The brute force and size of mighty locomotives, such as the SD80MAC and C40-8W, make those locomotives favorites among modern railfans and modelers. These fellows will stand trackside and marvel as two MACs effortlessly haul a 100+ car coal drag at mainline speed. Granted, there is a certain appeal to watching these giant locomotives at work, but they are only one small piece of the entire railroading picture. For example, have you ever watched an SD80MAC set-off an empty covered hopper along a branchline? I thought not. So where am I going with all of this? Why to that flexible, reliable, dependable, venerable, and a host of other "able-word" locomotive--the GP38-2.The combination of its underrated 2,000hp 645 prime mover, a.c. traction motors, modular electronics, and four axles made it one of the most reliable and versatile locomotives of all time. You could easily find these locomotives switching freight in a yard, leading a train up a secondary line, or working side-by-side with higher horsepower locomotives on mainline freights or work trains. I know of no other locomotive on Conrail's roster that could do such a variety of chores with little effort. As a former neighbor of mine who just happened to be Conrail engineer used to say, "I'll take a beat-up GP38-2 any day over a C40-8W."
Even though they inherited 223 units from the Penn Central, Conrail still needed more reliable, smaller road switchers to service its many secondaries (aka branchlines) during the early years. It wasn't until the later 1980's and 90's that Conrail began shedding many of its secondaries to upstart shortlines and regionals. So between 1977 and 1979, they received 119 additional GP38-2's.
Model railroaders have assigned the name of "phases" to designate groups of production units that contain similar features, such as nose length. I have yet to see a detailed examination of GP38-2 phases, nor am I an expert on such things. But I do know from inspection that Conrail received at least two major phases or groups of these locomotives. These phases are nearly identical to those found on the GP40-2's.
The first group, which I am currently labeling as Phase I, were purchased by the Penn Central between 1972-1973 and assigned to the series CR 7940-8162. Like most if not all GPxx-2's manufactured prior to 1976, these units have an 81" low short hood and wire mesh radiator grills.
The second group, which I am currently labeling as Phase II, were purchased by Conrail between 1977-1979 and assigned to series CR 7940-8282. Unlike Phase I units, these have an 88" low nose, the newer-style corrugated radiator grills, a slightly redesigned dynamic brake area, and a revised air filter box. These units, like the Phase I's, came with the 2,600 gallon tanks.
Of special note aside from phases is CR 8157 because it was specially equipped with a hot box simulator.
Many of Conrail's GP38-2's survived until the end of the railroad in 1999 and have soldiered on 20 years beyond that date. Long live the GP38-2! 
Comprehensive EMD GP38-2 Roster
The roster below is comprehensive for Conrail's GP38-2 between April 1976 and May 31, 1999. From CR 8040 onward, nearly all Conrail's GP38-2's were transferred to Norfolk Southern or CSX on June 1, 1999. On January 25, 2019 I added a unit-by-unit roster with build and retirement dates, but I have no plans of adding dispositions due to their complex nature. If you have information about retirement dates for these units, please send me an email with the info, and I'll update the roster. Information for this roster comes primarily from Conrail Motive Power Review: 1986-1991 (1992) by Paul K. Withers, Conrail - The Final Years: 1992-1997 (Revised Printing 1998) by Paul K. Withers, Conrail Motive Power Review, Volume 1: The First 10 Years 1976-1986 (1992) by Gordon Lloyd Jr. and Louis A. Marre, various Conrail Locomotive Data rosters, and Conrail enthusiasts around the world.
