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Home Shops ScaleTrains SD38-2 (TGN 438) • Texas Great Northern #438 • DC/Silent • HO Scale [OPTIONAL DCC UPGRADE]

Home Shops ScaleTrains SD38-2 (TGN 438) • Texas Great Northern #438 • DC/Silent • HO Scale [OPTIONAL DCC UPGRADE]

$229.99
$229.99
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Texas Great Northern EMD SD38-2 Locomotive

HO Scale DCC-Ready Silent Diesel Locomotive

A rugged, detail-rich EMD SD38-2 built for realistic heavy-duty switching, industrial service, and road freight operation.

Product Overview

The EMD SD38-2 is a purposeful, hard-working locomotive designed for heavy switching, transfer service, industrial operations, and demanding road assignments where tractive effort and reliability matter more than high horsepower. With its six-axle stance, rugged EMD engineering, and no-nonsense appearance, the SD38-2 is a natural fit for yards, terminals, ports, steel mills, chemical plants, and regional freight operations.

This Texas Great Northern version brings that utilitarian character to HO scale with a fully assembled, DCC-ready silent model packed with modern lighting effects and fine-scale detail. From LED-illuminated headlights, walkway lights, ground lights, and class lights to detailed HT-C trucks, wire grab irons, MU hoses, and rust-color painted wheelsets, this locomotive is built to stand out both up close and in operation.

Perfect for modelers looking to add dependable six-axle diesel power to their fleet, this SD38-2 offers a strong balance of operating potential, modern tooling, and distinctive regional railroad character.

Product Features

The ScaleTrains EMD SD38-2 Locomotive features:

•Fully-assembled
•Multiple road numbers
•Directional LED-illuminated headlights
•LED-illuminated ground lights on both sides of locomotive
•LED-Illuminated walkway lights
•LED-illuminated front tricolor stand-off class lights
•Printed number boards with separately controlled backlit LED-illumination*
•Front and rear full width multiple unit (MU) hose catch tray
•3-hose multiple unit (MU) hose clusters with silver gladhands
•Semi-scale coupler buffer equipped with durable metal semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers
•Front and rear straight uncoupling levers with loop handles
•Notched pilot faces with high angled lifting slots
•Scale sectioned treadplate detail on walkways
•Detailed HT-C trucks with Hyatt bearing caps, early center axle snubbers, sanding lines and brackets, and D-77 traction motor and air duct details, triple clasp brake shoes, and third brake cylinder
•Rust-color painted wheelsets
•Dimensionally accurate truck centers
•Factory-applied wire grab irons, wire lift rings, windshield wipers, trainline hoses with silver gladhands, sand hatch covers, and more

Why We Love This Model

The SD38-2 has a workhorse personality that makes it especially appealing for realistic railroad operations. It is not flashy for the sake of being flashy; it is the kind of locomotive that looks right at home grinding through yard work, moving heavy cuts of cars, or handling industrial traffic where dependable six-axle power is essential.

This Texas Great Northern version adds even more character with excellent lighting features, detailed truck and pilot components, and the kind of separately applied details that reward close-up viewing. For operators, it is a strong choice for switching and freight assignments. For collectors, it offers a distinctive regional look with modern ScaleTrains detailing throughout.

Take It From “Runs” to “Runs Like It Should”

Put OJ to work and upgrade this unit to DCC — or go all-in with DCC & Sound.

With the DCC & Sound upgrade, OJ professionally installs the decoder and programs it with sounds tailored specifically to this locomotive using the ESU LokProgrammer.

And listen — OJ doesn’t casually toss around the word professional, but when it comes to decoder installs and programming depth, he absolutely earns it.

Prefer to handle the install and programming yourself? You can select the decoder-only option below and take it from there.

To add one of the options below, add the product to your cart and choose your option. Please allow 1–3 processing days for installation/programming.

Upgrade Option Price
ESU LokPilot (Non-Sound Decoder) + Installation & Programming 62.99
ESU LokPilot (Non-Sound Decoder) - Programming Only (You Install) 52.99
ESU LokPilot (Non-Sound Decoder Only) - No Installation/Programming 32.99
ESU LokSound (Sound Decoder) + Installation & Programming 139.99
ESU LokSound (Sound Decoder) + Programming Only (You Install) 129.99
ESU LokSound - Sound Decoder Only (No Installation/Programming) 94.99

Add Rugged Six-Axle Diesel Power to Your Fleet

With its detailed lighting package, road-specific visual character, rugged SD38-2 profile, and DCC-ready silent configuration, this Texas Great Northern locomotive is ready to bring realistic heavy-duty diesel operation to your HO scale railroad.

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