UP# 3985 Test Run 26June 2008 Cheyenne WY

[WHRU2011]

I guess this video pretty much answers the question of "Is all that horsepower you make getting to the rail?"

[darkhound891]

at 3:40 it sounds like she starts saying "this is heavy"

[trainguy3]

I wish this one or the 844 would come to the east coast, like philly or somewhere, I love UP steam

[TheIrishMikeB]

Gotta love the big articulated engines. The one I'd love to see the UP restore to operational status would be one of the remaining Big Boys. Any chance of that happening before they plant my carcass 6 ft under? I'm 58 now.....LOL

[Barricade360]

@calloway322 if the challengers had this much power i would love to see the full power of the bigboys

[Robkat3751]

Poor thing can't breath, has asthma!

[SkipW]

@calloway322 mabey in 2011 the way it is looking now

[trucker765]

i bet the fire department thought something was on fire, lol

[TrainSounds]

Were you expecting a big boy?

[treos17]

thats awesome seeing the drivers synchronized

[NathansBackwoods]

There is a video of the challenger pulling a freight train of about 145 cars, its a recent video too, only a couple years old.

[SkipW]

Miami? I dont think she will go there, 3985 once did a run to a super bowl in NewOrleans

[CarNutandTrainNut2]

CSX and the FEC would have a fit, especially CSX.

[SkipW]

Where is the Super Bowl this year? or a doubleheaded CFD run would be Amazing also

[SteamingObe]

No guts, no glory.

[dmontoya699]

They should retire a SD70M and put 3985 in its place and use 3985 as a normal freight locomotive. They could train crews all over on running the steam engine and make operating it and seeing it available to everyone on the UP network. Seeing it being used for real freight 50 years after it was supposed to would be much more honorable than seeing it a couple times a year for excursions.

[DeltaPhi79]

She's beautiful even without the right paint.... *happy tears*

[DeltaPhi79]

It's not killing the Earth. Global warming does not exist. We're "killing the Earth" by BREATHING (we exhale CO2). We're only in between ice ages lol. So this is beauty at its near finest.

[iwtsiwts]

Este trem é ecologicamente incorreto, polui muito..

[pjkfer]

callate no nos vengas con la mierda de los ecologistas ojala hubieran mas trenes como ese....

[CAVSFAN2360]

I just watched a video where the front and back wheels were not in synch.

[BudmanPackfan]

that is most of the time on a mallet. They are completely independent "engines" on the same frame, same boiler

[familyguyer08]

what a beauty

[bigfishcatcherdw]

There is only ONE boiler in any steam locomotive. 3985 is an articulated steam engine. The two sets of drivers get steam from the same boiler, but thet are NOT connected to each other. So if the front drivers slip, (most often the case), they go out of synch. If you watch the video youcan see that the two sets of drivers are in synch at the time of the test, therefore the exhaust is in synch. when the front set of drivers slip, as then the drivers will go out of synch.

[Nec1228]

well that and one of the engine's sets of drivers (cant remember which ones) were turned down due to abnormal wear. This makes the smaller set of drivers turn slightly faster in order to keep up with the larger set.

[SkipW]

This is correct, thank you

[jwallacect]

@bigfishcatcherdw - Not quite100% correct. Don't forget the British Fairlee locomotives that mounted 2 boilers on one frame with the cab in the middle. Separate engines and cylinders were under each boiler. A few are still under steam in Britain. Pity the fireman who had to stoke two boilers.

[daknarr]

Did you guys happen to notice, and mayhaps this is merely an incorrect perception on my part, that only the front boiler was operational?

[mountaineersti05]

there is only one boiler.......and both sets of cylinders are working as you can hear them going in and out of synch

[camaroracer454]

I dont know much about these trains...but if theres a set of two separate cylinders on each side...there should be a separate boiler....maybe in which the exhaust emptys from one stack....that would mean that synch is one side/boiler operating or the set of cylinders in the front working or only the back set working....or all are working because the synch sounds more then just 2 cylinders.

[camaroracer454]

Ok i just saw another video of the train...theres 2 sets of smoke coming out of the stack...so yes theres 2 boilers then?

[Powertampa]

no... just different outpoints of one boiler

[camaroracer454]

If theres 4 cylinders...are they all run off the same boiler?

