I love when no diesel assist...impressive

9:51-11:21 Definitely my favorite 3985 moment, over 7,000 tons of fast freight solo!

The UP steam program is overcthe top. The steam team and management deserves the maxium thumbs up for all of this plus 4014. Best public relations program . And money can't buy this kind of good press !

3:42 "None are operating today." *4014 restoration intensified!*

I can't wait for 3985 to be restored now that 4014 is finished.

This video was done in 2006 (I have the DVD), and was almost ten years before they decided to bring back the 4014. At one time Steve Lee (who headed up the Steam Program) would often say that they would not ever bring back a Big Boy because of various reasons. That being said, at one time they where going to rehab the 3985 after they had the 4014, but have sadly have decided to retire it. It would have been a sight to behold seeing all three steaming together.

😭my dear challenger retired as of Jan 2020. Heart broken!!! Never had the chance to see her graduated in 2009 before I had a chance to get out and see it. The big boy is beyond great but my long lost love will be missed😢

The UP does such great things with their steam program, l cant wait till they get the 4014 finished.

What an impressive engine.I remember well covering my head to avoid hot cinders while fishing under a tresle😊

The Bigboy lives! Now they can work on getting the 3985 boiler recertified!

Sorry, I should have said thank you for such a great video. love the old steam videos. I was born in Milwaukee WI and watched the old circus train with the steam engine come into town. Now in Tacoma WA had the privilege of watching the 844 and the 4449 double head here. Love seeing these great old iron horses at work.

last big boy: *retired* Big boy #4014: “Am I a joke to you?”

When 4014 is going is there going to be a doco like this. This is brilliantly done. I live in Newcastle Australia and I love steam.

Such a nice show, I love the many opportunities to hear the machinery running and not something else, very tastefully done !!

While the rest of the cows ran, i think that one cow was reliving its youth days when Steam Giants ran the rails.

The Union Pacific Challenger , 3985 , is my number one steam locomotive!

CHALLENGER REALLY IMPRESSIVE WITH THE 140 FREIGHT CARS LOVE IT

This Is Great We Love Union Pacific's #3985 Challenger She Was Dugusied as Clinchfield Challenger #676 For The 50th Anniversary Of The Santa Claus Special An Annual Event On The Former Clinchfield Railroad

The extensive maintenance work it got in 97 and 98 is gonna be like an annual inspection compared to what the RRHMA is gonna do to 3985

Union Pacific: 3000 ton manifest? 3985: I can pull that like it’s not even there. Union Pacific: how about 143 stack cars unassisted? 3985 definitely yes.

Thank u for posting it im in hopes up likes that you have took the time to post this was awsome

Amazing. Thanks for Sharing

I love videos like these

thank you so much for sharing this with all of us who love steam

Steam shop frequently works with Operation Lifesaver this year in April I went on the Operation Lifesaver Excursion between Gooding and Glenns Ferry and don't worry I asked permission and like most railfans I play by the rules.

9:50 Frisco 1630 did the same when she pulled a 135-car coal train unassisted!

I got exciting news: Union Pacific big boy 4014 is back in action after spending nearly 60 years on static display at The rail giants train museum in Pomona California.

Excellent thank you for sharing

Note steam shop is going to trade 1243 for 4023 and both 4023 and 6922 will be moved from the Western Heritage Museum to Kenefick Park where they are now.

Very enjoyable documentary about the operating history of the Challenger 3985 steam engine, I really miss seeing the 3985 in operation but I understand that machinery needs repairs and maintenance. I am glad that big boy engine 4014 has made a return to service back in 2019, I never thought that I would see a UP rr "big boy" type engine return to operation during my lifetime and that is an impressive action. Hopefully in the future we will see the 3985 return to operation after it is rebuilt and repaired at the railroad maintenance facility in Silvis, Illinois at some later date.

