EMD GP39-2


The EMD GP39-2 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1974 and 1984. 239 examples of this locomotive were built for American railroads. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP39-2 was an upgraded GP39. The power for this locomotive was provided by a turbocharged 12-cylinder 12-645E3 diesel engine, which could produce.
Unlike the original GP39, which sold only 23 examples as railroads preferred the reliable non-turbocharged GP38, the GP39-2 was reasonably successful, ascribed to its better fuel economy relative to the GP38-2, which became of more interest in the 1970s energy crisis, and to its better performance at altitude.

Original owners

The GP39-2 sold to five railroads and two industrial operators:
RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway1063600–3705Remainder to BNSF; 3600-3616 sold to Willamette & [Pacific Railroad] in 1993 as 2301-2317. Now later Portland & Western Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad402700–2739All to BNSF
Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation321-3, 705–711, 779–799, 905705-711 and 779-799 were built with raised cab roofs and extra windows for improved visibility in the Bingham open pit copper mine. Kennecott #3 was built for the Ray Mines Division of Kennecott Copper Corporation
Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad20360–379371 to UP as 2370, then to NEGS, then to WAMX as 3927, operating with AA; remainder to UP
Phelps Dodge Corporation133
Reading Company203401–3420To Delaware and Hudson Railway as 373, 374, 380, 382–386, 389, 7401–7403, 7406–7410, and 7418–7419, then to CSX as 4300–4319
Delaware and Hudson Railway207601-7620To Boston and Maine, to UP, and then to Webb Asset Management
Total239

Rebuilds

Union Pacific has rebuilt 7 of their GP39-2's into GP39N's at their Jenk's shop. These units received a microprocessor control system to increase adhesion, control options, and extend the life of the locomotive.

Preservation

Only one GP39-2 is preserved as of 2019: