Register to access secure tools, applications and reports to help simplify your business. A lot of people expressed surprise earlier this year when union pacific steam boss ed dickens announced this in an online message. Get the best deals on union pacific sign when you shop the largest online. This 4664 locomotive, built in 1943 still runs today as part of the railroads public relations program. Railroad ties are literally the foundation on which railroads are built. The official union pacific steam club facebook group is run beyond unprofessionally. Ive heard they have a long facebook history but what do you guys think. Dec 24, 2012 up 3985 leads a 1990s era denver post, cheyenne frontier days drain denver to greeley in this segment from the vhs archives of late last century, so old 8 track tapes were being played in the. Historical equipment and information union pacific. Union pacific 3985 check price on amazon description. The history of the union pacific railroad stretches from 1862 to the present. Union pacific 3985 is a 4664 challenger steam locomotive owned by union pacific and part of its historic steam program.
Investigators say the death of a woman photographing union pacific steam locomotive no. There are no known union pacific railroad passenger list records. Union pacific 3985, also known as the challenger, is a fourcylinder simple articulated 4664 challenger type steam locomotive owned and last operated b y the union p acific railroad. Every time anyone posts something related to the 3985, the up or the other admins are quick to shut off any form of commenting. However, due to mechanical problems, it was taken out of service in october 2010, and eventually retired in january 2020 from excursion service after the restoration of big boy 4014. The history takes you from the beginning of the 1940s to the 1960s. The union pacific railroads, challenger steam locomotive no. Investigators rule up 844 excursion death accidental. Union pacific 4884 big boy locomotive old machine press. Settlers using the union pacific railroad were likely to be from eastern or midwestern states along the tracks of the union pacific and connectors such as illinois, iowa, missouri, nebraska, wyoming, and utah. Trains magazine offers railroad news, railroad industry insight, commentary on todays freight railroads, passenger service amtrak, locomotive technology, railroad preservation and history, railfan opportunities tourist railroads, fan trips, and great railroad photography.
The museum is our primary source for historical data for the website, so if the museum doesnt have it, you wont see it here. The locomotive is one of only two of the original 105 union pacific challengers in existence, the. Railroad pictorials, railroad history, steam locomotives, passenger trains, modern railroading. This stunning reproduction of the 4664 challenger is the result of a focused determination to accomplish one thing. Take unique trips with 3985 the only challenger still remaining in operation and one of the largest steam locom. Jump on board the biggest steam engine in operation union pacifics steam locomotive challenger no. Founded in 1984, uphs is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the union pacific railroad. In an interview, the womans husband agrees with that assessment, saying that he would not want the accident to deter steam excursions. Active hump yards hump yards work by using a small hill over which cars are pushed, before being released down a slope and switched automatically into cuts of cars, ready to be made into outbound trains. The book shows some of the best action photography taken of big boy as provided from the. Jul 28, 20 one of the largest and perhaps most famous steam locomotives ever builtunion pacifics articulated 4884 big boy no. It is one of 105 challengers built for union pacific between 1936 and 1943 and was, for many years, the only operating engine of its class in the world the largest and most powerful operating steam locomotive.
In todays modern operation of the union pacific railroad, there lies a niche of operational history which includes 484 northern 844 and 4664 challenger 3985. Built in july 1943 by the american locomotive company alco of schenectady, new york, no. Up 3985 during its first years in excursion service. Union pacific brings 21st century technologies to life with positive train. No other railroad has retained its historical equipment or honored its american roots like union pacific, said union pacific heritage operations. Fascinating history of union pacific s challenger steam locomotive no. Of all the 252 challengers built, astonishingly only two remain preserved. Jump on board the biggest steam engine in operation union pacific s steam locomotive challenger no.
Now a new system is doubling the number of railroad ties that can be disposed of per day, to nearly 5,000. The act was approved by president abraham lincoln, and it provided for the construction of railroads from the missouri river to the pacific as a war measure for the preservation of the union. This twohour program looks back at 18 years of operations of 3985. The fireman was probably hoping on every trip that the mechanical stoker didnt break down, and then he had to pick up the shovel to fed the engines voracious appetite. However, due to mechanical problems, it was taken out of service in october 2010, and eventually retired in january 2020 from excursion service due to. Union pacific s steam locomotive shop in cheyenne, wyoming, which stores and maintains the union pacific 844 and the union pacific 3985. In march, 1981 union pacific challenger 3985 was steamed up and ready to make a test run from cheyenne down to lasalle, co and back. Union pacific 3985 to the up historical society convention. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. I was recently surfing youtube when i came across a statement in the description of a video.
Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. Railway preservation news view topic union pacfic 3985. Founded in 1984, the union pacific historical society uphs is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of the union pacific railroad from its beginning in 1862 to the operation as it is today. Mth union pacific 3985 challenger steam locomotive. The era began may 17, 1953, when up challengertype engine no. Cheyenne, wyoming where our last two operating steam locomotives, big boy no. One of the largest and perhaps most famous steam locomotives ever built union pacific s articulated 4884 big boy no.
Over 10,000 lucky souls were in attendance over the 2 days biggest cheyenne depot days, yet you wonder why. The original company was incorporated on july 1, 1862, under an act of congress entitled pacific railroad act of 1862. Union pacific 3985 wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The up challenger 3985 was going to come to the up historical society convention in ontario, california.
