Challenger Locomotive at Dunsmuir

[thejackel362]

Right off the 5 fwy in northern California. A little north of Redding

[thejackel362]

Northern California. Right off the 5 fwy north of Redding. Very small town. It's up by Mount Shasta

[monsterrockstar90]

Weres that place at?

[Elmorous]

The reason for the diesels is that they only fired up the steamer occassionally, the diesels drive the rest of the time. The Challenger makes more than enough power for the job, but she's high maintenance and the facilities that can service such a locomotive are few and far between. So they save its operation to ensure it runs when the promoters and sponsors paid for it to run. It's all politics. And for the record the 1984 is an SD70ACe and the 3984 is an SD70MAC.

[WNxRadeon]

isn't that a "big boy"?

[The4LA2Baker0]

I miss nor cal so much.

[train2589]

its said to be pulling the missouri river eagle to st louis. from september 30th to october 14. it will be heading through kc on october 2nd and on october 10th, i will film it.

[microbusss]

Challenger currently under repairs in Cheyenne,Wyoming Took pics of the front boiler door open lol

[barronzm]

Why?

[badboymrpappy]

I hate steam...

[fixierider97]

that AND a Heritage?

[Jemalacane]

How heavy is the train? Because it seems like the railroad is packing some serious horsepower.

[shadynebey]

Is it my imagination or are the drivers sized differently? If they were the same size then it wouldn't sound like they're running at different speeds...anyone notice what I mean?

[CoasterFan2105]

Well, it would if they aren't syncronized to be in the same position at the same time.

[RETreadingengineer]

Sweet Sweet Sweet... Thanks..

[IrishRail123]

what a beast :O

amaziing

[trainsdontgetulaid]

trains dont get you LAID LAWL

[strangledparrot]

ya they do for me!

[PikPobedy]

Thanks, great locomotive.

[shadowknight227]

not only is it the chlallenger, at the end of 3585, there is the trubute loco for W.P operated by union pacific!2 for the price of 1

[Broncort1]

lol..that Challenger doesn't need any 'helper' engines...nice looking run though

[FitzNS]

Just there for dynamic braking

[DRG1939]

Duh uhh uhh...yeah, lets put the 3985 in dynamic coming down the hill too! What do think therailroad did before DB? Put some air down of course!! Sure they ate up brake shoes but it was what it was. That locomotive has plenty of power (or should have) that it didn't need those pieces of crap behind it for anything. Before you reply...think about this. Im not a buff who guesses at stuff. Im a 20 year RR man. Got plenty of time behind the throttle and I dont guess about locomotive operation.

[FitzNS]

So you went on a long rant about how I was wrong but never offered a correction to what I figured they were there for so how about you tell us all why they were there instead of talking shit.

[DeltaPhi79]

agreed. and how long do you think his "plenty of time" is?

[MAXEDOUT2009]

before you go running your flapper grandpa,better check that loco # again.You need your bifocals..LOL!!!!!

[DRG1939]

You dumbass...pause it at :57 seconds and you'll see the number of the locomotive. So before you go running your flapper...get your shit straight. Just because I have 20 on the RR doesnt mean Im a grandpa either...Im 39 years old..hired on when I was 19 and get tired of fuckin' buffs like you who think they know shit. You couldn't railroad your way out of a wet paper bag. Ive met some buffs who are pretty nice people but a lot are full of shit and dont know jack about real railroad work. F/U !

[MAXEDOUT2009]

Im talking about the diesel loco,unless you mean putting the steam loco in D.B. Your the dumb ass that got the question mixed up.

[DRG1939]

I din't get anything mixed up. Notice I said "put the 3985 in DB too..." The word "too" means "also...as well...in addition to...". I know what I said and it was smart comment in regards to putting shitty GE locomotives with that beautiful Challenger.  Before you go any farther...remember, I'm not going to speak unless Im sure of what im talking about so forget the comments of grandpa and dumbass,etc. GE engines....been there, run that. they're nothing to write home about.

[MAXEDOUT2009]

Thats my point. HOW DO YOU PUT A "STEAM ENGINE" INTO D.B.?

[DRG1939]

Thats just it....you don't.

[DRG1939]

I don't know why RR's insist on ruining the image of such a wonderful machine with something such as a Trash 9. Any diesel for that matter. I'm partial to EMD's but damn if I want to see one behind a steam locomotive. I've seen pics where they did back in the heydey of RR's. However....as steam is no longer standard power, I (like most) would enjoy seeing pure steam.

[calif1mc]

@DRG1939 Whoa, relax there amigo. I'm a RR Conductor too, but you seriously need to calm down, you are full of yourself. You have a pretty nasty mouth too, cool it.

[Robert111]

You listen to the little wippersnapper Grandpa! LOL! Git out yer bifocals, ya old fart!

[willibill1]

@FitzNS Well, I am probley wrong, but i thought they were for generating electric power also.

[TrainDr101]

I like how the SD70M is numbered 3984, w/ respect to 3985

[tazer710]

Me too.

[elrodjones]

I have a still shot of this crossing the trestle at Lake Redding in Redding.

[lespaul369]

Little ricer racer kids brag about theyre crx having torque... now this bitch here has some torque!!!!

