Union Pacific 3985 Retired (& A Look Back On Her Excursion Career)
Welcome back to The Occasional Express, your occasional semi-news source for all things train related. (Note: I will be experimenting with the form for this post, and adding a little more personal perspective, please let me know if you like this format).
Sad news has broken out for fans of the Union Pacific Heritage Fleet. UP 3985, once the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, has officially been retired from active service, according to a statement released by Union Pacific.
You can read the statement here.
Today, I wish to take us back through the history of 3985, and see why the engine is so well regarded, and why the engine will not be restored.
History
Union Pacific 3985 was built in 1943, according to American-Rails.com, as part of a batch of 25 locomotives from the American Locomotive Works (Alco for short) in New York. 3985 was a member of the 3900 series of locomotives called Challengers, which refers to their wheel arrangement of 4-6-6-4. According to Union Pacific's website, the UP owned 105 challengers, and only two (3985 and 3977) are preserved.
3985, for those who are not so rail inclined, has 12 drive wheels separated into two pairs with their own cylinders, which is a part of her setup as a mallet, which allows her to go around curves much easier than her size would lead you to think, given she is 122' long. 3985 and her siblings were built as mixed traffic engines, according to Union Pacific, which meant in service you could see 3985 hauling freight or passengers.
Unfortunately, 3985 did not last long in service, because diesels began to gain prominence on the railroads in the US. 3985 was withdrawn in 1962, according to American-Rails.com, though she had been in storage since 1957. Unlike other steam locomotives, who were sent to scrapyards, 3985 was kept in storage in the Cheyenne Roundhouse. In 1975, 3985 was placed outdoors next to the Cheyenne Depot.
Just two years later, Union Pacific offered to allow 3985 to be restored to operation. However, the restoration work would have to be done by volunteers. Several Union Pacific staff members worked on 3985's restoration, and in 1981, 3985 made history by being the (then) largest operating steam locomotive in the world.
Thus began 3985's excursion career. Her first trip was to the 1981 Railfair, hosted by the California Railroad Museum.
One of the most famous videos of 3985 in excursion service came in 1990. On August 1, 1990, 3985 was allowed to haul a freight train to North Platte, Nebraska. The event was requested by shipping company American President Lines, according to a secondary seller TrainVideoDepot.com.
This would be no ordinary train, because APL handled modern day container trains. Union Pacific agreed, and WB Video Productions recorded the once in a life time sight.
You can watch a clip from the DVD "Heavy Freight & Union Pacific 3985" here:
If you wish to buy a copy of the DVD check one of these retailers: (Note, The Occasional Express does not receive royalties for any sales made by clicking on this link)
www.pentrex.com/DVD-Heavy-Freight-and-Union-Pacific-3985_WB040
www.trainvideodepot.com/DVD-Heavy-Freight-and-Union-Pacific-3985_WB040
3985 was converted from coal burning to oil in 1990, according to Union Pacific's website, which is much easier to find and safer for running out West. In 1991, 3985 attended Railfest 1991, where she double headed with Union Pacific's first heritage fleet steam locomotive, 844, an equally famous steam locomotive (due to the fact she has not been withdrawn from UP's active roster).
You can watch a video of 844 and 3985 double heading below:
Another of 3985's most famous runs was when she traveled east. In 1992, CSX borrowed 3985 for their CSX Santa Express. 3985 was renumbered 676, to resemble a Clinchfield Challenger, which were all scrapped. 3985's loaning for the Santa Express coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the Santa Express, according to Trains Magazine, and was probably not a coincidence.
You can read a personal account of 3985's time as Clinchfield 676 on Train Magazine by clicking here. To see a video of 3985 running on the Santa Express, click the video icon below.
The Santa Express was the farthest (and only) time that 3985 ever traveled East, making her 1992 Santa Express run that more special. (Not including her travelling to Union Pacific when built in the 1940's.)
3985's last run was in 2010, according to Yard Goat Images, who released an email letter (linked at the beginning of this article) explaining 3985's retirement. Yard Goat Images were fortunate (unkowingly at the time) to record 3985 during her last excursion. After 2010, she was withdrawn for a necessary overhaul. A few years later, the Union Pacific Heritage Fleet began their most ambitious project: restoring Big Boy No. 4014, 3985's larger cousin and the largest steam locomotives ever built, with a wheel arrangement of 4-8-8-4.
While 4014 has been restored and seen running around the country, fans were still asking: "What is going on with 3985?" Union Pacific has finally put the rumors and questions to rest, with an answer that will likely disappoint fans of the Challenger.
The reasoning behind 3985's withdrawl was explained in the statement. Union Pacific explained that 3985 would need a "Frame up" restoration, the same as what 4014 needed to run again. "Historically, Union Pacific's steam program has had two locomotives on its roster," the statement reads, "and that count will remain the same moving forward."
Union Pacific's Statement explains that plans for where 3985 will be displayed has not yet been decided. Hopefully, she will find a good home where people can see the large engine on display.
Personal Thoughts
While I am sad to see the news, I do understand and respect Union Pacific's decision. Despite Union Pacific putting resources towards running excursions with steam locomotives, even the heritage fleet's resources are finite. It's likely very hard to keep these massive beasts running, let alone two at the same time.
4014 is a good successor for the Challenger. 3985's restoration and excursion life paved the way for a Big Boy running again, which many people believed would never happen again. But it did. A similar attitude must have been held when 3985 was being restored.
And just because 3985 has been withdrawn, doesn't mean she will never run again. After all, engines have been retired from excursion service, and brought back again, such as Norfolk & Western 611. Will the same happen for 3985? Only time will tell, for now, her career has come to an end, and she can go on a well deserved rest.
