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The GP39-2 was offered by EMD as a fuel-efficient alternative to their very popular GP38-2 model. This efficiency resulted from the use of a turbocharged 12-cylinder 645E3 diesel engine, as opposed to the non-turbocharged 16-cylinder prime mover in the GP38-2. The use of a turbocharger increased the horsepower output from 2,000 to 2,300hp with four fewer cylinders. One other benefit of the turbocharger is improved operation at higher altitudes where thin air causes normally-aspirated diesels to lose power and produce excess smoke. The largest original fleet of GP39-2s was assembled by the Santa Fe who, over the course of seven years, acquired a total of 106 units.
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