An Electro-Motive Division GP38 diesel locomotive is now available in HO scale from Rapido Trains. The four-axle road switcher features plastic and die-cast metal construction, railroad-specific details, and body-mounted metal couplers.
Prototype history
Electro-Motive Division produced the GP38 from January 1966 through December 1971. During the course of the production run, 733 units were built for railroads in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The four-axle road switcher was rated at 2,000 horsepower and equipped with a 16 cylinder, 645 diesel engine.
The sample we received is decorated as BNSF Ry. 2157, part of the railroad’s 2155 through 2189 series. The 2157 was built in May 1970 as Penn Central 7827. It retained its road number when it became part of the Conrail fleet in 1976. The locomotive was acquired by Burlington Northern on May 15, 1985, becoming the railroad’s 2157.
Following the merger between BN and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe in 1995, the GP38 became part of the BNSF Ry. fleet. On March 4, 1998 the four-axle road switcher was repainted in BNSF’s Heritage I scheme at the Talgo-Livingston Rebuild Center in Montana. The unit was sold to Larry’s Truck & Electric in the early 2010s, where it was renumbered 3813.
Model features
The Rapido GP38 features a multi-piece plastic body with many separate, factory-applied parts. Among the universal details are metal side handrails with plastic stanchions; see-through, etched-metal steps; rooftop fans with plastic housings, etched-metal grills, and separate fan blades; m.u. hose clusters and train line hoses; a detailed cab interior; and factory-installed and painted wire grab irons.
Underframe details include air filters, traction motor cables, and working ground lights above the front truck on both sides.
Though the GP38 has universal parts, it’s far from a cookie-cutter model. Railroad-specific features on units decorated for BNSF Ry. include a 2,600-gallon fuel tank, modified m.u. receptacles, front and rear ditch lights, and a blanked out headlight between the number boards (the headlight is accurately relocated on the low short hood). The class lights flanking the relocated headlight are also covered.
Additional features on the BNSF model include a plastic snow plow on the front pilot with the grab irons picked in white. The rear pilot has two spare coupler knuckles.
Measuring up
Our sample is decorated in BNSF Ry.’s Heritage I paint scheme. The paint is smooth and evenly applied, and the color separation lines are crisp.
For the most part, the lettering, paint, and detail placement match prototype images. The BNSF lettering on the conductor’s side of the long hood should be moved forward by two engine compartment doors. The grab irons on the short hood are painted white, but should match the body color. The grab iron on the rear of the long hood on the engineer’s side should be orange, not green.
The air horn on the full-size 2157, which appears to be a Leslie prototype, is located on the conductor’s side of the long hood. The grabs on the top and side of the short hood should be on the conductor’s side.
I removed the front and rear draft-gear boxes to separate the shell from the chassis. Weights fill most of the space under the hood, concealing the mechanism. The motherboard is secured to the top of the weights with screws. Attached to it are the ESU LokSound decoder and capacitors for the Mo-Power energy storage system.
The latter keeps the locomotive running over dirty track and during brief power interruptions. The speaker is located above the rear truck.
Elevation drawings of the EMD GP38 were published in the 1970 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practices (Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp.) The dimensions of the Rapido model match printed data.
The sample we received has an ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder. I first tested the GP38 at the workbench using an NCE Power Cab. At step 1, the model moved at 0.6 scale mph. At step 28 the four-axle road unit achieved a top speed of 64 scale mph. The top speed on full-size GP38 diesels ranged from 71 to 83 mph depending on the gear ratio.
Then I took the GP38 over to our Winston-Salem Southbound Tar Branch to test it in an operating layout environment. The Rapido model navigated the No. 4 turnouts, 30-degree crossing, and 20” radius curves without issue while switching 50-foot freight cars. With a drawbar pull of 3.2 ounces, the model should be able to pull around 45 free-rolling freight cars on straight and level track.
If your model railroad needs a four-axle road switcher, check out the HO scale EMD GP38 from Rapido Trains. Though it’s sold out at the manufacturer, you can still find models at online and brick-and-mortar hobby shops.
See the Rapido Trains HO scale EMD GP38 in action on our Winston-Salem Southbound Tar Branch layout.
Facts & features
Price: Direct current, $239.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $349.95
Manufacturer
Rapido Trains Inc.
500 Alden Rd., Unit 21
Markham, Ontario, Canada
L3R 5H5
rapidotrains.com
Era: January 1966 to present (varies depending on paint scheme)
Road names: BNSF Ry.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Baltimore & Ohio; Burlington Northern; Conrail; CSX; Penn Central; Norfolk Southern (high short hood); and Southern Ry. (high short hood). Low short hood unless noted. One to four road numbers per scheme.
Features
- Body-mounted metal couplers, .020” high on both ends
- Metal wheel stubs mounted on plastic drive axle gears, correctly gauged
- Minimum radius: 18”
- Weight: 1 pound, 0.3 ounces
