Seen on the UPRR, July 2005: 3985, 844, and 6936, Part 2 of 2

[rogerstill71]

Awe-inspiring...magnifique! Well done, Clovis!

[k750iL]

I wish i could buy this as a private train (with the dd40x of course) thanx this was truly nice to see 19 passenger cars longest ive seen!!

[cool45010]

Aw, come on Union Pacific, you know ol' 844 can pull that train herself without even breaking a sweat!

[Rtchugg]

844 is the lest powerful 4-8-4

[WOWJBEOWULF]

My grandfather was a train engineer; they took him on the railroad at World War Two, and as a veteran of World War One. I like trains, I had a train engineer hat and train set before I entered school.

[WOWJBEOWULF]

I love trains, my grandfather was an engineer; trained the old way; he was accepted at the start of World War Two, after serving the First World War, the shortage of men accepted him. His entire career was trains, one of my youth pictures was a train engineer hat, and it was good for my train playset. America needs trains.

[WhyAyeMann]

oh come now, Three diesels?

[gothpapa]

I believe the 844 had just returned to service after overhaul and was still in "breakin mode," 3985 was there for backup, and the 3-unit lashup is routinely kept at LaSalle for emergencies. In the event, it was the 3985 that went down and had to be taken off at Ft. Lupton, leaving the 844 without backup. They didn't want to risk the 844 going down also and tying up the line, so the diesel lashup met the train at Greeley to take over 3985's backup role. Best option and sensible precaution.

[fafnir242]

God, I'd KILL to see this locomotive in action...

[gothpapa]

Am not sure which locomotive you re referring to here, but it wouldn't be necessary to do anything that extreme to see any of them in action.

[fafnir242]

I realized that as soon as I posted the comment. I was refering to the 844, but I don't have my own vehicle, and I live in Illinois. It doesn't come out here too often.

[horselovermc]

try living in New Jersey u dont get steam anymore u have to drive to scrannton or strasburg.

[fafnir242]

I've been to New Jersey. I liked it there. You're right, though, it's kind of hard to get any steam up there. I loved Newark Penn Station, though. I would have stayed there all day if I had the chance.

[eldiabl06]

sorry not form usa but is loco 6936 a popular locmative it seams to be in a lot of vids???

[gothpapa]

The #6936 is the last operating survivor of a group of 47 EMD-built diesel-electric locomotives (#6900 -- 6946) delivered to the Union Pacific Railroad between May 1969 and September 1971. They were 98 feet long and weighed in at 30 tons, making them the largest locomotives ever built. Although these units gave good service a combination of factors including high mileage, high maintenance costs, and a slow economy resulted in their being removed from service during the 1980's.

Continued belo

[gothpapa]

By mid-1985 all were retired. Twelve units have survived as static displays and the #6936 has been returned to service as part of the Union Pacific Railroad's Heritage Fleet. These units are also referred to as DD40X (the model type), and as "Centennials" because they were first delivered to the UP during the railroad's centennial year of 1969 -- which also accounts for the numbering of the units. The #6900 actually made its "debut" during the official centennial celebrations in May 1969.

[ajb07]

30 tons? Hee hee - I think there must be a zero missing there?

[gothpapa]

Sorry, I'm not sure what this is referring to.

[ajb07]

You stated about the DD40X that 'They were 98 feet long and weighed in at 30 tons'

[gothpapa]

Oh, that! Of course I was confusing the weight of the "real thing" with the weight of the G gauge model ;-)).

[SteffanLlwyd]

US steam rocks! Chapelon's advanced steam designs would have been great but even they could never have matched the sheer grunt on North American super power. Thanks (from a Eoropean fan of the two cylinder Big Beat).

[trainboy94]

Typo in info box it's 6936 not 6939

[GP9railfan]

Long live the DD40X! They need to get them all running again!!!

[DASCO2136]

they should get at least 3 of them up again. Only about 15 of the 47 6900s survive today.

[PumpkinDieselEngine]

13 now.

[DASCO2136]

Are u sure its 13?

[PumpkinDieselEngine]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but yep. :(

[DASCO2136]

Oh well no problem

[trainman071]

DDA40X RULES

[fafnir242]

If I ever win the lottery I am personally going to oversee the overhaul of the 6930 up at the Illinois Railway Museum.

[Barricade360]

@fafnir242 amen i hope that happens i would love to see all of the dda40xs get rebuilt as well as the bigboys

[aftmast]

did that biker take a sip of beer?

[gothpapa]

No, he was taking pictures of the train!!

[dni252]

"DD40! Ohhh, Maaaaan!"

[4x4Mudmaster]

i think its cool to see the steam locomotives back in service.

[EvilFartHead69]

My favorite steam engine ever!!!!

[lostchord359]

Nice, but 6936 probably didn't need to be there, unless she was just providing power for the cars? All the shots just showed 6936 idleing, with 844 doing all the heavy work. Great way to brake her in! Too bad about 3985 though. What happened to her?

[gothpapa]

As I recall, that was a breakin run for the 844 after an extensive overhaul. The 3985 was the designated backup in the beginning, but it was the 3985 that had the problem. The UP didn't want to risk another problem on that trip. Don't know current status of 3985, but don't believe she has been returned to service since that trip. Someone who knows better may correct me on that (or any other) point.

[TVRM610]

As far as I know, #3985 is still under overhaul.

[youdubt]

yes,beutyfull.thank you

[Treyvs]

Awesome stuff man, In September the 844 is coming to KS, and i'm gonna be all over it when it comes

[wranglerhuck]

So it's coming to KS again this year? I got to see it last year (2006) in Topeka, KS. They did a servicing at the Union Station Depot Museum..I have over 40 pics of it..Have any Idea when the date will be? I'll be ready this year..I have a new camcorder...

[tdvandy2]

Thanks for the effort. Absolutely beautiful.

[tbonez1965]

I can't see 3985.

[gothpapa]

This is Pat 2 of 2. The 3985 appeared briefly in Part 1. This trip was scheduled as a doubleheader, a breakin trip for the newly rebuilt 844. Unfortunately, the 3985 developed bearing problems and was taken out at Ft. Lupton. As a result, the train actually had four different motive power combinations that day, al of which are represented in these two parts.

[Nec1228]

man i would have loved to see some more of challenger but still man an awsome vid!!! i didnt even know that UP ran these excursion trains until i watch your vid!

[WildGuy00000]

where have you been the last 49 years?

[ducker1942]

niccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeee american power!!