The UP 3985 is a "Challenger" class of locomotive based on it's 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement.
The numbers on the cab indicate the engine number (3985), wheel arrangement (4-6-6-4), wheel size (69 inches, that's 5 ft. 9 in), cylinder size (21-21/32 thus 21 inch X 32 inch), and weight on drivers (404 thousand pounds).4-6-6-4 means it has four wheels in its leading "pilot" truck which helps guide the locomotive into curves, followed by tow sets of six "driving" wheels, and four "trailing" wheels which support the rear of the engine and its massive firebox. Each set of driving wheels has its own steam cylinders. The result is two engines under on boiler.
The Challengers were designed for fast freight service but could be found pulling passenger trains. The UP 3985 which has a top speed of 70 miles per hour, originally burned coal and pulled a tender with a 32-ton capacity. In 1990 it was converted to use No. 5 fuel oil.The present tender is a massive 14 wheel tender which carries 6,445 gallons of fuel in the front and 25,000 gallons of water in the back.
UP 3985 was built by the American Locomotive Company. Here is the builders plate that is attached to the boiler with the build date of July 1943 and serial number 70174. This engine at a young 67 years is almost as old as I am and it is still running great (and so am I).
The 3985 last operated in regular train service in 1957. It was retired in 1962 and stored in the Cheyenne, WY, roundhouse until 1975 when it was placed on display near the Cheyenne depot. A group of Union Pacific employee volunteers restored the locomotive to running condition in 1981 and placed in special excursion service by Union Pacific.With this wheel arrangement, the frame of the locomotive is "articulated", or hinged, to allow it to go through curves. When watching the approaching locomotive go through a curve, you see the boiler swing out left or right, independently of the lower half of the engine. The rear half of the locomotive remains in a straight direction until its wheels and frame start into the curve. I have seen that action several times while watching the "3985" steam trough a curve as I stood near the tracks at Spring, TX. In the next photo I have indicated where the hinge point would be (in the middle of the engine between the cylinders on each side of the engine where the red arrow is pointing.
The 3985 and its train arrived in St Louis on its way eastbound from Cheyenne. The engine is so long that there is no place in St. Louis to turn it around, so it continued southeast to Gorham, Illinois (about 90 miles southeast of St. Louis) where it was turned at the Gorham "Wye". A railroad wye is a triangular shaped arrangement of rail tracks that can be used to reverse the direction of a train. The Gorham Wye is the only location in the St. Louis area that the 3985 can be turned. This link lists several video links of UP 3985 during the St. Louis to Gorham leg of the trip (Union Pacific Challenger Leaving St. Louis - 5.38 minutes, Union Pacific Challenger Leaving St. Louis for Gorham - 2.13 minutes, Union Pacific No. 3985 arriving Gorham from St. Louis - 1.03 minutes, Union Pacific No. 3985 departing Gorham - 2.29 minutes). A railfan posted this great 4.21 minute YouTube video of his chase of the 3985 to and from Gorham.After returning from being turned at Gorham, UP 3985 remained in St. Louis for a full day of display in St. Louis on September 8. At first I thought of watching it as it left St. Louis on Saturday, September 9 for Sedalia, MO. My choice of a train watching spot would have been where it steamed by the historic depot at Kirkwood, MO. But my schedule on Saturday did not fit with making that trip, plus I knew thousands of fans would be there to watch it steam by and only a few photos could be taken. I decided I could have unlimited time for many photos at the display area. I took over 250 photos which included some of a passing freight and Amtrak.
To verify my visit I had Jeff shoot these photos.
I took photos of UP 3985 from many different angles.
Jeff getting a close up look at UP 3985.
Steam service workman cutting out a part from the UP 3985 with an acetylene torch.
Several of the cars are part of Union Pacific's Heritage Fleet which are "support cars" that travel with special trains, especially those pulled by any of Union Pacific's steam Locomotives.UPP 809 Auxiliary Tender "Jim Adams" - Jim is a retired Machinist from the Steam Shop.
UPP 814 Auxiliary Tender "Joe Jordan" - Joe is a retired Pipe Fitter from the Steam Shop.
UPP 209 Boiler Dormatory "Howard Fogg" Dedicated to the renowned Steam Railroad Artist, Howard Fogg who painted hundreds of paintings of Union Pacific subjects . Mr. Fogg died on October 1, 1996. This car provides "Head End Power" for steam and electricity all the cars pulled on the train plus a dormatory for the crew.
Tool Car "Art Lockman" - is a rolling "machine shop". It carries tools, parts, machines, lubricants and other items needed to maintain and repair the steam locomotive while on trips. Mr Lockman retired as roundhouse foreman in Cheyenne after working 43 years for Union Pacific. He is a well known employee who is still admired for his knowledge maintenance and operation.