[BlondeDesigner]

the Big Boy was also designed to hawl freight (some containing supplies for WW2) in and out of Cheyene, and the surrounding states back in the 1940s-1950s

[josecarlosfarina]

very good. note 1.000. The best,

you see my videos (movies) for trains?

thank you

[BigBoii72]

4:00 Beautiful sound

[michlian]

When this engine was first restored, at ran on coal, it was later converted to burn oil.

[GSpro]

Boy shes loud... and that whistle sure is erie.

[FILM2001]

Awesome to have both 3985 and 844 in service. Now, if they would only overhaul 4004 and get that back into service:)

[Chernabog135]

I dont think that engine is burning oil...the smoke wouldn't be soo black if it was burning oil

[DanielVolker]

Well the engine hasb't run in 3 years so the crew is still trying to get things set and running well.

[BudmanPackfan]

It was converted to oil a while ago for ease of fueling when away on excursions and less hot cinder issues that can start line side fires. burning oil creates smoke... look at a diesel truck or locomotive. diesel is just a lighter oil (#2) vs the oil burned in this lady (#5).

[SkipW]

Thats the rumor I have heard , like do you know of any mainline coaling facilitys left?

[BudmanPackfan]

non that I know of. Mainline steam has been gone for 40 years. They load the MILW 261 with a front end loader.

[trainboy94]

It looked a little out of time

[yourweathertodayHD]

yep NS runs up through there on their own main an UP runs over CSX, but CSX retains trackage rights...and Amtrak runs over the CSX trackage

[yourweathertodayHD]

we aren't exactly sure...but I do know that it would probably be routed in over the CSX Lake Shore Sub...probably...and he may get more visiting steamers...I'll keep ya posted :D

[yourweathertodayHD]

this bad boy may be coming to a town near my hometown of Buffalo in a few years for the grand opening of a railroad museum my grandfathers friend runs, the Medina Railroad museum(hmm grand openings not the best word....grand re-opening?)

[buntik1687]

This is one of the few steam locomotives that don't need help with heavy trains.

You actually hear the dynamic braking on the diesel engines before they stop.

[micahthatrocks]

ummmm.but challenger 3985 went to oil...yes....so...its not really going off of steam...it runs off of oil..it runs off of type #5 oil..... so....if it don't run off of oil then what?

[yourweathertodayHD]

buddy its not running off oil....just like coal burning or wood burning locomotive doesnt run off those. Yes, it does BURN those materials to heat water into steam and that steam pushes the driverods on the wheels in the cylinders, making the engine go....just like any conventional steamer...so yes she is under steam, steam made by an oil heated fire...just like CP 2317 at steamtown is undeer steam made by a coal heated fire

[1mile2go]

brother it is pulling more here than any challanger class has ever pulled!

she is pulling the total dymanic braking of 3 diesel locomotives!

cant you hear the steam power?

All that smoke means that boiler is stoked

and she is working for a living

[micahthatrocks]

still. is not steam. its oil.

[yourweathertodayHD]

its steam made from an oil-fired fire...just like a coal burner makes steam from a coal-fired fire

[micahthatrocks]

but still....its a oil burrning steam locomotive........but okay..if you belive what you said..

[yourweathertodayHD]

right, so its a steam locomotive...thats like saying "but still...its a coal burning steam locomotive" or "but still...its a wood burning steam locomotive"....so its normal

[micahthatrocks]

no..i have a origanal pic of the tender and if you look in the pic you see a big pile of coal.if you look now you will not see that pile...

[yourweathertodayHD]

ok fine, they converted it to oil...BIG DEAL. The oil, coal, whatever it is, is just being burned to heat water to make steam! Its a normal steam locomotive!

[micahthatrocks]

lol.i know.kust messing with ya...i like you.your cool.

[micahthatrocks]

and how did you get my e-mail?

[FILM2001]

3985 was converted to burn #5 fuel oil in 1990.

[ffej980]

theres nothing better than good old fashioned steam power at work...

[buntik1687]

I wonder if they can't use natural gas to heat the water instead of Oil or Coal? Which is not a bad idea. The steam locomotive would be cleaner than diesel.

I wonder how far a full tank car with natural gas could carry 3985 or 844?

[micahthatrocks]

a team and i are finding a way to convert her other steam that way.

