 1,799 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads and industrial concerns, 257 for Canadian railroads and industrials, 156 for Mexican railroads and industrials, and 1 export unit for the Saudi Railways Organization.A total of 31 GP38-2s were built with high-short-hoods containing steam generators for passenger service on Mexican railways.In addition, all 257 of Southern Railway's GP38-2s had Southern's "standard" high-short-hoods.