3985 is down for maintenance steam shop will not bring it in until boiler work on big boy is complete which is scheduled to wrap up later this year. To cover the cost of the rebuild of both 3985 and Big Boy Union Pacific is selling most of their equipment at the Steam Shop Roundhouse except for the equipment that is needed to run for 3985 and Big Boy. Darrell hot water McCormick has upy 96 the former sw10 Switcher at Steam Shop, most of the Rolling Stock including one of the insulated box cars has been sold to Rail Giants one of the rotary snow plows, and one of the diesel powered slugs are on donation hold so is 5511 so in a few weeks most of the Rolling Stock at steam shop will be moving out to cover the cost of Big Boy as they build a canopy to cover most of their equipment. Access to the West End of the shop is restricted right now because they have heavy equipment over there and it is in the middle of the yard so access has to be done from the East End of the yard. 3985 is at the pipe removal phase but they cannot move onto staybolt fabrication until they complete the boiler work with big boy because both engines have the same bolts. Both 3985, big boy, and 844 have fire box problems caused by a contaminated water supply and over rolled tubes that are made of copper. All three steam locomotives are 100 years old and it takes a lot of Maintenance to get them back into shape. Big Boy will take the most maintenance because it has been sitting in a park for a quarter of a century 3985 will take the least amount of maintenance because they got halfway with the rebuild and had to stop because they do not have the necessary equipment to do full rebuild on the locomotive and the requirement for bolts nowadays have changed and they will have to do a full tear down on the Firebox in the boiler and replace with new bulbs and plates, and 844 is operational except she can no longer pull a heavy train all excursions must stay on the up system and cannot go anywhere she cannot be turned around or access is limited to a clean water supply. Both 844 and 3985 were washed in Roseville and their water treatment technology is not accurate with standards that are required by the Railroad Locomotive Historical Society, Association of American Railroads, or FRA which require the water be treated before it is put inside a locomotive. Most City Water Systems put chlorine, calcium bicarbonate, and iron inside of their pipes when this is mixed with 200 pounds of boiler pressure it can turn into rust and 3985 and 844 were taken out of service because rusty boilers caused by chlorine corrosion. Steam Shop wants the locomotives to last another 100 years that cannot happen if firemen are putting a fire hose filled with chlorine water into the water tenders. Right now Union Pacific is only using the Jim Adams because it has the required connections for treatment the other two Tenders in the Steam Shop Fleet including the Joe Jordan do not have these connections and steam shop and Wasatch contractors will have to do a full rebuild on these two water tenders to repair them make them structurally sound and install connections for treatment equipment. Steam Shop has pulled all three locomotives tenders big boys tender needs a full tare down and installation of an oil tank, 3985s tender needs cleaning and a full overhaul before it is reattached to 3985 with new equipment for treatment, Big Boy's massive of centipede tender needs installation of a new pilot truck so it fits within the gauge of our rail system plus installation of oil tanks, new water tanks with treatment equipment, and replacement of all brakes and journal boxes. And we get to Big Boy himself big Boise front engine needs new brakes along with new valve bushing, new cylinders, replacement of the piston heads, new springs, new rigging, new oil and sand pipes, and replacement of six miles of brake lines and air hoses. All this work needs to be done to get these engines operational.

My real name is Michael McCluskey. I love steam locomotives given the complexity of how they're built and operate.

I can not believe someone would pay good money to ride in a car behind this beautiful engine. I would prefer to be in a chase car to watch it. After all, in a rail car it could be a diesel or steam and one would never know the difference.

It did the same thing in 2010 when UP 3985 was chosen to pull the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus train from Cheyenne to Denver! It was a special performance for the celebration of the 140th run of the circus train and P.T. Barnum's 200th Birthday! It was 6500 feet long and weighed 6200 tons!

Great video

amazing

Also if you want to learn more of the oil convertion, watch "heavy freight and union pacific 3985" by WB video productions

well done

they used to sell these vhs tapes from the souvenir car for just 20$

3:16 Bill Waldrop: The largest operating steam locomotive in the world today, is Union Pacific's 3985.

is it just me? or does up 3985's shield just glow?

The Union Pacific 3985 was named the Challenger. Wheel arrangement of 4-6-6-4.

in 2022 we get to see it again😁

I have this on DVD

24:04 on may 17 2013 rocky mountain railroad club up 3967/3718

Skip to 2:57 to avoid me talking. I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THIS, ALL COPYRIGHTS, GO TO BA PRODUCTIONS, THE UP STEAM CREW & ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE END CREDITS. IF YOU OWN ANY OF THIS & WANT IT REMOVED, RATHER THAN FLAG IT & GIVE ME COPYRIGHT STRIKES, PLEASE JUST COMMENT BELOW & ILL RECIEVE A NOTIFICATION OF YOUR COMMENT & WHEN I SEE IT ILL REMOVE THE VIDEO, THANKS.

nice

I sure can't wait to see 3985 operational again by 2021 or 2022 she was one of my favorite steam locomotives from my childhood

great show though

True Biggest boy trains are ringing so journey to the big long cars

4:58, 13:13 & 17:20 - Footage for Train Adventures for Kids: The Magical World of Trains

200 gallons of water vaporizes into the atmosphere per mile, cant help but wonder how that changed atmospheric water vapor levels during the steam era. Its like thousands of lakes evaporating under a hot sun, each locomotive. The water isn't lost, its returned as rain or dew somewhere. Probably not detrimental, the water cycle acceleration of the steam era, but it would have some effect (the coal burning is another story).

Its a shame that 3985 retired in 2010 but at least we got big boy 4014 that returned in 2019

51:01 to 51:30 3985 was like nope!

