EMD SD38AC


An EMD SD38AC is a 6-axle road switcher diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between June and October 1971. It was basically an SD38 with an AR10 alternating current alternator instead of the SD38's normal direct current generator. It produces from a 16-cylinder EMD 645E roots blown prime mover. It came equipped with or without dynamic brakes. This locomotive shared the same common frame with the SD39, SD38, SD40 and SD45. The SD38AC is basically the transition engine between the SD38 and the SD38-2. 15 examples of this model were built; 6 for B&LE, 8 for DMIR and one for BC Hydro.

Original owners

RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad6864-869864 wrecked near Conneaut, OH ; 865 to DM&IR 200 ; 869 to DM&IR 869 ; 866, 867. 866, 867, and 868 remain on home rails as of 5-01-07.
Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway8201-208204, to LTEX, scrapped at Proctor ; 208, stored, to LTEX (4/28/04
BC Hydro1381-