The HO Scale Penn Central GP38 / GP38-2 Armada Grows By One

 Greetings All,

The HO Scale Penn Central GP38 / GP38-2

 Armada Grows By One

The HO Scale Penn Central RR that is alive and well in my basement has added another GP38-2 to its roster. In truth I was reluctant to do this as I already have seven PC GP38/38-2s on the roster. These seven units pale in comparison with the 1:1 Penn Central's four hundred sixty eight GP38/GP38-2 locomotives.

The caveat here is that three are Athearn BB models, two are Atlas models and two are Bachmann DCC on Board models and none M.U. well with the other brands on my DC controlled layout.

Atlas Yellow Box PC GP38s that I've painted and lettered. The 2010 was released from the Patti-O Paint Shop in 2020 and the 7675 was released from the shop in 2015.

Factory painted Bachmann DCC on Board GP38-2s have been on the roster since 2013.

This three unit Penn Central lash up consists of two GP38-2s and one GP38 that I've painted and numbered. The 8024 and 7698 are 2014 graduates of the Patti O Paint Shop. The 8308 graduated in 2017. 

After looking at other options for the undecorated model I finally decided on painting and lettering it as the PC 8027.

The project locomotive started out as a new in the box undecorated Athearn Blue Box GP-38-2 that I purchased as part of a three locomotive deal in August, 2024.

A Quick Look at the

The Penn Central GP38/GP38-2 Armada

According to Robert Yanosey in the book Penn Central Power the 2000 HP non turbocharged V-16 GP38 was introduced in 1966 but did not attract much attention compared to the GP40s and SD45s offered at the same time with the 645 prime mover. PC ignored the GP38 until a nationwide swing toward fuel and maintenance savings made it a giant seller. The PC ordered 240 GP38s (7675-7939) from 1969 to 1971.

The 7675 is the lowest numbered GP38 from the Penn Central order in 1969 and features the early oil bath air filter.

"7860" by hugh llewelyn is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Cheap to run and able to be used anywhere in the system the GP38 became the Penn Central's ideal locomotive enjoying a long career with the PC and long after the PC folded.

"11/78, Conrail GP38 7787" by OHFalcon72 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Ex PRSL GP38s

Five PC GP38s in the 2000 series (2010-2014) were ordered by the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL), a New Jersey RR owned by the PC and RDG, in August, 1970. EMD withheld delivery of the units to the PRSL after the PC bankruptcy and then determined the PC was more credit worthy than the PRSL. The five GP38s had their PRSL heralds painted out and they became PC property. 

The 2010 is the only one of the ex PRSL group with the PC herald on the long hood.

The GP38-2s

In 1972 EMD introduced the Dash 2 series of locomotives that offered internal improvements with the external differences being high adhesion trucks and a sight glass located on the right rear of the long hood.

"X 12/74, PC GP38-2 7997" by OHFalcon72 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Impressed with the performance of the GP38s the Penn Central bankruptcy trustees authorized the purchase of 223 GP38-2s (7940-8162) between May 1972 and October 1973.

"4/74, PC GP38-2 8107" by OHFalcon72 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/?ref=openverse.

PC GP38-2 8148 is a factory painted Bachmann DCC on Board model.

The 8150 is also a factory painted Bachmann DCC on Board model. This GP38-2 was originally straight DC power. I swapped chassis with a DCC on Board GP40 power chassis to m.u. it to the 8148.

Back to the Project Model

The DC powered engine has been hardwired for better electrical reliability. Kadee #5s have been installed and the truck side frames have been rattle can painted with flat black.

The 8027 poses for a roster shot at Terminal Yard after being released from the Patti-O Paint Shop. Penn Central decals are from K-4 and the ACI decals is from Micro Scale.

The 1:1 scale PC 8027 is a GP38-2 model delivered to the Penn Central sometime between May and September 1972 as part of a one hundred unit order of GP38-2s (7940-8039). An order for 114 more GP38-2s (8040-8153) would follow in 1973.

The 8027 leads four Athearn BB GP38/38-2s hustling a freight train from Terminal Yard thru Bedford, NY.

My original reluctance to add another PC GP38 to the fleet was eliminated when running this four unit lash up that just screams Penn Central to me. I'm glad to have finally come to my senses!!

In other action the 8027 leads three siblings down the mainline to Terminal Yard as a freight train with PC GP38 7675 holds on the Bedford secondary. The 7675 was part of the original 140 unit order (7675-7814) order in 1969.

On another day the four units haul a train from Selkirk to Terminal Yard.

The GP38 Fleet in Action

A Rude Awakening

As the four Athearn BB GP38s made their way around the layout with various trains that I enjoyed railfanning I discovered the four powered units were a bit too much for my MRC 2500 controller during the continuous running. After heating up considerably the overload circuit tripped and the consist came to a complete halt. Rats!!!

I reassessed my power needs and swapped an Athearn dummy GP38 chassis from a Conrail unit with an Athearn powered chassis of an older a PC GP38. The consist is now three powered units and one non powered unit which still provides plenty of muscle. In a pinch the fourth GP38 can quickly be repowered for basic operations.

Final Thoughts and Comments

With eight PC GP38s/GP38-2s now on the roster I envision continuing to us them in system wide service as the 1:1 Penn Central did. The four Athearn BB units now offer additional muscle where needed in a four powered set and can handle most of the tonnage I can throw at them in a 3-1 powered/dummy set. They will be right at home with hotshot TOFC TrailVan trains, mixed manifest symbol trains or lugging loaded coal hopper extras. 

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!