Hundreds of titles available, most at discount prices. For operations of the current railroad, see union p acific railroad. The famous big boy 4884 types were among the worlds largest steam locomotives. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Union pacific project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. By now, its sunk in for many steam fans that union pacific challenger no. Steam locomotives are measured in both weight this one is over one million pounds, and the number of drive wheels the larger wheels. Overview this stunning reproduction of the 4664 challenger is the result of a focused determination to accomplish one thing. As of the beginning of 2016, the society has about 1,900 members. Fascinating history of union pacifics challenger steam locomotive no. It was built in 1943 by the american locomotive company of schenectady, new york.
Union pacific railroad genealogy familysearch wiki. Union pacific railroad project gutenberg selfpublishing. Built in july 1943 by the american locomotive company of schenectady, new york, no. The histor y of th e union pac ific railroad stretches from 1862 to the present. Union pacific rail road, union pacific railway, union pacific railroad mark i, and union pacific railroad. A group of volunteer union pacific employees had succeeded in making a dream come true by removing the locomotive from display near the cheyenne depot and restoring it to operating condition. On the second day of excursions with union pacific 4664 3985, the big challenger envelops its train with coal smoke yes, it was still coal fired at this time as it passes the uss geneva work steel plant in vineyard, utah, on june 27th, 1982. So i recently found this facebook page called union pacific info 3985844 theyre missing 4014 but whatever. For the most part though, the up museum did not receive any material from those railroads when they were merged into the union pacific. It is one of 105 challengers built for union pacific between 1936 and 1943 and is the only operating engine of its class in the world today the largest and most powerful operating steam locomotive. Union pacific 3985, or up 3985, is a fourcylinder simple articulated 4664 challengertype steam locomotive owned by union pacific railroad. Oct 01, 2008 union pacific 3985 is a fourcylinder simple articulated 4664 challenger type steam locomotive owned and last operated by the union pacific railroad. The union pacific 3985 pulls a freight train, near the end of its career.
The 3885 is the largest operating steam engine in the world today, but although she was restored back in 1983 she has been operated only on a very few occasions. Hopefully, more historical societies will be developing websites in the future. For operations of the current railroad, see union pacific railroad. We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on. The 4014 once again belongs to union pacific and the transaction is closed. Largest steam locomotives the union pacific 3985 challenger. The union pacific railroad once owned more than onehundred of these locomotives but today only two remain preserved. However in 1990 the challenger was converted to an oil burner to. After a group of union pacific employees restored the locomotive to running condition in 1981, no.
Thundering out of cheyenne, wyoming, these magnificent machines travel across the plains and mountains of the west to the delight of millions of people. Most would have settled in utah, nevada, or northern california. This page is not promoted by or officially affiliated. Praised by the chicago tribune as thoroughly and compellingly detailed history, volumes i and ii of maury kleins monumental history of the union pacific railroad covered the years from 18631969. The union pacific railroad big boys are often credited as having been the. Union pacific 3985 is a fourcylinder simple articulated 4664 challenger type steam locomotive owned and last operated by the union pacific railroad. Packed with black and white photos showing its 1981 renovation and continued use as a up representative in the early 1980s. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Apparently, a volunteerworker for the program was asked about the status of 3985, and when it will be out shopped and ready to go. A group of union pacific employees volunteered their services to restore the locomotive to running condition in 1981. We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website learn more herelearn more. Best union pacific 3985 april 2020 top picks updated. The locomotive is one of only two of the original 105 union pacific challengers in existence, along with up 3977, which.
I learned the schedule from flimsies and made plans to capture the union pacific 3985 on film again. I am just getting news of the big boy 4014 restore, it has been moved to a very big shop. Mar 31, 2020 by now, its sunk in for many steam fans that union pacific challenger no. The up 3985 is a 4664 challengertype steam locomotive and the largest such locomotive still operating anywhere in the country.
Dec 20, 2016 26 thoughts on union pacific 4884 big boy locomotive graham64 25 december 2016 at 5. Union pacific operates north americas premier railroad franchise, covering 23 states in the western twothirds of the united states. This reason because the 3985 was a coal burner and set too many grass fires. Mark alden i do hope when they run 4014 they will give enough notice for fans worldwide to book flights early enough to get a reasonable fare price. An online railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used railroad books. The 1948 unit in its original gray and yellow garb, back on home rails, and once again in charge of the worlds longest christmas parade, a trip of about 100 miles. Buy union pacific challenger 3985 at night railroad tshirt 3985. Union pacific 3985 to the up historical society convention may 1994 by chris guenzler. Union pacific trains carry everything from frozen pizzas and canned goods to fresh produce, such as oranges, potatoes, onions, celery, apples and pears. It features the correct front number board on the smoke box door, 3985 on the number boards and side of the headlight, 3985 and data on the cab, union pacific on the sides of the tender, and up 3985 on the back of the tender. The next year, the 3985 went to the national railroad historical societys.
Union pacific annually replaces between 3 million and 4 million railroad ties. This photo appears in brian solomons book locomotive. This is a beautiful model of a up locomotive that has been refurbished and is used today on excursions. This 4664 locomotive, built in 1943 still runs today as. U nion pac i fic ra i l road, union pacif i c rail way, union pa cific railro a d mark i, and union pacific railroad. Now the third and final volume brings the story of the union pacific the oldest, largest, and most successful railroad of modern timesfully up to date. You can see the real thing by going to the union pacific excursion site.
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