To relieve the aging Baldwin diesels, the railroad bought three EMD SD38 locomotives numbered 36-38 in April 1969 (Builder No. 34880-34882). The units were used for all duties along the line, and as traffic increased on the road, the railroad ordered a single SD38-2, built August 1974 (Builder No. 74623-1). When the property was put up for sale in 1998, Union Pacific (with their vast SD38-2 yard fleet) showed interest. UP bought the single SD38-2, leaving the other 3 SD38's. The SD38's soldiered on under new ownership. Ironically, the first unit ordered, 36, encountered problems and was cannibalized for parts to keep the other two SD38's running in 2005 (exactly like the Baldwin #28). All three were sold to the Dakota Southern Railroad for use on their line.