CR # Former Buit Removed Note
========================================
7940 PC 7940 05/72 07/15/87 1
7941 PC 7941 05/72 07/15/87 1
7942 PC 7942 05/72 07/15/87 1
7943 PC 7943 05/72 07/15/87 1
7944 PC 7944 05/72 07/15/87 1
7945 PC 7945 05/72 07/15/87 1
7946 PC 7946 05/72 07/15/87 1
7947 PC 7947 05/72 07/15/87 1
7948 PC 7948 05/72 07/15/87 1
7949 PC 7949 05/72 07/15/87 1
7950 PC 7950 05/72 07/15/87 1
7951 PC 7951 05/72 07/15/87 1
7952 PC 7952 05/72 07/15/87 1
7953 PC 7953 05/72 07/15/87 1
7954 PC 7954 05/72 07/15/87 1
7955 PC 7955 05/72 07/15/87 1
7956 PC 7956 05/72 07/15/87 1
7957 PC 7957 05/72 07/15/87 1
7958 PC 7958 05/72 07/15/87 1
7959 PC 7959 05/72 07/15/87 1
7960 PC 7960 05/72 07/15/87 1
7961 PC 7961 05/72 07/15/87 1
7962 PC 7962 05/72 07/15/87 1
7963 PC 7963 06/72 07/15/87 1
7964 PC 7964 06/72 07/15/87 1
7965 PC 7965 06/72 07/15/87 1
7966 PC 7966 06/72 07/15/87 1
7967 PC 7967 06/72 07/15/87 1
7968 PC 7968 06/72 07/15/87 1
7969 PC 7969 06/72 07/15/87 1
7970 PC 7970 06/72 07/15/87 1
7971 PC 7971 06/72 07/15/87 1
7972 PC 7972 06/72 07/15/87 1
7973 PC 7973 06/72 07/15/87 1
7974 PC 7974 06/72 07/15/87 1
7975 PC 7975 06/72 07/15/87 1
7976 PC 7976 06/72 07/15/87 1
7977 PC 7977 06/72 07/15/87 1
7978 PC 7978 06/72 07/15/87 1
7979 PC 7979 07/72 07/15/87 1
7980 PC 7980 07/72 07/15/87 1
7981 PC 7981 07/72 07/15/87 1
7982 PC 7982 07/72 07/15/87 1
7983 PC 7983 07/72 07/15/87 1
7984 PC 7984 07/72 07/15/87 1
7985 PC 7985 07/72 07/15/87 1
7986 PC 7986 07/72 07/15/87 1
7987 PC 7987 07/72 07/15/87 1
7988 PC 7988 07/72 07/15/87 1
7989 PC 7989 07/72 07/15/87 1
7990 PC 7990 07/72 07/15/87 1
7991 PC 7991 07/72 07/15/87 1
7992 PC 7992 07/72 07/15/87 1
7993 PC 7993 07/72 07/15/87 1
7994 PC 7994 07/72 07/15/87 1
7995 PC 7995 07/72 07/15/87 1
7996 PC 7996 07/72 07/15/87 1
7997 PC 7997 07/72 07/15/87 1
7998 PC 7998 07/72 07/15/87 1
7999 PC 7999 07/72 07/15/87 1
8000 PC 8000 07/72 07/15/87 1
8001 PC 8001 08/72 07/15/87 1
8002 PC 8002 08/72 07/15/87 1
8003 PC 8003 08/72 07/15/87 1
8004 PC 8004 08/72 07/15/87 1
8005 PC 8005 08/72 07/15/87 1
8006 PC 8006 08/72 07/15/87 1
8007 PC 8007 08/72 07/15/87 1
8008 PC 8008 08/72 07/15/87 1
8009 PC 8009 08/72 07/15/87 1
8010 PC 8010 08/72 07/15/87 1
8011 PC 8011 08/72 07/15/87 1
8012 PC 8012 08/72 07/15/87 1
8013 PC 8013 08/72 07/15/87 1
8014 PC 8014 08/72 07/15/87 1
8015 PC 8015 08/72 07/15/87 1
8016 PC 8016 08/72 07/15/87 1
8017 PC 8017 08/72 07/15/87 1
8018 PC 8018 08/72 07/15/87 1
8019 PC 8019 08/72 07/15/87 1
8020 PC 8020 08/72 07/15/87 1
8021 PC 8021 08/72 07/15/87 1
8022 PC 8022 08/72 07/15/87 1
8023 PC 8023 08/72 07/15/87 1
8024 PC 8024 08/72 07/15/87 1
8025 PC 8025 08/72 07/15/87 1
8026 PC 8026 08/72 07/15/87 1
8027 PC 8027 08/72 07/15/87 1
8028 PC 8028 08/72 07/15/87 1
8029 PC 8029 08/72 07/15/87 1
8030 PC 8030 08/72 07/15/87 1
8031 PC 8031 08/72 07/15/87 1
8032 PC 8032 08/72 07/15/87 1
8033 PC 8033 08/72 07/15/87 1
8034 PC 8034 08/72 07/15/87 1
8035 PC 8035 08/72 07/15/87 1
8036 PC 8036 08/72 07/15/87 1
8037 PC 8037 08/72 07/15/87 1
8038 PC 8038 08/72 07/15/87 1
8039 PC 8039 08/72 07/15/87 1
8040 PC 8040 02/73 05/31/99 2
8041 PC 8041 02/73 05/31/99 2
8042 PC 8042 02/73 05/31/99 2
8043 PC 8043 02/73 05/31/99 2
8044 PC 8044 02/73 05/31/99 2
8045 PC 8045 02/73 05/31/99 2
8046 PC 8046 02/73 05/31/99 2
8047 PC 8047 02/73 05/31/99 2
8048 PC 8048 02/73 05/31/99 2
8049 PC 8049 02/73 05/31/99 2
8050 PC 8050 02/73 05/31/99 2
8051 PC 8051 02/73 05/31/99 2
8052 PC 8052 02/73 05/31/99 2
8053 PC 8053 02/73 05/31/99 2
8054 PC 8054 02/73 05/31/99 2
8055 PC 8055 02/73 05/31/99 2
8056 PC 8056 02/73 05/31/99 2
8057 PC 8057 02/73 05/31/99 2
8058 PC 8058 02/73 05/31/99 2
8059 PC 8059 02/73 05/31/99 2
8060 PC 8060 02/73 05/31/99 2
8061 PC 8061 02/73 05/31/99 2
8062 PC 8062 02/73 05/31/99 2
8063 PC 8063 02/73 05/31/99 2
8064 PC 8064 02/73 05/31/99 2
8065 PC 8065 02/73 05/31/99
8066 PC 8066 02/73 05/31/99
8067 PC 8067 02/73 05/31/99
8068 PC 8068 02/73 05/31/99
8069 PC 8069 02/73 05/31/99
8070 PC 8070 02/73 05/31/99
8071 PC 8071 02/73 05/31/99
8072 PC 8072 02/73 05/31/99
8073 PC 8073 02/73 05/31/99
8074 PC 8074 02/73 05/31/99
8075 PC 8075 02/73 05/31/99
8076 PC 8076 02/73 05/31/99
8077 PC 8077 02/73 05/31/99
8078 PC 8078 02/73 05/31/99
8079 PC 8079 02/73 05/31/99
8080 PC 8080 02/73 4
8081 PC 8081 02/73 05/31/99
8082 PC 8082 02/73 05/31/99
8083 PC 8083 02/73 05/31/99
