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The GP39-2 was offered
by EMD as a fuel-efficient alternative to
their very popular GP38-2 model. This
efficiency resulted from the use of a
turbocharged 12-cylinder 645E3 diesel
engine, as opposed to the non-turbocharged
16-cylinder prime mover in the GP38-2. The
use of a turbocharger increased the
horsepower output from 2,000 to 2,300hp
with four fewer cylinders. One other
benefit of the turbocharger is improved
operation at higher altitudes where thin
air causes normally-aspirated diesels to
lose power and produce excess smoke. The
largest original fleet of GP39-2s was
assembled by the Santa Fe who, over the
course of seven years, acquired a total of
106 units.
Our model represents a “phase 1”
GP39-2 locomotive which was produced
between 1974 and late 1976. The overall
appearance of a phase 1 model is similar
to that of a GP38-2 except for the
presence of a single turbocharged exhaust
stack. There were only four original
owners of the phase 1 GP39-2 including
Santa Fe, Reading, Delaware & Hudson
and a single-unit order for Kennecott
Copper. Many of these units had
interesting careers and nearly all are
still in service today operating for BNSF,
Union Pacific, CSX, and Pacific Northwest
shortline Portland & Western.
This first production run represents a
“then and now” of sorts.
Delaware & Hudson amassed a fleet of
forty units, purchasing twenty new and
receiving Reading’s twenty units
after the formation of Conrail. The former
Reading units were only 14 months old at
the time and were re-numbered as D&H
7401-7420 (those built new for D&H
were numbered 7601-7620). The ex-Reading
units were then acquired by CSX in 1990
and continue to operate for that carrier
today. Several Santa Fe phase 1 GP39-2s
were sold in 1993 to shortline Willamette
& Pacific which (as of December 2000)
is now operated as the Portland &
Western. The Portland & Western units
we are offering wear an orange & black
paint scheme that reflects Genesee &
Wyoming’s corporate ownership of that
line.
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Features:
- NMRA 8-pin plug for
DCC
- The same drive as
our basic Master Series™, in an
affordable locomotive
- Five-pole skewed
armature motor with dual flywheels
- Separately applied
hand rails and end railings
- Matching cabooses
available separately
- Locating dimples
for grab irons
- True scale
dimensions with accurate details
- Realistic die-cast
underframes
- Equipped with
AccuMate® Couplers
- As with our Master
Series™ GP-38, this model features
either a 2,600 or 3,600 gallon fuel
tank, depending on the prototype.
AccuMate® couplers
are made under license from AccuRail,
Inc.
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