GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
British Columbia Railway
No. 08365 -1977 Release
No. 08273 -Non-Powered
GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Burlington Northern
No. 8251 -1982 Release
No. 8683
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.
GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive Delaware & Hudson
No. 8252 -1982 Release
No. 8665
GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
DT&I -Spirit of
76
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
GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive Gulf Mobile & Ohio
No. 08304 -1978 Release
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.
GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Illinois Central Gulf -White Herald
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.
GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive Lehigh Valley
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.
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.
GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive Union Pacific
No. 08287 -1980 Release
No. 8680
GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive
Undecorated
No. 08288 -1976 Release
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.
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