8084 PC 8084 02/73 05/31/99
8085 PC 8085 02/73 05/31/99
8086 PC 8086 02/73 05/31/99
8087 PC 8087 02/73 05/31/99
8088 PC 8088 02/73 05/31/99
8089 PC 8089 02/73 05/31/99
8090 PC 8090 02/73 05/31/99
8091 PC 8091 02/73 05/31/99
8092 PC 8092 02/73 05/31/99
8093 PC 8093 02/73 05/31/99
8094 PC 8094 02/73 05/31/99
8095 PC 8095 02/73 05/31/99
8096 PC 8096 02/73 05/31/99
8097 PC 8097 02/73 05/31/99
8098 PC 8098 02/73 05/31/99
8099 PC 8099 02/73 05/31/99
8100 PC 8100 02/73 05/31/99
8101 PC 8101 02/73 05/31/99
8102 PC 8102 02/73 05/31/99
8103 PC 8103 02/73 05/31/99
8104 PC 8104 02/73 05/31/99
8105 PC 8105 02/73 05/31/99
8106 PC 8106 02/73 05/31/99
8107 PC 8107 02/73 05/31/99
8108 PC 8108 02/73 05/31/99
8109 PC 8109 02/73 05/31/99
8110 PC 8110 02/73 05/31/99
8111 PC 8111 02/73 05/31/99
8112 PC 8112 02/73 05/31/99
8113 PC 8113 02/73 05/31/99
8114 PC 8114 02/73 04/03/86
8115 PC 8115 02/73 05/31/99
8116 PC 8116 02/73 05/31/99
8117 PC 8117 02/73 05/31/99
8118 PC 8118 02/73 05/31/99
8119 PC 8119 02/73 05/31/99
8120 PC 8120 02/73 05/31/99
8121 PC 8121 02/73 05/31/99
8122 PC 8122 02/73 05/31/99
8123 PC 8123 02/73 05/31/99
8124 PC 8124 02/73 05/31/99
8125 PC 8125 02/73 05/31/99
8126 PC 8126 02/73 05/31/99
8127 PC 8127 02/73 05/31/99
8128 PC 8128 02/73 05/31/99
8129 PC 8129 02/73 05/31/99
8130 PC 8130 02/73 05/31/99
8131 PC 8131 02/73 05/31/99
8132 PC 8132 02/73 05/31/99
8133 PC 8133 02/73 05/31/99
8134 PC 8134 02/73 05/31/99
8135 PC 8135 02/73 05/31/99
8136 PC 8136 03/73 05/31/99
8137 PC 8137 03/73 05/31/99
8138 PC 8138 03/73 05/31/99
8139 PC 8139 03/73 05/31/99
8140 PC 8140 03/73 05/31/99
8141 PC 8141 03/73 05/31/99
8142 PC 8142 03/73 05/31/99
8143 PC 8143 03/73 05/31/99
8144 PC 8144 03/73 05/31/99
8145 PC 8145 03/73 05/31/99
8146 PC 8146 03/73 05/31/99
8147 PC 8147 03/73 05/31/99
8148 PC 8148 03/73 05/31/99
8149 PC 8149 03/73 05/31/99
8150 PC 8150 03/73 05/31/99
8151 PC 8151 03/73 05/31/99
8152 PC 8152 03/73 05/31/99
8153 PC 8153 03/73 05/31/99
8154 PC 8154 10/73 05/31/99 3
8155 PC 8155 10/73 05/31/99 3
8156 PC 8156 10/73 05/31/99 3
8157 PC 8157 10/73 05/31/99 3
8158 PC 8158 10/73 05/31/99 3
8159 PC 8159 10/73 05/31/99 3
8160 PC 8160 10/73 05/31/99 3
8161 PC 8161 10/73 05/31/99 3
8162 PC 8162 10/73 05/31/99 3
8163 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8164 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8165 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8166 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8167 ....... 06/77 4
8168 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8169 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8170 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8171 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8172 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8173 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8174 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8175 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8176 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8177 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8178 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8179 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8180 ....... 06/77 05/31/99
8181 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8182 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8183 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8184 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8185 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8186 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8187 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8188 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8189 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8190 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8191 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8192 ....... 05/78 05/31/99
8193 ....... 06/78 05/31/99
8194 ....... 06/78 05/31/99
8195 ....... 06/78 05/31/99
8196 ....... 06/78 05/31/99
8197 ....... 06/78 05/31/99
8198 ....... 06/78 05/31/99
8199 ....... 06/78 05/31/99
8200 ....... 06/78 05/31/99
8201 ....... 06/78 05/31/99
8202 ....... 07/78 4
