Southern Railway‘s 5044 & 5109: Powerful GP38-2 Units with Unique High Short Hoods
The Southern Railway 5044 and 5109 stand as iconic representations of the GP38-2 locomotives, boasting an impressive output of 2,000 horsepower each. These marvels were manufactured by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, with 5044 gracing the tracks in 1973 and its counterpart, the 5109, following in 1974 for Southern Railway. Defying the conventions embraced by other railroads, Southern Railway exhibited a preference for high short hoods, deploying them on all 257 of their GP38-2 units, contrasting the more typical low short hoods. These two emblematic locomotives found their new home when Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) seized the opportunity to procure them at auctions in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Specifications:
Locomotives: Southern Railway 5044 & 5109
Locomotive Type: Diesel-Electric
Operators: Southern Railway, Norfolk Southern Railway, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Model: GP38-2
Builder: General Motors Electro-Motive Division
Date Built: 1973 & 1974
Locomotive Weight: 250,000 lb
Prime Mover: EMD 16-645E
Fuel: Diesel
Horsepower: 2,000 hp
Status: 5044 – Operational/5109 – Operational