[MickFix]

Great video, awesome power train!

[MAPJAH]

Amaizing steam locomotive.

Wonderfull video show.

Best regards from MACEDONIA.

[operazanotaijin]

Heh, interesting, the second diesel is #3984.

[northlander30]

Were the 2 UP SD70ACE and the SD70m used for hotel power? I have seen the 3985 many times with 20+ coaches and never needed any help from other UP locomotives.

[levi79]

Not really sure what you mean by hotel power never heard that one yet, and more than likely it's the for help with dynamics more than power. Welcome to a region with grade.

[northlander30]

Hotel power means to be powered by another locomotive. I can see yes these other units being used for dynamic braking and such but I was wondering if the SD70ace and the SD70mac were also being used for power for the coaches I.E. lighting electrical AC and such. Unless the express boxcar on the head end is a generator car?

[jwallacect]

Hotel power refers to supplying electricity to the cars for heating/airconditioning, etc. It's most often supplied by a diesel/electric passenger locomotive but on some steam powered special trains a separate diesel/generator car supplies the power. Generally, the SD70ace and mac's do not have the ability to supply "hotel power." Amtrak and commuter units do have this capability in addition to dynamic brakig, etc.

[caucuz]

SD70ace and the SD70mac both have the engines running as they pass,

[ConnyJ10]

Yes, but niether are equipped with Head End Power, which is needed to provide power to the cars.

[jdknetts]

It's my understanding that back in '05 3985 was having some mechanical issues, and the two locos were added "just in case". Although, I imagine the Northern Pacific Loco was on its way to a rail fair... the UP loves showing off its heritage paint locos.

Also, as an FYI, steam engines have a form of dynamic braking, called their "Johnson Bar", which is similar to a reverser in a diesel. If adjusted right, it can give some braking force.

[apeppink]

would

[apeppink]

Beautiful! I sure wish a Big Boy and(or) an SP cab fwd. were running. Look at all the tenders. Wonder if they're running demineralized or deionized water. Seems like it sure cut down maintenance expense.

[SkipW]

Thanks! for the post from California, of the big steamer.

[Nec1228]

makes scense ty guys

[yardhog]

Actually the diesels are there for dynamic braking and emergency power should the 3985 develop steaming problems. The train has its own power car, the third passenger car. You can hear the generator in the video.

Greg

[apeppink]

That's true. It's steam insurance. Railroad steam was very romantic, to be sure, but colossally inefficient, expensive,

[apeppink]

unreliable, maintenance intensive etc. The RR's were happy to see them go.

In Cajon pass near our house, the downhill helpers are entirely braking units, as, of course, are the fwd. units. It's just too bad no one had the foresight too retain electric service from years back when diesels came to the fore and fuel was cheap. Electrics have no romance whatever. They're really duddy. But they sure are efficient.

[apeppink]

Much better than anything else. But the 1st cost of (re)electrification in this day and age is just gargantuan.

[jdknetts]

You'd be surprised at just how efficient the old steamers were. The UP built one of the largest, the Big Boy (4-8-8-4) and it's only recently that diesels have been able to match that locomotive's pulling power. I'll give you, that a loco such as the GG1 (which was bloody romantic) could out pull practically anything, though.

[apeppink]

I dunno J.D. The actual thermal efficiency of even the late steamers, Allegheny's, Big Boy's, Challenger's, Yellowstone's etc. was pretty pathetic at around 6-7%. Diesel's are nothing to write home about at about 28-30% at the wheels but, bad as that is, it's still 3-4 X better than the old steamers. Modern power plants run 38-60% depending on the cycle and other considerations, thus making electrics much more efficient than any other type.

[tsport100]

Hey the Big Boy was cool, but it was the last big one because it just sucked in so much water and coal it pushed the limits. The actual mileage between stops for reloading water and coal was pretty poor.

There were triple cycle steam engine (30% efficiency) more efficient that a modern day petrol ICE (25%), but I've only ever heard of them in power stations and ships.

A diesel ICE is about 40% efficient

[Nec1228]

why do they ruin the train by putting in those deisel locos? challenger had enough power to haul over a mile of freight! how come it cant handle a few passenger cars by itself????

[spodwo]

First - they need the electrical power of the diesels to power the passenger cars [air conditioning, lights, etc]. Second - they need to have the diesels for backup - most RRs won't run the risk of having a steam engine break down on a mainline, fouling normal rail traffic. And I would suspect that the insurance underwriters for such steam excursion trips require the diesel "backup" also when running the mainlines. Overall - the diesels make it "safer".

[Superedit]

Great stuff! Love the out of sync exhaust. Nice catch on the WP heritage unit as well.

[RailMon]

Unbelievable Locos, I heard the ground shakes when they past at speed. Thanks for the video.

Regards, Hugh

[Hendo56]

UP sent the wheels for this loco and the #8444 to Strasburg to be worked on. I was hoping they'd send the whole loco!

[onetowatch111]

The out-of-synch chuffing is due to the two sets of drivers not being the same diameter. I talked to the guys up in Cheyenne and the front set were turned down about 1/2 inch to true them after some abnormal wear developed.

[JimTLonW6]

Great to see that magnificent loco working!