Union Pacific Challenger 3985 - Old Footage from the 80's and 90's
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2022
- More footage of the Union Pacific Challenger from the late 1980s and 90s. The Union Pacific Challenger #3985 has been donated to the RHMA (Railroading Heritage of Midwest America) to be moved to Silvis Illinois and restored to operating condition.
Back in the late 20th century, the Union Pacific Steam Program ran both Union Pacific #844 and #3985 in excursion service over much of the Union Pacific system.
Wickipedia:
Union Pacific 3985, also known as the "Challenger", is a four-cylinder simple articulated 4-6-6-4 "Challenger"-type steam locomotive built in July 1943 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York, for the Union Pacific Railroad. No. 3985 is one of only two Challengers still in existence and the only one to have operated in excursion service.
No. 3985 operated in revenue service until 1957. It was then stored in the roundhouse in Cheyenne, Wyoming, until 1975, when it was placed outdoors beside the Cheyenne depot. In March 1981, after a group of Union Pacific employees restored the locomotive to operating condition, it was placed into excursion service as part of the Union Pacific's heritage fleet and became the world's largest operational steam locomotive. Mechanical problems took it offline in 2010, after which it was stored at the Union Pacific's Steam Shops in Cheyenne.
On May 1, 2019, the title of largest operational steam locomotive was passed to the newly restored 4-8-8-4 Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014. Because of its poor mechanical condition, No. 3985 was officially retired from excursion service in 2020. In April 2022, UP officials announced that the company would donate the locomotive to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA), which plans to restore it to operating condition.
Fantastic! I wish that I could have seen it in person.
What I found interesting was there were loads of people in the Big Boy video, but in your Challenger videos there were nobody. You seemed to be the only one interested in documenting runs of 3985. Kudos to you. Without people like you, then, we would be poorer indeed, today.
They were everywhere. But I was able to avoid most of them. On many shots. These days I like seeing them. Reminds me of the event more
Really great footage of 3985. Superior to a lot of the commercial video I’ve seen. Oh for the days when the steam locomotives was allowed to do all the work without a diesel in the consist. Also, when we allowed to ride in the vestibule with the top half of the Dutch door open. Thanks loads for this.
Excellent comeback at the beginning of the video which is also my marriage in a nutshell. Husband: “I have been a train fan all my life”. Wife: “I can see that…”
I grew up in Ft. Collins, CO and only a 45min drive from the yard in Cheyenne. Spent so much time chasing the challenger and 844 as kid in the 80s and 90s. Thanks for the nostalgia!
It always amazes me how an old steam locomotive(s) cause so much excitement and emotion with people, most of which grew up with diesels. Every time I see that segment of video with 4014 and 844 running along with the reddish brow canyon wall in the background, I get a little choked up. (I certainly don't know why)
Of all the video you folks produce, that segment stands above them all. Then as the train passes, the deep throated sound of 4014 and or 844's whistle puts the finishing touch on everything. ( other locomotive's whistles sound a bit weak for a machine so massive)
There are few folks, out there, that create the quality produced by "Toy Man Television", and you even know Ed Dickens. ;-)
Hi. Yes that’s Echo Canyon. One of the (or perhaps the) steepest grade on the UP. Just into Utah near Evanston Wyoming.
@@ToyManTelevision I’d say the steepest grades on the UP system are the ones on Cajon Pass and Donner Pass, both of which reach up to around the 3% mark at certain points.
Edit: You might’ve been talking about the historical Union Pacific from the steam era, so you’d possibly be correct in that statement of Echo Canyon having some of the steepest grades on the system, my apologies.
I don't know about the rest of you but something about 3985 with the mountains, clouds and gray skies of the west in the background at 23:00 just makes a beautiful scene.
You guys need to come to New England, there's so much for you guys to see and experience!! There's the WW&F photo charter on August 14th, There's riding the Mountainear through Croferd notch, taking the train up mount Washington, and visiting Clark's bears and riding the White mountain central railroad!! So much fun to be had in New England if you know where to look. There is even a fancy dinner train based out of Lincoln NH.
Great historic video, 22:55 dialed in and moving, impressive.
