration used in high-speed, low-weight applications such as intermodal trains. High speed (" Time ") freight trains, with guaranteed schedules often use B-B locomotives of 3,800 HP (950 HP per axle), but this application, too, has largely been replaced by higher-powered, 4,500 HP C-C locomotives (750 HP per axle). An American colloquialism of B-B is "Four-Axle". "2-B" means there are two trucks, or wheel assemblies. The "2" truck is under the front of the unit and has two idler axles in a row. The "B" truck is under the rear of the unit and has two powered axles. Examples include the three lightweight powered cars built ay ALCO in 1935-37 for use with the Rebel Streamliners. ** See Wikipedia AAR Wheel Arrangements