The big announcement this week is that Union Pacific Challenger 3985 is to be RESTORED!
Union Pacific has made it clear that they are committed to their fabulous steam program managed by Ed Dickens in Cheyenne Wyoming, however, they are also committed to keeping the program "on track", concentrating on the two steam locomotives they routinely operate, FEF3 Northern #844 and Big Boy #4014. Also the Heritage Fleet, the original Union Pacific passenger cars that run with the locomotives. But the shops in Cheyenne also house three other steam locomotives, #838, used as parts for #844, 2-10-2 #5511, a huge locomotive with 5 drive axles, and Challenger #3985. 3985 was retired in 1962 and later put on display at the Depot in Cheyenne. It operated for years as part of the Steam Program. It had been rebuilt and returned to service in 1981 by a volunteer group of UP employees. BUT it was never "restored", and over the following decades never given the kind of back shop rebuild a steam locomotive needs to remain 100% operational. And so at some point the locomotives was pulled from service pending a complete back shop rebuild.
When the Union Pacific committed to join Spike 150 and other groups to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike in Utah the plans called for the Steam Program to take two steam locomotives to the event so that they could be placed nose-to-nose in celebration on the Union Pacific #119 and the Central Pacific #60, The Jupiter, being set nose-to-nose at the driving of the Golden Spike on May 10, 1869.
And so #3985 needed to be rebuilt. However, the locomotive had serious problems. The worst of which was leaking between the huge tube sections that make up the boiler tube. While none of these issues were insurmountable, they meant that the job was more than the time frame allowed, and much more expensive than simply starting with a locomotive that needed less work. Enter Big Boy 4014. 4014 was retired at about the same time as the Challenger, #3985 However, it was placed on display at the Rail Giants Museum in Pamona California. And had been lovingly cared for by the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. They had always hoped to return the locomotive to service. After negotiations with Ed Dickens and the Union Pacific, in 2013 the locomotive was moved to Cheyenne to be totally restored. Leaving the future of #3985 in question. Until now.
3985 AND 5511 are to be taken to Silvis Illinois and the Railroading Heritage of the Midwest shops and both locomotives are to be totally restored and returned to operating condition. Also, DD40X diesel #6936, four UP passenger cars, a UP dining car, a UP Baggage car, a UP caboose, two WP business cars, and the UP business car known as the Stanford, originally the Southern Pacific Sunset. Private donations are to be used to totally restore this treasure trove of equipment and use it in excursion service.
Railroading Heritage of the Midwest
rrhma.com/
Union Pacific
www.up.com/index.htm