8203 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8204 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8205 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8206 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8207 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8208 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8209 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8210 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8211 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8212 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8213 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8214 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8215 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8216 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8217 ....... 07/78 05/31/99
8218 ....... 08/78 05/31/99
8219 ....... 08/78 05/31/99
8220 ....... 08/78 05/31/99
8221 ....... 08/78 05/31/99
8222 ....... 08/78 05/31/99
8223 ....... 08/78 05/31/99
8224 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8225 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8226 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8227 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8228 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8229 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8230 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8231 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8232 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8233 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8234 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8235 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8236 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8237 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8238 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8239 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8240 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8241 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8242 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8243 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8244 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8245 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8246 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8247 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8248 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8249 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8250 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8251 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8252 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8253 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8254 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8255 ....... 09/78 05/31/99
8256 ....... 05/79 05/31/99
8257 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8258 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8259 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8260 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8261 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8262 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8263 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8264 ....... 06/79 4
8265 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8266 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8267 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8268 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8269 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8270 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8271 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8272 ....... 06/79 4
8273 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8274 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8275 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8276 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8277 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8278 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8279 ....... 07/79 05/31/99
8280 ....... 06/79 05/31/99
8281 ....... 07/79 05/31/99
Roster Notes:
1. CR 7940-8039 were returned EMD on the date listed as "retired." EMD then leased the units to other railroads.
2. CR 8040-8064 were cleared for used in the rotary dump at Pennsylvania Power & Light's Strawberry Ridge plant in PA.
3. CR 8154-8162 with equipped with bi-directional cab stands.
4. Retired prior to 1986, but I do not know the exact date.