Hey you think you make more these videos about Steam trains on RFDTV

Today i saw Big Boy 4014. I would like to see the Challenger with the Big Boy.

did you know the day after pulling the APL double stack train 3985 went back to Cheyanne hauling 21 freight cars (15 loaded and 6 empty) and wirring a Ilinois central brass beauty whistle

Hope we'll get to see 4014 lugging some freight trains to test her oil-conversion when she's done.

14:57 Bill Waldrop: The Union Pacific Railroad realized to early on, that the steam locomotives could be a positive public relations tool. One only has to witness this massive giant in action. To understand its ability to impress onlifters. The 3985 can develop between five and six thousand horsepower, ane under full throttle, it consume up to 200 gallons of water per mile. Its huge 15, 59 foot firebox had burned over 20 gallons of number 5 fuel oil in that same mile. The tender holds 25,000 gallons of water and 5900 gallons of oil with full.

4014 is back on the rails

this video was made on my birthday

3:23 And 4-8-8-4 Big Boys enjoyed productive careers hauling the millions and tons of freight for up to 20 years

Wait a minute.... I have a dvd of this! Also on my dvd it says that it is made by handy dancer productions in 2002!

Sherman Hill! YAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

3:41 Amazing how that line the narrator said would be so wrong today.

These engines are seventyfive years old. Where in the world do they find people who know how to run them?

Don't worry folks, 3985 went to good home and will be back!..

Actually, Union Pacific operated "only* 99 of the 105. 6 were operated by Denver & Rio Grande.

When they said none of the big boys are running today there is one big boy running right now and I was able to see it in Clinton Iowa number 4014 and when they said doubleheading with 844 the living legend it is running right now to double-heading with 4014

I get the feeling this was cut like the 844 video you also shared, I own the dvd. Where and how, aside from the steam program concessions car, can I get the dvd

Ware is the 844? The living legend

9:51 Norfolk & Western 1218 did the same when she pulled a 100-car coal train unassisted!

3:28 rare footage of U.P. 4023 operating. SURVIVES TODAY AT KENIFECK PARK

At 18:42 where it crosses a bridge, is that a road below or an old RR ROW?

I wouldent call my self a train guy but im a old iron lover more tractos and motorcycles cars and ill say im blown away by thease old trains any one who loves old irn must be impresed i know npthing about trains maybe varry little id go see any steem train if it came threw my neck of woods mom and dad both remeber steam trains when they where kids they grew up seeing deisel and steam my moms uncle use to work on a. Round house and her fother use to love trains and would take all them as kids to watch trains in loading and she sead they would still use steam up to 60s

Union Pacific 3985 14:22 [train chugging] 11:10 [train chugging]

Mountain Monster they filmed that WV

the thing I said started at 4:46

3:41 U.P. 3985 documtary: None are opearating today U.P. 4014 : I am your replacement

My favorite? Yep, that's why my You Tube channel is choochoo3985. 4014? Yes he is the boss, but I still favor junior!

Lunch is Vampires blood 3985 going with workers Immortals are playing

I love the music

thanks personally i like ur intro lol

00:05:52 I guess there’s more than one kind of locomotive blueprint like this

Union Pacific's Challenger 3985.

I just noticed something. You notice how in almost every clip of the 3985, there's literally no diesel assister coupled to it? Why is this?

3985 with emd 951

I grew up in Cheyenne Wyoming USA 🇺🇸! And yes indeed a Gold Spike Family! WhoootWhooooot! I am truly blessed indeed and thankful for our USA 🇺🇸 I am a dinosaur 🦕! WhoootWhooooot my goodness N Platte Nebraska USA 🇺🇸 WhoootWhooooot! My Back Yard! Gold Spike Museum In Bailey Yard North Platte Nebraska USA 🇺🇸 is where some of my Beloved Late Brother in Laws UPRR Locomotive 🚂 Engineers awards WhoootWhooooot

3:23 Union Pacific 4000

@05:52 what kind of blueprint is that?

If they did have a plan to restore this one like they did the BigBoy 4O14 then Buddy count me in to help any way I can. I would gladly Invest my life inharitence and savings to up keep on the BigBoy and Challenger.

why is it so shaky 46:55

Bruh 3985s whistle was like great to bad it sounds like it's dead at 41:21

you guys are complaining over a diesel assist?

Hopefully they put the elephant ears back on!

When Is Union Pacific 3985 Coming Back?

Never too poor to tour

And dickens in the steam team should restore that locomotiv A dickens in the steam team should run that locomotive e

Narrator: but none are oparating today 4014: BOI 8 OF US WHERE SAVED SO CHANGE THAT Narrator: they where the largest steam locomotives 8 of them where saved while 1 was restored 4014: GOOD! 3:41

@03:44 how long has this challenger had that whistle?