Hey, GREAT footages of #3985! She looked MARVELOUS back then...imagine how she'd look after she's completely rebuilt. Seeing her making all that ruckus and excitement with that throaty whistle and that familiar "chug, chug" sound steam locomotives are known for makes my heart beat with extreme joy!! 😂 "Big Boy's" little (but older) sister is no shrinking violet, as we can all see from your video. Can't wait to see what #3985 will be like after she's restored. I hope Challenger debuts as beautiful and as noiser than ever before!! 👍😉👂😍😁
I love the camera angles you used. Getting the view from below or level with the wheels produced a feeling of how big and powerful those locos are.
UP seemed to like large locomotives as shown in this episode. But they also had the “Cab Forward and the Turbine Engine”. I guess their logic was that they needed big locomotives to pull heavy freight trains over the rugged terrain of the West. The scenery and the shots were just awesome o. This episode. Thanks. You and Karyn do so much.
Yup. Wasatch grade. Sherman Hill. They needed power!
Absolutely love your clips thanks for that share. Can't wait 3985 is back under her own steam ... 🙌 😍 👏
Be quite a while. Well at least 2 years. Probably 5.
Great show! I really enjoyed your old footage. Looking forward to your coverage of the 3985 move and restoration. Keep the old stuff coming along with your new adventures. Thank you both for sharing your screwing around with us.
We spent days organizing tapes. About 200 of them…. Many railroads. Mostly narrow gauge. Even the plaster city narrow gauge.
When I was a small boy my dad worked for U.P. and I got a ride on the challenger. I have always loved steam locomotives. Are you folks going to get back into your O scale layout. Don't get me wrong I love your Large scale layout you are building. After hearing your feather babies the other day I am listening for them. I'm a crazy parrot man. Keep making the amazing videos.
So many projects. I keep thinking about the On3. Love to get back to it at some point
Nicely done! Thank you so much for posting this! I and many others are very happy to hear the 3985 will be restored. I hope we can see a doubleheader someday with the 4014 and the 3985. It is also great news the 5511 will be restored. I never thought that would ever happen. Thanks again!!
They will be running on the Illinois interstate. Really. In this case it’s a railroad. Meeting with 4014 and 844? We will see. But probably where the IIRR meets UP.
I’m really excited to see 3985, 5511, and 6936 to run again.
Yup! And 5511 will be quite unique.
Spectacular video brother thank you for taking us on your adventure through time with the new and old video
Thanks
BORING, NEVER You guys do such a great job of making screwing around interesting to all of us !!!!!
Great Video! Thanks for sharing from you archives. It really brings back memories. With Pentrex I chased 3985 quite a bit. In fact you caught the videographer that I worked with shooting from the cab between Ogden and Salt Lake City at 19.27. We were probably hiding in the bushes in some of your other shots. My best memory of 3985 was a cab ride between Laramie and Borie going through the Hermosa tunnel. It will be nice to follow the restoration work and hopefully see it under steam again. Keep up the good work!
Thank you. A wonderful video. Keep them coming.👍👍👍
Thanks again. Tomorrow SP 18!
This video totally made my afternoon! You guys rock! Thanks for the SUPERB footage!
I'm an SP fan, all that being said, the challenger hsore is purdy! THanks for sharing
Awesome footage of the 3985 Dale! The best I've seen thus far!
Thanks for digging these videos up! It was interesting how all of this footage was of 3985 on old clickety clack track! Not only nice seeing 3985 but also the old cars and such.
Wow! Some of this footage goes back before dynamic braking was required making it necessary to add a diesel to consist. It's so nice to see a steam locomotive operating solo! Wonderful footage Thanks!
Amazing video. Thank you for posting this.
Thanks again
Thank you for sharing your home videos. I really enjoy them. I particularly like the shot at the 18 minute mark with the mountains in the background. You should see if you can make prints from some of these videos and selling them.
I wish the quality was better. Makes poor looking prints. Sadly.
That is so neat to see and hear this engine in the wild.
I'm betting there are some sound engineers that would love to get copies of the raw files for audio.
Well… perhaps. But as good as they are the new digital ones are a bit better. But theses don’t suck. I have added them to my sound effects library. Lots of sounds..
