A 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive developed and produced for the North American market by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division (EMD) in the 1970s and 1980s. The locomotives were meant for general-purpose duties (meaning they could perform yard tasks, local duties, and periodically haul mainline freights) and could produce 2,000 horsepower (1.5 megawatts) per unit. The locomotives would prove to be popular with many railroads, being considered reliable and easy to upgrade. Resultantly, the vast majority of the more than 2,000 units built are still in service to the present.
emd gp38-2