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Life-Like HO-Scale
                                    Trains Resource

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
British Columbia Railway 
No. 08365 -1977 Release
No. 08273 -Non-Powered

Life-Like GP-38-2 Burlington Northern

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Burlington Northern
No. 8251 -1982 Release
No. 8683

Life-Like GP-38-2 Chessie System

Life-Like HO-Scale
                                    Trains Resource

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Chessie System
No. 8288 -1982 Release
No. 8669

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Conrail 
No. 08364 -1977 Release
No. 08274 -Non-Powered

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
CSX 
No. 08371

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
CSX
 
This example of the Life-Like GP-38-2 has been seen in a Tropicana train set offering.  Notice the 1986-1996 anniversary date on the long hood.

Life-Like HO-Scale Trains
                                    Resource

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Delaware & Hudson
No. 8252 -1982 Release
No. 8665

Life-Like HO-Scale Trains
                                    Resource

Life-Like HO-Scale
                                    Trains Resource

Life-Like HO-Scale Trains
                                    Resource

Life-Like HO-Scale Trains
                                    Resource

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
DT&I -Spirit of 76
 

Life-Like GP-38-2 L&N with Caboose

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Family Lines
No. 8253 -1982 Release
No. 8668
 
The Life-Like 1982 product catalog features a number of new roadnames for the GP38-2 model.  The Family Lines example, along with Chessie System; Burlington Northern; Delaware & Hudson; and red-and-silver warbonnet Santa Fe are all new releases for '82.

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Grand Trunk Western
No. 08286 -1976 Release

Life-Like HO-Scale
                                    Trains Resource

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Gulf Mobile & Ohio
No. 08304 -1978 Release

Life-Like GP-38-2 ICG

Life-Like HO-Scale
                                    Trains Resource

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Illinois Central Gulf -Casey Jones
No. 08363 -1977 Release
 
This is the first Life-Like ICG decorated GP-38-2 and carries the name "Casey Jones" as did the prototype on its cab.  Life-Like would offer another standard line GP-38-2 painted for the ICG just before the Walthers purchase of the company.  This second ICG GP-38-2 features a reversed white circle with black railhead logo on its nose, rather than the more typical ICG logo of a black circle with white railhead.  This original example also differs from the later version with its yellow handrails.  This ICG model is added to the Life-Like line in 1977.  A non-powered ICG GP38-2 was available in Life-Like's line and was stock number 08275.

Life-Like HO-Scale Trains
                                    Resource

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Illinois Central Gulf -White Herald

Life-Like Illinois Terminal
                                    GP38-2

Life-Like Illinois Terminal
                                    GP38-2

Life-Like Illinois Terminal
                                    GP38-2

Life-Like Illinois Terminal
                                    GP38-2

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Illinois Terminal
No. 08296 -1978 Release
 
For 1978, Life-Like adds five new roadnames to its GP38-2 roster and this Illinois Terminal example was among them.  The other new names for the GP38-2 in '78 included: P&LE, GM&O, TP&W, and The Rock.

Life-Like HO-Scale Trains
                                    Resource

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Lehigh Valley
 
No. 08284 -1975 Release
 
Life-Like introduces its GP38-2 in the 1975 catalog with a protoype photo of Lehigh Valley #320.  The original Life-Like roadnames for its GP38-2 in HO-scale were Lehigh Valley; Louisville & Nashville; and the blue and yellow warbonnet dressed Santa Fe.

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Louisville & Nashville
 
No. 08283 -1975 Release

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie
No. 08298 -1978 Release
 
The black and yellow P&LE GP38-2 is added to the Life-Like line in 1978.  A prototype image is provided in the catalog that year.

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Rock Island 
No. 8251 -1978 Release
No. 08299
 
A prototype picture is featured in Life-Like's 1978 catalog for the first appearance of the Rock Island GP38-2.  The model featured the road's then new blue and white The Rock scheme.  Rock Island did include names on its 4300-series GP38-2 diesels and this Life-Like model features the name, "The American Railfan" and correctly applied to roadnumber 4310.

Click To View Larger Image

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Santa Fe 
No. 08285 -blue-and-yellow Warbonnet

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Santa Fe  
No. 08294 -red-and-silver Warbonnet -1982 Release
No. 8663

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Toledo, Peoria & Western
No. 08303 -1978 Release
 
Joining Life-Like's GP38-2 offerings for 1978 was the TP&W example.  A prototype picture is provided in the 1978 Life-Like catalog for this model.  The catalog also mistakenly refers to this item as Texas, Pacific & Western.

Life-Like GP-38-2 Union Pacific Low-Nose Version

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Union Pacific
No. 08287 -1980 Release
No. 8680

GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Undecorated 
No. 08288 -1976 Release

Life-Like GP38-2 ad 1976

Life-Like's HO-scale GP38-2 diesel arrives in 1976.  A review of this model is found in the July '76 edition of Railroad Model Craftsman magazine.  The RMC review knocks the thick handrails, but does credit the Life-Like GP38-2 with having generally accurate dimensions.  This model is given credit as offering the first HO-scale examples of the EMD Blomberg M truck and a "Dash 2" bodystyle in plastic.  The RMC review notes roadnames offered included Grand Trunk Western, Lehigh Valley, and Union Pacific with a retail price of $16 in 1976.
 
The model is presented by Life-Like in its 1975 catalog.  That first year, a prototype picture of a Lehigh Valley geep substitutes for the Life-Like GP38-2 model.