3985 chugging towards Eugene, OR

[GDFox95]

You guys know that this is the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey circus train right? It's also the largest steam train and pretty much the longest train ever.

[Gaiathecreator90]

OH MY GOD! THATS MY OLD HO SCALE TRAIN! :D

[jigbobby]

Great to see 3985 for 33 seconds without the horn being blown.

[MovieModerator]

Listen people, the diesels could probably pull more, if not the same amount of cars the 3985 had. The sd90mac's UP has today have 6300 hp. The 3985 has only about 4800-5200hp. Not that much compared to three+ diesels pull 245 cars.

[Gunny761]

@MovieModerator The point that people are trying to make is that 3985 is pulling that load alone, rather than linked up as diesels are. Besides, diesels aren't usually designed to be the high-horsepower behemoths like the Challengers. They are made to be easy to put together, so that you can just couple however many engines you need to get the job done, rather than big single units. Also, SD90MACs are no longer in production, partially due to their unreliability, partially due to emissions.

[roweman2]

i was about to complain about how this engine could easily pull twice as much as those two diesels combined by itself, but looking at it now from a dynamic breaking point of view, i can see where that makes sense.

still, itd be kinda fantastic if they weren't there!

[KCJazzKeys]

3985 pulled into KC's Union Station Saturday with no diesels at all. I always figured they were there for a "just in case" situation. Nice to see it without them for the aesthetic look.

[Paraffinmeister]

Wonderful clip of a stunning locomotive! Just a shame about the 2 diesels spoiling the picture! Guessing they're just there as insurance or to provide ETH?

[jdubbjazzbass]

i was enjoying this video until i saw those damn diesels.........

[SaintsWrestler135]

best trains ever

[moon47mars]

Awesome footage!!!!!!!

[suckboy]

It always irritates me when I see a nice video like this and then see comments from people who think the diesels are there to "help" the steamer pull the train. The Challenger class engines were so powerful that they could pull trains UNASSISTED that would require three or more diesels to pull today. There is in fact a video on YouTube of 3985 doing just that; pulling a 140+ car freight train ALONE over Archer Hill. Average diesel horsepower is about 2000. #3985 has around three times that.

[F40PHR231]

Right on the nail! I work with the crew of the 4449, and every time the steamer goes out people always ask what we use to make the steam look so realistic. Lots of face palms there... Even after many attempts to show and prove that it's a real steam engine, some people still walk away unconvinced. Lol

[Trainguyxx]

yeah i definetly agree with you there. when i was little i wasn't sure why they put the deisel trains on there and i was hoping it wasn't smoke and mirors =(

fortunatly I learned that thse things are pulling the deisels =D

[tprdfh51]

But you have no dynamic brake - that's what the diesals are for on mountain grade territory.

[willibill1]

@suckboy Right on suckboy, not only for dynamic braking of the train, but all the electrial power a passanger car of today requiers.

[MovieModerator]

@suckboy Acutally the Sd90mac's have 6200 horespower ,and the 3985 only has about 4800.

[MrZkr123]

@suckboy also wat most people don't realize is the diesel's are only on to provide HEP to the cars

[F40PHR231]

@MrZkr123 That is incorrect, because the UP diesels don't have the capability to provide HEP. The diesels are used for dynamics, and since the Challenger just eased off a big mountain grade, it saved wear/tear on the brake shoes.

[ConrailJon]

@suckboy What irritates me is the foamers who think that even for a second a Class 1 railroad would let a steam locomotive onto their tracks without a diesel back up. It's all about liability and insurance these days. Could 3985 pull that train by itself? You bet your ass it could. Is UP or any other railroad going to let the engine go out without a diesel somewhere in the consist? While UP has done this in the past, it's not likely today.

[boazrg]

@ConrailJon YES. Liability is the name of the game! It's very gracious of UP to maintain steam engines on their active list of motive power, and to promote steam excusions. CSX will not allow any steam engines on their property, even for transportation with rods off.

[sgtredbluered]

@suckboy The diesels are for pushing the steam locomotive, the Americans didn't land on the moon, and 9-11 was an inside job, don't you know. : )

[The2000redrocket]

@suckboy there are strong diesels. there are strong steamers. those that do not believe that one steamer can do it just has to look at the video. notice no diesel with the train? non passanger does not need a dynamic braking setup. the only steamer strongest close to operation i think is a virginia steamer

[JETZcorp]

I must say, there's something about the Challengers that just can't be reproduced. The Allegheny can just suck it.

[vladimir2366fa]

Thanks you, Videos veyr nice, ５★★★★★

[megatwingo]

5*****

[BigBoii72]

Nice vid beautiful train

[lockgnarvangoogen]

plus, they provide electricity for the passenger cars.

[F40PHR231]

They do not, because they don't have HEP generators. The UP has a power-car in the consist that generates electricity for the train.

[DeltaPhi79]

Aren't they there in case she breaks down or runs out of fuel too?

[nickwa165wa165]

whats the grade on this hill?

[Metracab123]

Do You know if it will come through chicago?

[F40PHR231]

The diesels were certainly not helping 3985, but simply providing dynamic braking ability for the passes. Dynamic brakes help slow a train down without using brake shoes, and on a looooong downhill pass, that's a lot of brake shoes! 3985 did just fine pulling by herself!

[DanielVolker]

Great catch! Saw her in Portland when she came. I was going to chase her along Columbia BVLD. but I had school. We all know what I'd rather be doing!!

[micahthatrocks]

when was this your saying?

[DanielVolker]

September 2005

[micahthatrocks]

nice vid.

[SantaFe3751Fan]

Sweet Catch! I rode behind 3985 when she came to Chicago. It was a blast sitting in our DOME CAR too. =D

[SkipW]

Good catch!

[CSX6000]

A double catch! The Challenger and the WP SD70ACe!

[spencermcgrew]

that girl is barking!

[youngwarrior2]

They were on the train for protection in case something went wrong with 3985.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

They are used for extra dynamic braking. The "Hill" on the Cascade sub is close to 2%.

[produKtNZ]

oh wow. F40PHR231, Is the steam locomotive towing the 2 diesel eletric's or are they assisting?

[ronthecyborg]

that's a nice angle. 5 stars.