Before and After

by Keith MacCauley 

GP38 C&O 3890, an early example of the angular four motor unit, was delivered from EMD in December of 1967. Introduced in 1965, with production starting in January of 1966, EMD’s GP38 and companion GP38-2 would prove to be popular, long serving locomotives. Numerous examples are still in service, some serving past the half century mark. C&O 3890 would be renumbered CSXT 2090 prior to being retired and removed from the roster. Post Chessie life the venerable unit would be rebuilt for commuter service as GP40-2H CDOT 6697, perhaps still active. Chessie would have paid duty on 3890 in order to permit operation in Canada. No doubt operating crews would have preferred the weather in Richmond Virginia, located some six hundred miles southeast, then that of London Ontario.