Atlas has continued the slow drip style of releasing their acquired Premier Line toolings from MTH. Over the past two years, their style of regular catalog drops created an almost consistent arrival of models to the market. In their Summer 2024 catalog, they announced today’s spotlight: the Premier GP38-2.
A partial shipment of the GP38-2s arrived at hobby shops in early May 2025. The next batch, which includes the anticipated Amtrak Phase VII scheme, should be arriving within the next few weeks. MTH previously released this model in 2019 and 2020 before the tooling was sold to Atlas.
Produced by EMD from 1972-1986, the GP38-2 featured a 16-cylinder, 2,000-hp prime mover. Over the course of its 14-year build period, more than 2,250 units were produced. A vast majority of these locomotives went to the likes of Penn Central, Conrail and Missouri Pacific, to name a few. Many can still be found today.
This Atlas version features many of the same details as its MTH predecessors, including DCS ProtoSound 3.0 and onboard DCC. The version we have for this review is a 2-rail variation which can be easily converted to 3-rail operation by slipping a switch under the model to “3-rail,” adding the included pickup rollers — each attached with a single screw — and swapping out the scale wheels. Atlas cataloged wheel sets for the conversion; however, they have not arrived yet.
Fortunately, this model, with its scale wheels, does operate nicely on my layout with GarGraves track. The 2-rail version also features scale couplers connected to fixed pilots. For those with tighter radius curves, this may not be a suitable option.
The GP38-2 features scale details from top to bottom. LED lighting in the cab, numberboards, and exterior lights keeps amperage low. The model also comes with a fan-driven smoke unit which can be loaded by adding drops directly into the exhaust ports. Unlike the Atlas 2-rail P42 models, the GP38-2s were packaged with an attachable snowplow, which I added.
The main shell is ABS plastic, which attaches to a die-cast frame. The fuel tank and pilots are also die-cast, creating a strong center of gravity for this model with a total weight of 1 lbs. At 15.5 inches in length and even with the fixed pilots, this model can still navigate O-31 curves, according to the Atlas website.
This particular item did arrive with some issues. First, the front handrails were bent slightly backward. This is not the first time that I’ve had an “MTH” model arrive with bent handrails and if Atlas use the same manufacturing facilities, perhaps this is why. While annoying, it isn’t a challenging thing to fix.
The second issue was that the floorboards on the front of the locomotive were peeling up. Not only that, but they didn’t seem flush at the front of the locomotive. I emailed Atlas and their response was to glue the floorboards down myself.
The final issue was the sounds. Atlas loaded GP40 sounds into this model. Fortunately, they recognized the error and are offering the sound file for those who would like to update it. A convenient feature of DCS locomotives is that you have the ability to change the files. At the time of this writing, the file is not yet available.
Read a review of the MTH 2017 version.
Get more O gauge action on the Chris’s Trains & Things channel on YouTube.
Atlas Premier GP38-2 Conrail No. 8061 (No. 30138346)
Features: Proto-Sound 3.0, detachable snowplow, onboard DCC/DCS decoder, metal handrails and horn, lighted LED marker lights, and more
Roadnames (3-rail versions): Amtrak (30138338, 30138339), BNSF (30138340, 30138341), Canadian Pacific (30138342, 30138343), Chessie (30138344, 30138345), Conrail (30138346, 30138347), Genesee & Wyoming (30138348), Reading and Northern (30138349), Rock Island (30138351), and Vermont Railway (30138352, 30138353).
MSRP: $659.95
Website: shop.atlas.com