Very nice footage indeed 👍😎
That was some great video thanks for sharing 👍👍
Thanks again. Much more coming. But first finish the Connie’s!
That is some great vintage footage of Challenger 3985. I can't wait to see that engine back on the railroad again. I wonder how long the restoration will take. It won't be so long until we see the move at least! Looking forward to you guys' covering it here on the channel!
I'm only speculating but I'm saying it will be 5 to 6 years at the least, I'm just happy because I live in south central Illinois and it's gonna be cool to have 3985 4 hours away rather than 14.
Awesome video
The miniature Big Boy. At the time, the only articulated steam locomotive on the mainline.
What great footage...and a great engine! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Thanks for the video
I live on the UP main line in eastern Iowa so I'm assuming it will come through here? Please keep us informed about the move. Back in the mid 90s I waited under an overpass for 8 hours to get a glimpse of 3985.
We think UP will deliver it to Council Bluffs and it will then move over the Iowa Interstate Railroad. But just a guess.
@@ToyManTelevision Thanks. I'm about 25 miles from the Iowa Interstate.
When you say you have a lot hours of video, boy your not kidding. It is in great quality. Getting it all convert to digital will take a lot of time. Love your toy man sign at the end. I have alot of videos of different railroads that my parents and my wife would give me on my birthday throughout the year. I like to get them out and watch them when I have free time. I have in one of my boxes a 8mm film of us chasing Cumbers and Toltec railroad on the first senic run in 1970. I was in the 9 grade then and had a old Revere eight movie camera that my dad let me use. I have a ton of 35mm slides from my dad that I need to go through to find the one's that he took on that trip back then. Thanks for shareing. How are the marker lights coming on the Connie? Be safe and see you on Tuesday.
Yup. This is most of the 3985 run buys. But much more. Rail Fair. On board. Great salt lake. And same with 844 (8444). But mostly I have colorado narrow gauge.
Oh and the Connie’s, all 6 markers working great. A three sand domes. All electronics. One side of Mexicano 14 lettered. So… need to letter the other side. Weather. Repair the reverser and Johnston bar. (Linkage I’m hooked) finish the cab interior. Then Mexicano 14
Is finished. Silverton northern 34#1. (Mine). All finished except for cab curtains and the brake handle. We will be putting all three brake handles on as a sort of ceremoental finish of the project. Now Dons #34… still needs air tanks, coal load, and final assembly. BUT it has so much more than the other two. Electrical conduits from the generator to the lights. Cab lights. Extra cab details. Engeneer. (I may do that too if his works).
The great train chase. Very cool...
Good morning Dale n Karyn. Do you know the excursion cars that are part of the 4014 consist? I have a 4014 Excursion HO scale locomotive coming in June and would like to duplicate the cars. Plan on getting the challenger later. I have the centennial DD40ax and think they would look awesome on the club layout. Thanks for sharing your videos. Always love watching them.
Hi. Sorry to be so long. I can’t keep up any more! Hum.. they have many. Just gave several away. About 50 total but most are not operational. I wonder if Ed would be willing to share. They have started restoration on the old concession car. Will not be a concession car any more. If I can get the information I’ll post it to the community tab. I’ll ask Ed.
Some really great footage there! I laughed at 21 minutes. Was someone's dog running away? Ha!
I still have a whole load of old footage to put up. A lot from the US, and load from the UK including a bunch of main line trips I did with my Dad as a kid. I'll get around to it.
Big Boy is supposed to be in my area this summer. Can't wait.
Thx again
Awesome 🚂❤️😎👍
Nice footage and I'm making plan to chase the engines
The footage at 27:35 into the video looks like the train was going through the rail yard in South Provo before heading to Springville. I grew up in Springville in the 80s and use to watch trains going through that area quite a bit. I could tell if the train was a passenger train or a freight train just by listening to the sound of the train horn.
Close. Ogden. About 1989?
