EMD GP39-2

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Hello all,

Can anybody on here tell me the spotting differences between an EMD GP38-2 and a EMD GP39-2? I have been trying to find information that discusses cosmetic differences and have not found anything. One thing I do know it that the blower housing on the GP39-2 is three feet further back on the long hood and there is a turbo stack in front of the dynamic brake.

Any help would be great …Thanks!

Fred

2

GP39 only has one exhaust stack

3

The movement of the Blower duct is not a reliable spotting feature, early GP39-2s had the duct in the same position as GP38-2s. The single easiest spotting difference is the air filter box on the roof, and then whether there is a turbo or two exhaust stacks. Where the air filter box can breakdown is between a non-Dash-2 GP38 and a GP39-2. The key difference here is the close spacing of the radiator fans. So it works like this, check for Air Filter Box and then for the radiator fans. Air Filter Box means you are looking at a GP38, GP38AC or a GP38-2. If no Air Filter Box is present then check the radiator fan spacing, wider spacing GP38, close spacing GP39-2.

4

Thanks! That is the kind of stuff I am looking for.

Fred