Surviving GP38s

Penn Central GP38 road switchers were turned over to Conrail and became part of the CR 7600-7939 series. The impressive fleet could be found almost anywhere, from yard and local duty to hauling mainline freights. 270 of them were built new for the Penn Central in the late 1960's and early 70's. Big blue inherited 4 GP38AC's from the Lehigh Valley (LV 310-313), along with 15 straight GP38's from the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL 2000-2014)

In the early 1980's Conrail had a large number of locomotives in storage. At the same time, Conrail was looking to invest in a rebuild program that would place currently stored, beaten and bruised locomotives back to work. Conrail GP35 #2363 had been retired on February 11, 1981 and was sitting in storage awaiting final disposition when it was selected as the first candidate for the proposed rebuild program. It was hauled into the Juniata Locomotive shops and released on November 29, 1984 as GP38 #7635.

The unit was downgraded from 2,200hp to the standard GP38 2,000hp. A paper air filter box was added behind the central air intake ahead, and the dynamic brakes were removed as evidenced by the blanking out of the blister (which was also cut short to accommodate the paper air filter). The original GP35 class lights were replaced with the FRA-approved 'bug-eyes' typically found on newer EMD locomotives. The GP35 turbocharger was removed and two more exhaust stacks were added.

The experiment was not determined to be economically viable and the unit became the only such rebuilt locomotive on the system. CR GP38 7635 was finally retired on June 11, 1997.

In 1999, the fleet was divided between Norfolk Southern and CSX. Those assigned to NS were renumbered into the 2880-2957 series (2881-2884 are the former LV GP38AC's). A current rebuild program at NS is underway and many of the GP38's are being rebuilt into 700 series RP-E4C road slugs with cabs and full height long hoods designed to operate with GP40-2 mothers. CSX allocated units became 1943-1998.

AMTK 723 (CR 7758)

AMTK 723 is seen on Amtrak work train KP701 at Newark DE on 5/3/10. AMTK 723 ex P&LE 2027/CR 7758/PC 7758. The unit was rebuilt at JBS in 1995 for Amtrak.

BAYL 503 (CR 7781)

Former CR 7781, now Bayline 503 CRHS Collection

CSXT 1961 (CR 7716)

Former CR 7716/PC 7716 at Cumberland, MD on 9/26/99.

ELS 402 (CR 7772)

Former Conrail 7772(ELS 402) still has its CR logo on it 25 years after being purchased by the Escanaba and Lake Superior in 1984. Unit was photographed on a train at Channing, MI on June 9, 2009. Mark Keyser photo, posted with permission.

EMDX 761 (CR 7961)

EMDX 761(ex CR 7961), still showing some of the can opener logo on the side, and a Santa Fe GE run engine lite at Rochelle, IL on August 28, 1998.

GMTX 2619 (CR 7938)

GMTX 2619 began life as PC 7938, and retained her number onto CR. She became CSXT 1998 after the split and then was sold to GATX Rail Locomotive Group. Shot at Enola, PA 8/13/2006

HLCX 3611 (CR 7762)

HLCX 3611(ex HLCX 2023, CMNW 2023, CR 7762, PC 7762) sits at CP's Bensenville, IL yard on June 4, 1995 with several patched ex MILW units now lettered for SOO Line. Todd Pendleton picture, Chris Howe collection

This unit became WAMX 3807 in Dec. 04

KCSM 401 (CR 7763)

KCSM GPTEB-C road slug 401, started life as PC 7763 in August of 1969 and was transferred to Conrail in 1976. Unit went off lease and was retired and was bought by the Chicago Missouri & Western in 1987 and renumbered to 2024. The CM&W went bankrupt shortly after it was formed and was sold piecemeal to other companies. Gateway Western was one of them and it acquired the 2024 where it kept the same road number until the railroad was purchased by the KCS in 1997. It was eventually renumbered to 4098, then rebuilt to the KCSM 701 in December 2009. Having no prime mover, it serves as a slug to mother KCSM 2402.. This unit never wore Conrail paint.

Light up the Spirit

Brock Kerchner replaces the headlight on "The Spirit of Conrail."

LLPX 2014 (CR 7672)

Former CR 7672, built as PRSL 2012, is seen on lease to the Bay Coast Railroad in Norfolk, VA on 11/21/2009.

MWLX 362 (CR 7663)

GP38-3, built as GP38 PRSL 2003 in December 1967

MWLX 362 (CR 7663)

SMS's newest diesel is seen at Bridgeport NJ on 10/19/09. The unit started life as PRSL 2003 then CR 7663. After leaving the CR roster in 1983 it became BAR 91 and then rebuilt to BAR 362. After life of the BAR it was sold to Midwest Locomotive becoming MWLX 362. After a trip through the paint booth she will emerge as SMS 2003. The unit has been upgraded to Dash-3 standards and has dynamic brakes.

NS 2885 (CR 7679)

Former CR 7679 is seen in the deadlines at Altoona on 5/24/2008.

NS 2893 (CR 7699)

Former CR 7699 on 3/15/2004 Enola, PA

NS 2893 (CR 7699)

Former Conrail GP38 7699 lives out her final days behind the Juniata Shops on 7/7/2007. In October of 2010, unit was rebuilt to NS 720, a RP-E4C.

NS 2897 (CR 7705)

(ex-CR 7705/PC 7705). Seen here being used as the Enola PA shop switcher.

NS 2901 (CR 7712)

Former Conrail GP38 7712 sits at Enola Yard on 4/6/2004

NS 2908 (CR 7728)

Former Conrail GP38 7728 sits behind the E&M shop at Juniata on 8/23/2008. The unit was in the storage lines in July 2007, so her migration up to the backshop quite likely signals the end for her...

NS 2908 (CR 7728)

Former CR 7728 is seen at Altoona PA on 9-11-08.

NS 2909 (CR 7730)

Former Conrail GP38 7730 is behind the Juniata Shops on 7/7/2007.

NS 2910 (CR 7731)

Former Conrail GP38 7731 is in the deadline behind Juniata Shops on 7/7/2007. In May of 2009, unit was rebuilt to NS 706, a RP-E4C.

NS 2911 (CR 7732)

Former Conrail GP38 7732 is sitting behind the E&M Shop at Juniata, PA on 8/23/2008. Sad to see her with assorted bits and pieces just dangling from the carbody; the rebuild and banishment into NS black will almost be a merciful end to such a sorry-looking state.