Will Up Rebuild 3985 Run Again

By now, it's sunk in for many steam fans that Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 has been retired. A lot of people expressed surprise earlier this year when Union Pacific steam boss Ed Dickens appear this in an online message. It was really no surprise. Information technology was old news in the same vein that has haunted the actor Abe Vigoda for years (for the truth, see isabevigodead.com). The fact that the 4-6-6-4 has been retired has been no secret either: It hasn't run since 2010 because information technology needs a lot of heavy banality work, Up rebuilt ii locomotives (844 and 4014) since and so, and the Upward steam page branding that came out last spring did not include the much loved Challenger. Additionally, No. 4014 debuted with No. 3985's oil tender in May, and the plaque honoring the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society for its stewardship of No. 4014 was affixed to the erstwhile 3985 tender during No. 4014'due south visit while in Provo, Utah, in Oct. Dickens has said repeatedly and publicly that Upwardly has the resources to keep ii major locomotives running, but not three. He only confirmed what we already knew, but perchance many of us but held out hope that having the Big Three UP steam mainline steam legends under their ain power at once was inside reach. It was just besides much to ask for.

Having said all of that, I don't know if retired is the right word to use for No. 3985: The railroad could bring it back at any fourth dimension. Whatsoever mechanical object can exist rebuilt. Information technology but takes time, money, and more than than anything, the will to exercise information technology. Does that will be in the Precision Schedule Railroading world of 2020? For ii engines, remarkably, yes. But for three, probably not. I recall we should all exist grateful that UP still remembers and cares about its heritage and understands that it's a remarkably effective public relations tool. 2 is a generous offering.

I'd like to offer suggestions for No. 3985'southward hereafter. But before I practice, permit me express my personal appreciation to Upward and to the steam crews over the years for sharing this magnificent engine with u.s.a.. My beginning Upwards steam trip, a Cheyenne-Laramie circular trip via Track 3 westbound and Tracks 1 and 2 eastbound, came in May 1987. It was a rollicking outing with multiple photo runbys, blasting cinders galore (the engine had yet to be converted to oil firing), and a well-stocked and well patronized lounge car, where I met the legendary artist Howard Fogg. I came abroad impressed. The photo above is from that trip while we worked our way due west across Sherman Hill on Track iii. My next encounter was when the engine visited the east to pull CSX's 1992 Santa Train on the onetime Clinchfield. While on that mission, No. 3985 took the guise of a CRR Challenger and the next number in the series, No. 676. That was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime event. I encountered the engine at Railfair '99 at the California State Railroad Museum, where it departed early after stablemate No. 844 suffered boiler tube failures. And I rode behind No. 3985 in 2002 from, of all places, St. Paul, Minn., to Kansas City on the former Rock Island Spine Line. It was an amazing locomotive that I have cypher simply appreciation to the crews and the management for providing to us with 29 not bad years. As with all skilful things, they come to an end.

Now to the hereafter. The skillful thing is that No. 3985 is rubber within the Cheyenne Roundhouse. That's a fine home for her as long equally UP allows every bit the photograph I made above in March 2016 shows. Just should direction ever decide that she needs to find another home, I accept two suggestions: Evanston, Wyo., has a magnificently restored UP roundhouse simply east of the crest of Wasatch Grade on the main line, simply no resident steam locomotive that demonstrates what this was all about. It would be a fitting resting place for a Challenger. The other idea would exist to return No. 3985 to the location where volunteers started restoring her four decades ago: At a spot of honor adjacent to the Cheyenne depot. Put a roof over her to keep the rain and snow off, and permit people enjoy this magnificent auto a few feet away from the chief line where she once held court.

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Source: https://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/archive/2020/03/31/union-pacific-no-3985-39-s-next-stop.aspx

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