Souvenir Car "Reed Jackson" - Dedicated to the late, long time Steam Team Conductor who died in August 2009
Baggage Car "Lynn Nystrom": - Dedicated to long time Union Pacific Steam Team Engineer, Lynn Nystrom, who died of a heart attack on May 5, 2010.
In memory of Lynn Nystrom.A YouTube tribute to Lynn Nystrom.
UPP 9336 Boxcar - carries steam locomotive spare parts, oversize supplies and the steps used to allow visitors to see inside the cabs of the steam locomotive.
UPP 7001 Dome Coach "Columbine"
The UP 3985 Locomotive may be past technology, but this special steam excursions is operated with modern technology by GPS navigation and satellite communication. I asked one of the trains crew who was answering questions, if Steve Lee was the engineer of this locomotive for this trip. He said, "Yes, and he is probably back there on the computer planning the route for the next days run."
Looking in the engine cab.
The end of the train with the "FRED" on the back of UPP 7001 Dome car "Columbine".
The "FRED" - Flashing Rear End Devise
UP 3985 display area.
We got to park this close.
Looking east from the UP 3985 display area where you can see the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis.
Two website links that have some great photos of UP 3985; Link 1, Link 2The Union Pacific 3985 "Challenger" is an awesome locomotive. Quoting a friend of mine that watched the 3985 steam into Pacific, MO on the Saturday, October 10 trip to Sedalia- "Those diesel electrics, while they have more HP, sure don't "live" like the old steam train does. This is not like those little tourist steam engines you find on narrow gauge railways or in the museums. And to see it actually pulling cars was quite an experience... Huffing and puffing and creaking... bell ringing... The drive wheels are much taller than the people, as you can see. The steam, the smoke, the sounds. It is pure raw power that is absolutely awesome. There is nobody left alive who actually ran the train commercially before it went out of commercial service in 1957."
Union Pacific Railroad operates another steam locomotive in special excursion service- UP 844. The UP 844 is unique in that it is the only steam locomotive never retired by a North American Class I railroad. UP 844 was reassigned from passenger service to freight service when diesel-electric locomotives took over passenger service and operated from 1957 to 1959 in Nebraska. It was saved from being scrapped in 1960. It was chosen for restoration and is now used on company and public excursion trains.
Amtrak Train 314 "Missouri River Runner" Kansas City-St. Louis. Amazing that this photo was taken at 1:10 PM and the train is scheduled to arrive at the St. Louis Gateway Station at 1:10PM, which is about 1.1 miles east from my vantage point. Surprised to see an Amtrak train that close to being on time.
A east bound freight passed by the UP 3985 while we were there.
I would not be surprised if the third engine in this set of three is a beat up "Motive Rail" unit that is a dead engine being towed.
I was surprised to see that it had rear end distributed power "remote controlled rear engine".
Several "Fallen Flag" cars was on this freight.
Chicago & Northwestern Transportation Company now part of Union Pacific Railroad.
Missouri Pacific (MP) now part of Union Pacific Railroad.
Southern Railway now part of Norfolk Southern Railroad.
A Regional Railroad Boxcar from Mississippi Export Railroad.
More information with the roster of "Fallen Flags" can be found at this link.The seven North American Class I railroads that exist today are Union Pacific Railroads, Norfolk Southern Railroad, CSX Transportation, BNSF Railway, Kansas City Southern Lines, Canadian National Railroad, and Canadian Pacific Railway. The November 2010 issue of the Trains Magazine (Its 70th Anniversary Issue) has a great centerfold layout of the Railroad Family Tree of how the seven North American Class I railroads came to be. It is a combination 0f 104 different railroads that was combined by merger, bankruptcy, or purchase to be reduced to the remaining seven of today. Speaking of Trains Magazine, I have subscribed to this magazine for over 12 years. It is the only the magazine that I read cover to cover each month (most of the time within a week of getting it in the mail) including many of the advertisements. I have never been able to say that for any other magazine and that's including my chemistry magazines and journals that I subscribed to as a research chemist. To celebrate its 70th Anniversary, Trains Magazine is offering all 70 years of the magazine including the 2010 issues on DVD for $140. At my current renewal cost of $42.95 per year, that would be a $3006.50 value. I will be working as an election judge for the November 2 General election judge, and I know how I will spend my election day pay and training pay, I will splurge on that DVD.
A terminal railroad boxcar from New Orleans Public Belt Railroad.
A Mexican railroad"Ferromex" auto rack .
Also a lot of railroad car Graffiti.
A good railroad Graffiti website Link.To cap off a great day of railroad photography we stopped by a well known St. Louis landmark for a refreshing treat. Ted Drews.
Wow, I learned alot about trains. Thanks Ben for posting this.
ReplyDeleteJan