Union Pacific No. 3985 (2024)

Union Pacific Railroad No. 3985,also known as 'The Challenger', is a 4664-4 class 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" type articulated steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in July 1943. It was previously owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in excursion service as part of their heritage fleet, based in Cheyenne, WY, from April 1981 until being taken out of service indefinitely in October 2010 and later officially retired from excursion service in January 2020. On April 28, 2022, it was donated to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA), based in Silvis, IL, which plans to restore the locomotive back to operating condition.

History

Union Pacific Railroad No. 3985 'The Challenger' was built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, NY in July 1943 as a 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" type articulated steam locomotive.The locomotive is one of only two of the original 105 Union Pacific Challengers in existence, the other being Union Pacific No. 3977 on static display in North Platte, NE. Its top speed is in the neighborhood of 70 to 80 mph.3985 was retired from revenue service in 1962, and then in April 1981, it was restored to operating condition and placed in excursion service. Originally a coal burner, 3985 was later converted to burn No. 5 fuel oil in 1990.

3985 has made several excursion runs over the years with its stablemate Union Pacific FEF-3 Northern No. 844. In May 2019,UP Big Boy No. 4014's restoration to operating condition was completed, joining the operational roster and displacing 3985 as the world's largest operating steam locomotive in the process.

3985 made its last excursion run on October 14, 2010. It was stored indefinitely in the roundhouse in Cheyenne, WY, due to mechanical issues. Eventually, Union Pacific officially retired 3985 from excursion service in January 2020, citing 3985's poor mechanical condition and that operating three steam locomotives was too much for the heritage fleet team as reasons; according to the Union Pacific Steam Team manager, Ed Dickens, 3985 is unlikely to return to service again anytime soon and has been officially replaced by Big Boy No. 4014. Its tender has temporarily been repurposed for use behind 4014, due to 4014's original tender not being converted to oil-firing in time for the Big Boy's first excursion run.^[1][2][3]

However, on April 28, 2022, Union Pacific announced that 3985, 2-10-2 type 5511, DDA40X diesel locomotive 6936, and other pieces of equipment from their heritage fleet will be donated to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) in Silvis, IL where they plan to restore both 3985 and 5511 back to operating condition. On May 13, 2022, it was later announced that RRHMA would also restore 4014's original tender for the UP and trade it back to them in exchange for 3985's tender in preparation for 3985's restoration. It was later towed by diesels out of Cheyenne, WY on November 11, 2022 and arrived at the RRHMA's former Rock Island Railroad shops and yard in Silvis, IL on November 19, 2022.

On January 6, 2023, the RRHMA began the process of dismantling 3985. The appliances were taken out and the cab was removed from the frame. They also disconnected the drawbars and set them aside so they can be used when 4014 arrives to pick up its original tender. Next, they will gut the boiler and prepare the firebox for sheet and stay bolt removal.^[4]

In February 2023, the RRHMA gutted the boiler on 3985 and removed all the pipes. They also removed the air pumps, the dynamo, the lubricators, and the injectors for rebuild and began to process of repairing the cylinders. Next they will do the hammer test on the firebox and remove the fire trough, the blower, the burner, the atomizer, and the stoker and set them aside so they can repair the firebox.^[5]

In March 2023, the RRHMA removed the fire trough and the burner along with the firebrick arch and set both aside and tagged them for sandblasting, pressure washing, and cleaning. They also removed the steam pipes and disconnected the steam joints and the turret valves at the front. Next, they will remove the valve gear, mark the sheets so they can be cut out, remove the pistons, remove the steam pipes, remove the lube lines, remove the safety valves so they can access the boiler, and disassemble the the crossheads and the crosshead guides so they can remove the rods for sandblasting.^[6]

In July 2023, the RRHMA removed the safety valves, lube lines, and the valve covers so they can remove the pistons and take the rods apart for rebuild and inspection of the cylinders for milling. The rear engine valve gear was removed and disassembled for cleaning. The flue sheets were marked and lifting rings were welded on so they can be cut out and replaced. Inside the firebox damaged sections of the inner firebox sheets were marked for removal and each of the damaged stay bolts were also marked so they can be drilled out and replaced with the correct ones according to UP drawings.^[7]

In September 2023, the RRHMA cut out the flue sheets and removed the damaged sections of the firebox. RRHMA is in the process of drilling out the damaged stay bolts and replacing them with the correct ones. Compressors, air tanks, and air piping have been removed from 3985 along with the smokebox door. Steam pipes have been disassembled for cleaning and replacement and the exhaust pipes have been removed for cleaning and replacement. The pistons have been removed from both engine units and valve components and the crossheads and crosshead guides have been removed for rod removal. Next task will be to tow 3985 over to the drop pit and remove the wheels and send them to Strasburg for new tires.^[8]

In October 2023, 3985 was taken outside by newly restored 6936 and blasted and primed. The air tanks were taken to the blast booth and both have been cleaned inside and out and coated with new enamel paint to prevent rust or contamination of the air system. Boiler plates have also have been drilled out and the holes marked for stay bolt insulation and installation in the boiler.^[9]

In December 2023, RRHMA received several Christmas presents from Strasburg, Steam Services of America, and a locomotive pipe manufacturer in Germany. Four truckloads of pipes and six boxes of stay bolts, sleeves, and caps arrived and were placed next to 3985 for installation in 2024. ^[10]

In February 2024, RRHMA received new super heaters from Steam Services of America and Strasburg built according to UP drawings. 3985 was x-rayed to test the boiler material and to identify defective stay bolts which need to be removed and replaced. The last flue sheet was also taken out and the stacks were removed from the smokebox along with the smoke hoods for rebuild. Next 3985 will be prepped for installation of the new sheets in the firebox and the cab deck will be rebuilt and installed before reassembly of the locomotive.^[11]

Trivia

• In September 2010, 3985 was selected to pull the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Train from Cheyenne, WY to Denver, CO, where the circus held a special performance to celebrate P.T Barnum's birthday.
• In November 1992, 3985 was chosen to pull the Clinchfield Santa Train on the CSX Transportation system in the Eastern United States. It was re-lettered and renumbered as Clinchfield Railroad No. 676. But it was her only outing on Eastern rails at the time.
• In 1989 and 1991, 3985 was temporarily fitted with an Illinois Central 3-chime whistle.
• In 1991, 3985 went to the National Railroad Historical Society's convention in San Jose, CA.
• In December 2018, Union Pacific requested from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) waivers to exempt 3985, 844, and 4014 from federal Positive Train Control (PTC) requirements. In February 2019, the FRA officials responded that such waivers were not needed, although 4014 was later successfully fitted with PTC technology in August 2021 before its big 2021 excursion tour and the UP is also still planning to eventually install PTC technology on 844 too.
• 3985's tender is temporarily being used behind 4014 until its original tender is restored by the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) in Silvis, IL, at which point, it will get its original tender back in exchange for 3985's tender.
• In May 1993, 3985 hauled a passenger excursion to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club excursion. In addition, 3985 wore the additional smoke deflectors for the excursion and was also was renumbered to 3967, which pulled the original excursion in 1953, but later it was renumbered again - this time to 3718. (No Challengers were ever assigned the number 3718).
• On May 17, 2003, for the 50th anniversary, 3985 hauled the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club excursion. It once again wore the additional smoke deflectors and was renumbered to 3967.
• The locomotive appears in Last of the Giants from the late 1950s, Articulateds UP 3985 vs N&W 1218, and Union Pacific Streamliners and Classic Steam in excursion service.

See also

• Gallery

References