N scale locomotives
Bachmann GP38-2 N: Full Specifications
Quick answer
The Bachmann GP38-2 DCC Ready Locomotive Chessie System N Scale lists at $160.35. Published figures: scale N, proportion 1:160, dcc Yes. It suits an N scale diesel you intend to fit your own decoder to.
DCC ready rather than sound fitted, which keeps the price down and leaves the decoder choice open. The GP38-2 is a common and long lived prototype.
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published specification, taken from the product listing and the data sheet. Where a figure is not published it is left out rather than estimated. Price is the listed price when this page was last compiled and it changes often.
On this page
Bachmann GP38-2 N specifications
The Bachmann GP38-2 N publishes scale N, proportion 1:160, dcc Yes, at a listed price of $160.35.
| Specification | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Scale | N |
| Proportion | 1:160 |
| DCC | Yes |
| Wheel arrangement | B-B |
Specifications above are the manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing.
What the manufacturer says about it
The manufacturer own listing bullets, quoted rather than paraphrased so you can judge the claims yourself. These are marketing copy, not independent measurement.
Bachmann lists 5 headline points for the GP38-2 N, quoted here verbatim.
| Manufacturer listing point |
|---|
| New and existing tooling. Roadname-specific dynamic brake and non-dynamic brake versions. Detailed painted bodies with precision graphics |
| Factory-installed NMRA NEXT-18 socket for the decoder installation of your choice |
| All-wheel drive, Precision motor with flywheel drive, Die-cast frame. Blackened metal wheels with RP25 contours. Detailed trucks with see-through sideframes |
| Illuminated number boards, Separately applied fine-scale handrails, horns, and clear window glass, Magnetically operated E-Z Mate Mark II couplers, front and rear |
| Performs best on 11.25” radius curves or greater. N Scale 1:160 |
What this model suits on a layout
Best for: an N scale diesel you intend to fit your own decoder to.
Category: n scale locomotives. The honest test for any purchase in this hobby is whether its numbers match your layout rather than whether it is a good product in the abstract. Work out what your own space, scale and curves actually need first, using the calculators on this site, then check this model against that answer.
The closest alternatives at a similar price
Same category, nearest price. An alternative with no stated reason is filler, so each of these is here because it trades something specific against the model above.
Kato N SD90/43MAC CP Pulling for United Way
$114.44 Specs and fitmentKato mechanisms are the benchmark in N scale for smooth slow running, which is the single thing that most separates a good N scale locomotive from a frustrating one.
Best for: anyone who cares about slow speed running in N
Check price on Amazon
Bachmann GP40 DCC Sound Locomotive Burlington Northern N Scale
$227.90 Specs and fitmentFactory DCC sound in N scale at a mainstream price, on a four axle road switcher that suits almost any modern era layout.
Best for: a first sound equipped N scale diesel
Check price on Amazon
Bachmann EMD SD40-2 Sound Locomotive CSX N Scale
$279.71 Specs and fitmentA six axle road unit with sound in N scale. Heavier and better riding than the four axle units, and it wants more radius to look right.
Best for: N scale mainline freight with sound
Check price on AmazonSide by side
| Model | Price | Scale | Proportion | Wheel arrangement | DCC | Onboard sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bachmann GP38-2 DCC Ready Locomotive Chessie System N Scale | $160.35 | N | 1:160 | B-B | Yes | - |
| Kato N SD90/43MAC CP Pulling for United Way | $114.44 | N | 1:160 | C-C | - | - |
| Bachmann GP40 DCC Sound Locomotive Burlington Northern N Scale | $227.90 | N | 1:160 | B-B | Yes | Yes |
| Bachmann EMD SD40-2 Sound Locomotive CSX N Scale | $279.71 | N | 1:160 | C-C | Yes | Yes |
How we chose
We did not test these products in person and we never claim to. Picks are researched from manufacturer specification sheets and instruction manuals, published NMRA standards and recommended practices, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. Every pick is matched to a real scale, a real minimum radius or a real current draw rather than to a price bracket, and it is placed in the tier where its capability actually belongs. Where a product is wrong for most layouts we say so on the page, and where a figure is a hobby rule of thumb rather than a published standard we say that too.
Sources
- Bachmann published specifications for the GP38-2 N
- Amazon product listing features and current pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Bachmann GP38-2 N cost?
It was listed at $160.35 when this page was last compiled. Model railroad pricing moves frequently and promotional pricing is common, so treat that as a planning figure and confirm the current price before committing to a purchase or budgeting a whole layout around it.
Is the Bachmann GP38-2 N right for my layout?
An N scale diesel you intend to fit your own decoder to. Beyond that, the honest test is whether its numbers match your space, your scale and your curves rather than whether it is a good product in the abstract. Work out what your layout needs first, then check this model against that answer.
Where do these specifications come from?
The manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing and data sheet. We do not test products in person and we never claim to, so nothing here is a measured result. Where a specification is not published by the manufacturer it is omitted rather than estimated, which is why some sheets are shorter than others.
Will this work with my existing equipment?
Check scale and, for anything electrical, check the control system. A DCC decoder has to match the socket in the locomotive, a turnout has to match the rail code of the track it joins, and track has to match the gauge of everything else. Those three compatibility questions account for most returns in this hobby.
Is it worth buying this rather than the cheaper alternative?
Only if the thing it does better is something your layout actually needs. The alternatives listed above each trade something specific, and on a first layout the money almost always does more good spent on track and roadbed than on upgrading a single item of motive power beyond what the curves will show off.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published manufacturer specifications, instruction manuals, published NMRA standards and recommended practices, and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Figures described as a rule of thumb are hobby convention rather than a standard, and they are labelled that way wherever they appear. Always check a radius, a clearance or a grade against your own equipment before you cut wood or lay rail, because manufacturers vary and so does what your specific models will tolerate. Any permanent mains wiring in a layout room is work for a licensed electrician to your local code.