In the decade between 1974 and 1984, EMD produced the GP39-2 for seven North American railroads. The basic design followed most four axle road diesel switchers for the time. Borrowing improvements from the GP38-2 and GP40-2 designs, this mid-horsepower road switcher utilized a turbocharged 12-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine for it’s prime mover. With 4 fewer cylinders, the smaller engine provided a distinctive long hood on the phase II and phase III bodies, where the clean room/engine compartment doors were set back from the cab further than predecessor locomotives. Sensitivity to fuel economy in the 1970s justified the GP39-2 in the locomotive market. It also laid the ground work for EMD to start exploring locomotive designs that utilize engines with larger piston displacement yet posess fewer cylinders. This approach has become the foundation to modern locomotive technology.

Introduced in 1974 as an update to the GP39, this second generation EMD diesel was more successful than the first. It offered better fuel economy and better performance at higher altitudes than the GP38-2's. Even though it had a 12 cylinder prime mover, it's turbocharging gave it 2300 horsepower compared to 2000 horsepower of the 16 cylinder prime mover in the GP38-2. Still, with only 239 made, it was only a moderate success in comparison to it's stablemate, the GP38-2 with production ending in 1984.

Features:

• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
  
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with both 8- and 9-pin connector
  
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
  
• Accurately painted and printed paint schemes
  
• Coupler cut levers
  
• MU hoses
  
• Trainline hose
  
• See through cab windows
  
• Full cab interior
  
• Walkway tread
  
• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance
  
• Windshield wipers
  
• Lift rings
  
• Wire grab irons
  
• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, & breather pipes
  
• Sander lines
  
• McHenry scale knuckle couplers - Kadee compatible
  
• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain
  
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation
  
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
  
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on Code 55, 70, 75, 80, 83, and 100 rail
  
• Incandescent bulbs for realistic appearance
  
• Heavy die cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power

DCC w/Sound Features:

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami sound
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode
• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
• Excellent slow speed control
• Operating lighting functions with F5 and/or F6 (Flashing ditch lights, beacon, etc)
• Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights
• Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes
• CV chart included

Primed For Grime Features:

• Duplicated look and feel of “In Service” equipment; “Tattered and Torn” just like the real thing
• Faded base colors matched to the prototype
• Patches applied and shaped per road number matching each corresponding side to the prototype
• Perfect starting point for adding grime and rust

Road Number Specific Features:

Delivered in 1977, ATSF 3669-3682 were the first Phase II GP39-2s constructed by EMD. The most prominent spotting feature of these units is the 3 foot long blank space behind the cab, due to the engine compartment being moved rearwards. They also featured the new 88” nose that came into use at this time. Standard Santa Fe roof equipment included an air conditioner, large antenna ground plane over the dust bin, and a Prime Stratolite beacon. The units could be found working secondary assignments on the eastern half of the Santa Fe until the mid 80s, at which time they began to wander west as part of almost any train, with almost any other type of power.

• Phase II GP39-2
  
• 88” nose, corrugated grills, standard fans
  
• No rear class lights
  
• Illuminated Prime Stratolite beacon; effect DCC+Sound
  
• Front anticlimber, rear drop step
  
• Pilot mounted MU receptacles
  
• Front EMD low plow
  
• Riveted cab sides with no armrests
  
• Early battery box doors
  
• Leslie RS3L air horn on bracket
  
• Antenna ground plane with sinclair antenna
  
• Vapor air conditioner
  
• Blomberg-M trucks
  
• 2900 gal fuel tank
• Era: 1977+