Atlantic Pacific RR GP38-2 #358 / Celebrates A 50 Year Anniversary

 Greetings All,

Join us today for a fun fact filled 1/87 scale documentary about a freelanced locomotive that has served the NYCTL for 50 years. 

In 1972 GM's Electro Motive Division introduced the Dash-2 series of locomotives. The GP38-2 was an upgraded GP38 with solid state controls and a 2000 HP 645 prime mover. Bankrupt Penn Central bought 223 units. Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad signed up for sixty units (300-359). Successor Conrail bought 119 more.

APRR #358 comes out of the shop in a simple orange 1972 era paint scheme from contract painter NYCTL and is placed into the APRR lease fleet. Conrail would later imitate this lease unit painting with their CRL and LMS lease units.

APRR GP38-2s #302 and #304 at work in the Atlantic Pacific RRs Rock Ridge Yard show off the APRRs classy paint scheme for the rest of the APRR fleet.

The APRR 358 is a power by the hour workhorse on the New York Central Layout. Over the years the 358 has been fixture in Empire City and the NY-NJ-CT Tri-State area.

APRR 358 hauls a freight train out of Terminal Yard with three 1972 EMD GP38-2 classmates. With the PC in the midst of critical locomotive shortages due to slow orders and deferred maintenance the leased APRR 358 will stand to make some decent revenue.

The 358 assigned to PC Power Pool A is working with the big boys today leading a pair of SD40s on a symbol freight thru Empire City.

Still in Power Pool A the APRR 358 brings a symbol freight from Selkirk to Terminal Yard behind a pair of big GE U-Boats.

On another day the 358 heads toward the Nutmeg State with a freight train for Cedar Hill Yard in New Haven ,CT.

APRR 358 with PC GP35 #2327 to the rescue!! They are towing an Amtrak Train with a broken down E-60 to Empire City Station.

 

Today the 358 is assigned to Power Pool B iron-ore service and brings an ore train from Mingo Junction thru Bedford NY. The orange 358 adds color and 2,000 HP to this ore train going to Pier 16.

On April 1, 1976 the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) took over the operations of six bankrupt Northeastern Railroads. The solvent and profitable Atlantic Pacific RR was able to remain independent. The APRR 358 continued making revenue in lease service as 192 locomotives intended for Conrail were diverted to the D&H and Amtrak leaving CR power short with many engines in less than ideal condition.

APRR 358 leads a manifest train thru Empire City in this post April 1976 photo. Working closely with Conrail's General Superintendent, Locomotive and Caboose Distribution J.P. Tansey the Atlantic Pacific RR supplies the CR with good running power by the hour.

The Conrail rainbow years are on full display today. APRR 358 leads an EMD SD45 lease unit, ex EL bicentennial SD45 and BN GP38-2 bringing another freight train towards Terminal Yard.

The high stepping APRR 358 works another mineral service train as Conrail awaits the arrival of 100 leased M636s from Canadian National. The 358 is in the rocking chair sandwiched between a CR GP40-2 and a GP35 as the trio lug an ore train towards Pier 16.

Relieved from mineral service the APRR 358 is back in Power Pool A. This Conrail train from 1977 features new GE B23-7s, ex PC GP40 #3180 still in PC paint and the APRR 358.

A long Conrail freight with eight diesels in a power balancing move heads across the high line. APRR 358 is the seventh engine in the consist.

APRR 358 is back in Empire City to the delight of the railfans who appreciate these multiple unit movements. 

After being serviced in the engine terminal the APRR is assigned to a high priority intermodal train. The intermodal revolution greatly helped Conrail's recovery. Owning two direct mainlines between New York and Chicago Conrail dominated TOFC and COFC traffic and the APRR 358 is right in the middle of it. 

Go west 358!!! APRR 358 leads a run thru UP AC4400CW out of Terminal Yard with a Chicago bound stack train circa 1995.

A rebuilt APRR 358 leads a high priority intermodal train from the west coast thru Empire City with pooled power from BNSF and NS circa 1997.

 

When CSX and NS split Conrail in 1998 the APRR lease fleet continued to be called upon by both railroads. APRR 358 works a CSX Stack Train out of Terminal Yard circa 1999.

  

NYCTL railfans are in for a treat today with the CSX Pride in Service fleet and the APRR 358 leading a Precision Scheduled CSX Train past Bedford Station in this 2021 photo.

Model Info: APRR GP38-2: In March 2015 the New York Central Layout's Patti O Paint Shop painted an Athearn BB GP38-2 as Atlantic Pacific RR #358 which we contend is the first locomotive painted for the APRR.

Prototype Info: Many of the above prototypical tidbits were from the book "Trains of the 1970s" from Classic Trains magazine and other online sources.

Enjoy this video of the APRR 358 thru the years!

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!