Seen on the UPRR, July 2005: 3985, 844, and 6936, Part 1 of 2

[rattmamma]

2 people needs their butts kicked! My husband has been a locomotive engineer for over 40 years now. P.S. If you don't know anything about trains then STFU!

[gothpapa]

@rattmamma I know several people that need their butts kicked. Hell, I might even be one of them. Unfortunately, your comment is rather vague if not pointless. Would you mind being a little more specific so I will know whether I should agree with you or be offended? Thanks

[rattmamma]

2 people needs their butts kicked! My husband has been a locomotive engineer for over 40 years now.

[swaggastoega]

I love the 844

[longhornandsouthern]

I really get tired of seeing nearly every steamer that runs nowadays followed up by a diesel (not even an old one, but a MODERN one). It ruins the view as far as I'm concerned. Besides, in their day steamers were capable of stopping just fine without help. Throwing on a ugly diesel in the consist is no substitute for an engineer who knows how to operate an air brake correctly.

[gothpapa]

@longhornandsouthern The reason tyhey do that is to have backup power instantly available in case thde steamer breaks down. All it would take to kill mainline steam operations would be for one breakdown that ties up the line fopr a few hours. Personally, I'd just as soon see the steamer running with a backup diesel than to see it sitting in a park somewhere.

[asdffggi]

is it realy drive of it sjelf or is it a engine after the 844?

[longhornandsouthern]

@asdffggi The 844 and 3985 both run under their own steam.

[844jim]

July of 2005 was when the two double-headed. Great video, thanks for posting!

[geomodelrailroader]

I know what went wrong no Joe Jordan Wader Tender #3985 requires 2 Water Tenders to run they only had one so #3985 was sent back to Steam Shop for 3 years in the shop.

[mbtech2003]

looks alot better running with out the diesels/electrics to back it up

[modeltrainman12345]

@mbtech2003 agreed

[ricksclick]

What are the big side plates for on the front of 844? How do they synchronize the thrust from multiple locomotives - steam to steam and steam to diesel?

[ricksclick]

What are the big side plates for on the front of 844?

[gothpapa]

@ricksclick Smoke deflectors, I believe.

[coolnerd92]

where can i listen 2 that song in the intro fully ? lol love it is it nice!

[gothpapa]

@coolnerd92 It's called Reuben's Train and variations of it can be found in many collections of classic railroad and folk songs.

[coolnerd92]

@gothpapa ty do u know any more ? id like 2 hear em all ^^

[gothpapa]

@coolnerd92 Do I know any more what?

[coolnerd92]

@gothpapa of those folk songs..

[satanxhhhx]

Hmm.. @ 4:06 got a nice steam engine in the mirror and the words "Objects mirror may be closer than they appear", why does that seem humourous to me....

[dreambuilders48808]

Sweet! Great Video.

[Weiberts]

Isn't the #3985 a Challenger?

[RichardSwayne]

Yes

[wannabeangel83]

i love the part where they get a close up on the turbines and gears...truely amazing

[tyke45]

love the way everything in us is so open so u can see these engines in all there glory and majesty here in ukthey are mostly hidden in cuttngs and sidings and all railways are fenced off

[micahthatrocks]

who are all thos people in the cab of 844?

[DanielVolker]

Crew and a couple lucky people who were having the time of their lives!

[micahthatrocks]

this thing is smooth.

[back10506]

Just as I thought. Oh well.

[iamRAYZILLA]

I've seen 3985 in person before, but I never saw 844. From the videos I've seen of that 4-8-4, I'd give anything to see her in person.

By the way, what's the name of the song in the intro? Sounds catchy.

[newmanwins12]

Yo, i RODE on the 844 it was awesome

[micahthatrocks]

how did you, you mean in the cab?

[MSTSFreak]

Probably the best Train pacing video on YouTube

[back10506]

Indeed. Is it possible to equip steam locomotive's with Dynamic Brakes?

[MasterNinjaDM]

if there was only a big boy that ran still then a tripple headder would be a dream of reality!

[xxxDeath9572xxx]

wow how rare is that 2 see the famous Northern 844 the Challengers #'s 3985 and # 6936 doing a train together that's just considered the most luck ever that you would get if you spent years and hears to get this train on camera! only if a Cenntinal Engine was on this concist!

[xxxDeath9572xxx]

i meant to say only if a big boy was in this train

[buggiecar]

844 and 3985 are like twins.

[back10506]

I think you mean "relatives". Saying they are twins is sadly naive and mistaken. The have what I like to call a "Family Resemblance".

[RichardSwayne]

3985 is 844's big sister!

[fordsuckbigtime]

tight video them steam engine are the best and up make the biggest locomtive ever

[me412fan]

look at this 844,4449 and 611 would that be great or what

[SSSSJE]

It would be great if they ran the 3985 Challenger around the NW more often.

[SSSSJE]

The 844/8444 is nice and all but being from the NW, the SP&S 700 4-8-4 is numeral uno on my list.

[lostchord359]

Those 2 together looked fantastic!! They both made it look way too easy pulling that consist. I bet they could top out at over 150MPH with enough track.

[adfgfds]

why do people always put stupid hik music with trains?

[gothpapa]

Can't speak for other people, but I like stupid hick music. I also like Big Band, Blues, Gregorian Chant, Celtic Rock, Baroque Chamber Music and Iron Maiden among other things. The music fills dead spaces, covers wind noise, and sets a mood. Here, "you should have been in town to hear that train go down, you could hear the whistle blow a hundred miles" says it all. However, to me, the real music comes from the engine, and I never interfere with that.

[Jemalacane]

@adfgfds I don;t know, but I wish they wouldn't!

[gothpapa]

@Jemalacane If you don't like it you can always turn the volume down (;-]).

[gw90]

I was on that very train ride

[back10506]

Shame on the UP. Just because the 844 is old dosen't mean it needs a diesel to help it. The 4449 and 700 get by perfectly fine without one, so why should the 844, 3985, and the Santa Fe 3751 have to suffer?

[gothpapa]

I can't speak for the UP but my guess is that the backup is kinda like insurance. The fact that the 3985 went down on this trip shows the need. Come to think of it, though, I don't recall ever seeing a diesel behind the 3985.

[SBC1344]

back 10506,

UP does a lot with it's steam considering insurance, and maintencance, and organizing some excursions for people. They can quit, like NS with 611 and 1218, but they keep runing, I know 4449 and 700 have run without diesels.

I think we're fortunate to see these machines operating on mainlines these days, of course I agree it's a lot better without diesels, but they have to be there for insurance.

Look at the cool side :-) So kudos to all the guys on mainline steam keepin runin!

[radeakins]

Easy solution, in the UK, steam locos run withot deisels but their is always a deisel shadowing about 10 minutes behind. so its there if needs be.

[LCSOTroop]

I think using the Centennial 6900 series was rpetty neat too.

[miniwyo]

When the 844 was through my town last spring, I asked why they had the diesel (happened to be the new SD70ACe #8444) And they said it was for dynamic braking going down hills.

[back10506]

Yes, I am aware that diesels provide dynamic braking, however, why not put them on the consist only for areas that require them, instead of keeping them in the consist for the entire trip.

[miniwyo]

Probably because it is easier to leave it there, rather than stop before every big hill and break the train, put it in, and then have to re do all the air tests and things.

[RichardSwayne]

844 could pull a 1000t train at 100mph.

[MaxInterjects]

yeah...i dont see 6936 anywhere

[gothpapa]

Well, just keep watchin'!  This is just the first of two parts.

[RichardSwayne]

Phat.