[tridentmusic]

Oh well, I looks like the Weythman "gas" bill is going to grow a fair bit over next months...

Good on yer Skip- keep'em comming...

[ffej980]

why the smoky exhaust...this runs on oil...

[bucktoff2]

I rode on this engine when it came to Laramie in 2002. One of the highlights of my life.

[Tanvan180]

I wouldn't be surprised if with CAD, they could design and build new parts. They do have the 838 and 3977 on hand.

[MaxInterjects]

Heh nice consist. I'm guessing the diesels had their dynos running to give 3985 some weight to pull. Good to let those freight haulers run under a load.

[shorehamsoo]

full dynamic load test on both unit is what i was told to watch it for,, you could hear them wound out ,,,

[jdc3751]

It appears UP made some adjustments to the timing of the running gear. The difference in rotation of the rods between the forward and rear drivers used to be about 90 degrees. Now it seems that the forward and rear drivers are syncronized. Interesting.

[jcmark611]

This is something that always changes as the locomotive travels.

[Tanvan180]

It's a simple articulated locomotive. The steam pressure between the front and rear is separate. It's possible to have one set of drivers spinning while the other set has traction.

[SkipW]

someone on trainorders said 1.8 Megaohm was the Load, whatever that means

[shorehamsoo]

full load dynamics,

[frenchelectrican]

the 1.8 megaohm really it mean 1.8 megawatts that translated to 2200 engine HP Merci,

[Oldskoolrailroad]

nice to see 3985 is ready for some action in 2008

[kskcsfan]

not quiet I say they call it Challenger because it is slightly smaller than the B.B.'s a 4-6-6-4 not a 4-8-8-4 close though!

[kskcsfan]

Damn nice come on Steve Lee let her run on the KP Line!!!

[aleu650]

she was off for repairs ?

[bonehead1902]

thats awsome!!!

[BigUnitBeef]

Glad to see the old girl running again.....Keep steam alive. Hell, if I hear right with frieght being backed up on rail lines across the country, she might be pulling freight!

[gibiliz]

Esta é outra Locomotiva "Big Boy"?

Quantas ainda estão funcionando?

Parabéns as pessoas que se preocupam em manter a historia das ferrovias, no mundo inteiro, na minha opinião, ainda é o melhor meio de transporte entre as cidades!

[mcclth]

Não se trata de um "Big Boy". É um "Challenger". Lamento, eu não sei Português.

[railfanalways]

Great, Great video!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[zephyr2141]

Wonderful news! I've missed #3985.  Can't wait to see it running excursions again.

[singwith]

WOW!

[shayfan]

Dang wish I could have been there with you. Id like to maybe catch it in MN this Fall. Heard it went to Laramie, did you chase any or is this true?

[hoolg]

Great to see her back. I'm looking forward to the new 80 mph footage of her booking it across the planes.

Thanks for sharing this one & hope to see more soon.

[firecaptain5405]

WOW!! Love this one. I have always enjoyed the steam engines. Great catch.

[RailfanAlex]

Nice to see it back so soon. When did it go into the shops? It doesn't seem that long ago, but I'm sure it's been at least a year.

[TECHKLEC]

Is that the only Challanger running?

[SkipW]

yes, it is

[Mopac92]

Shes a beauty

[RailFanDavid]

glad to see 3985 running again.just a little paint and she will look as good as new.great smoke show.

[mafarnz]

Wow, smoky!

[Squawk7600]

It's a 4-6-6-4 right (a little hard to make out the wheels in the video)??? Awesome!!

[MikeDelic14]

AWESOME!!!! ppl must have thought WTF!? when all the smoke was up in the air:P

[BNSF9250]

wow that has been retired scince 2002! It's back? OMG i'm so exicted! I'm gonna do a video of it when it does it's premire trip on the Colorado joint line if i can!

[BNSF9250]

when is it gonna make its first trip????

[Derailedtrain666]

why do you care you guna request me to get it lol...

[SkipW]

it has been down since july 2005, the CFD run with 844 it brokedown

[Sabrestrainsfan]

cool!

[Espeelover]

cool, its a bueity...well kinda.

[SF3751]

Glad to see her out again! Do you know her next event?

[CoastStarlight11]

Hard core!