Beautiful Video. I love the Challenger X3985. I loved the old footage. And the music is great. What the name of the song
I love big boy little brother he the best steam train ever
CANT WAIT UNTILL THE BIGBOY CHALLENGER AND 844 CAN ROLL DOWN THE TRACKS TOGETHER PULLING A LOAD
Regarding the opening statement guys; yeah you’re not wrong in saying that. Luckily there’s an AMTRAK station the next town over from me and I’m gonna do some brain storming on trip ideas. I’ve always wanted to get a sleeper car excursion since I was a kid and maybe this year may be that year. I loved taking the train from Washington MO to our state capitol, and even out to KC. Even when Inwas overseas in England and Japan train travel was amazing. Also the Shinkansen is by far the coolest experience in tail travel I have experienced. I went from Hachinohe to Tokyo station in 3 hours 15 minutes. That distance in a car will take over double that. Anyway yes train travel is always a great idea.
Once my friend mike and I got to ride in Philip Frederick Anschutz’s private car. Well… his private train really. Now that’s a traveling in style.
@@ToyManTelevision ok that’s flipping awesome you got me on that one.
Are you going to have a go on the Skagway to Whitehorse line? That would be an adventure! All the very best.
Really want to.
Can’t wait to hear that whistle
I'm ready to seen him running again along with 5511
Indeed.
Imagine 5511, 3985 and 261 gathering for the first time!
Along with 6988 and 7081.
The shot where the 3985 is going across a green bridge right next to a mountain would be a sweet shot to try to replicate on a model railroad. A lot of great shots in there but that one stood out for me.
I was lucky enough to see the 3985 in person twice, once in June of 2001 on static display in Omaha and once in June of 2004 as it was passing through Des Moines. I had an Olympus still camera that happened to have a video mode that shot in 320x240 but no sound for 15 seconds at a time in 15 fps. We followed it from Des Moines north for about 10 miles so I was able to get some nice pics and a couple low quality videos.
That is the bridge in Bear River Canyon above the dam. Just down the hill from cache Junction. What a place!
@@ToyManTelevision Google Maps and Google Earth don't do it justice because it's in a dark shadow on those apps, but I found some other pictures which really show off the area. I would agree, what a place!
Did you see the 3085 and 844 the first time that they brought them to Ogden and other places? It was still running on coal at that time.
Yup. Fun time. 87? Something like that.
Have you thought of posting some of your archival material in full ?
Yup. Still like to digitize the rest of it. I’ve only done about 20%
Who was the rick guy you were yelling at ? On 20:58
Do you know any info on the 3985 when she was first rebuilt back in the late 70s? I know she was rebuilt about 1979 to running condition? I think I can speak for a lot of people when I’m saying I cannot wait to see challenger No. 3985 running once again! Do you think that the UP steam team will teach the challenger’ New owners how to run her once she’s back up and running? Also do you think that the UP steam team will help get her back up from running since they know her the best?
Nope. Steve is on his own. But trust me, he can get this done. And Ed is planning to stop by (on his own time) just to touch bases so I’m sure they will have a free exchange of information. They will have joint meets.
@@ToyManTelevision Thanks for the reply! Now Ed is planning to stop by do you think it is own time he’ll be able to run 3985 again? If he volunteers in his off duty time? I met him in 2019 when the big boy came to Duluth Minnesota one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met! he signed a poster I made for the event now that the 3985 is owned by volunteer group how long do you think it will take them to get her back up and running? Now I know she needs her 1472 inspection but once that’s done she be out and on the rails again! Have Steve run the 3985 before?
It would be great if the locomotive comes to Los Angeles
Well 4014 and 844 have and will again! But don’t expect to see 3985 or 5011 there. Well never say never. But the cost to take them west would be really prohibitive.
Do they still take the E-9 units out on the road still? Or are they also being donated?
I think that the UP still has the E9‘s I don’t think they will on to be donated list
@@rudycarlson8245 interesting
Still have and run them. Super nice too
WHAT OTHER LOCOMOTIVE IS BEING DONATED ?
Steam locomotive 5511. A 2-10-2. And a centennial 6900 class diesel.
@@ToyManTelevision THANKS
have you heard of the Milwaukee Road 261 its the worlds largest coal fired steam locomotive in the world
I’ve heard of it. Never have seen it.
Bring back MadamWoo!!!!!
Just upload all 2 hours of footage. Nobody will complain
I need to digitize more…. But I think I’ve done all the challenger and 844 (8444) footage. So I could do that…. Take about 20 hours to compress for uploading!!