An era for Union Pacific's Heritage Fleet has ended, but a new one has begun with 4014. In the words of a Dr. Seuss quote, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
What are your thoughts on 3985's withdrawal? Do you have any stories about 3985? Let us know in the comments on Blogger or the social media.
Sources:
"Challenger No. 3985." Union Pacific. www.up.com/heritage/steam/3985
"3985." American-Rails.com. www.american-rails.com/3985.html
"Heavy Freight & Union Pacific 3985 DVD." TrainVideoDepot.com.
www.trainvideodepot.com/DVD-Heavy-Freight-and-Union-Pacific-3985_WB040
"Union Pacific: 3985 Officially Retired." Yard Goat Images.
https://mailchi.mp/e626d7c06a78/union-pacific-3985-officially-retired?fbclid=IwAR0VxeTAdLrWTBtICJwScJH_F9HejSocywsgYs10BC3Vzj8eSflgvwwzCxQ
Sad news has broken out for fans of the Union Pacific Heritage Fleet. UP 3985, once the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, has officially been retired from active service, according to a statement released by Union Pacific.
You can read the statement here.
Today, I wish to take us back through the history of 3985, and see why the engine is so well regarded, and why the engine will not be restored.
History
Union Pacific 3985 was built in 1943, according to American-Rails.com, as part of a batch of 25 locomotives from the American Locomotive Works (Alco for short) in New York. 3985 was a member of the 3900 series of locomotives called Challengers, which refers to their wheel arrangement of 4-6-6-4. According to Union Pacific's website, the UP owned 105 challengers, and only two (3985 and 3977) are preserved.
 |
| 3985 running an excursion in Iowa, October 1st, 2008. By Mark Evans - originally posted to Flickr as Challenger 01, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7581984 |
Unfortunately, 3985 did not last long in service, because diesels began to gain prominence on the railroads in the US. 3985 was withdrawn in 1962, according to American-Rails.com, though she had been in storage since 1957. Unlike other steam locomotives, who were sent to scrapyards, 3985 was kept in storage in the Cheyenne Roundhouse. In 1975, 3985 was placed outdoors next to the Cheyenne Depot.
Just two years later, Union Pacific offered to allow 3985 to be restored to operation. However, the restoration work would have to be done by volunteers. Several Union Pacific staff members worked on 3985's restoration, and in 1981, 3985 made history by being the (then) largest operating steam locomotive in the world.
Thus began 3985's excursion career. Her first trip was to the 1981 Railfair, hosted by the California Railroad Museum.
One of the most famous videos of 3985 in excursion service came in 1990. On August 1, 1990, 3985 was allowed to haul a freight train to North Platte, Nebraska. The event was requested by shipping company American President Lines, according to a secondary seller TrainVideoDepot.com.
This would be no ordinary train, because APL handled modern day container trains. Union Pacific agreed, and WB Video Productions recorded the once in a life time sight.
You can watch a clip from the DVD "Heavy Freight & Union Pacific 3985" here:
If you wish to buy a copy of the DVD check one of these retailers: (Note, The Occasional Express does not receive royalties for any sales made by clicking on this link)
www.pentrex.com/DVD-Heavy-Freight-and-Union-Pacific-3985_WB040
www.trainvideodepot.com/DVD-Heavy-Freight-and-Union-Pacific-3985_WB040
3985 was converted from coal burning to oil in 1990, according to Union Pacific's website, which is much easier to find and safer for running out West. In 1991, 3985 attended Railfest 1991, where she double headed with Union Pacific's first heritage fleet steam locomotive, 844, an equally famous steam locomotive (due to the fact she has not been withdrawn from UP's active roster).
You can watch a video of 844 and 3985 double heading below:
Another of 3985's most famous runs was when she traveled east. In 1992, CSX borrowed 3985 for their CSX Santa Express. 3985 was renumbered 676, to resemble a Clinchfield Challenger, which were all scrapped. 3985's loaning for the Santa Express coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the Santa Express, according to Trains Magazine, and was probably not a coincidence.
You can read a personal account of 3985's time as Clinchfield 676 on Train Magazine by clicking here. To see a video of 3985 running on the Santa Express, click the video icon below.
The Santa Express was the farthest (and only) time that 3985 ever traveled East, making her 1992 Santa Express run that more special. (Not including her travelling to Union Pacific when built in the 1940's.)
3985's last run was in 2010, according to Yard Goat Images, who released an email letter (linked at the beginning of this article) explaining 3985's retirement. Yard Goat Images were fortunate (unkowingly at the time) to record 3985 during her last excursion. After 2010, she was withdrawn for a necessary overhaul. A few years later, the Union Pacific Heritage Fleet began their most ambitious project: restoring Big Boy No. 4014, 3985's larger cousin and the largest steam locomotives ever built, with a wheel arrangement of 4-8-8-4.
While 4014 has been restored and seen running around the country, fans were still asking: "What is going on with 3985?" Union Pacific has finally put the rumors and questions to rest, with an answer that will likely disappoint fans of the Challenger.
The reasoning behind 3985's withdrawl was explained in the statement. Union Pacific explained that 3985 would need a "Frame up" restoration, the same as what 4014 needed to run again. "Historically, Union Pacific's steam program has had two locomotives on its roster," the statement reads, "and that count will remain the same moving forward."
 |
| 3985's successor on the Heritage Fleet, Big Boy 4014. By Mark Loewe from Huntley, IL - UP 4014 Friesland, WI, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80834776 |
Union Pacific's Statement explains that plans for where 3985 will be displayed has not yet been decided. Hopefully, she will find a good home where people can see the large engine on display.
Personal Thoughts
While I am sad to see the news, I do understand and respect Union Pacific's decision. Despite Union Pacific putting resources towards running excursions with steam locomotives, even the heritage fleet's resources are finite. It's likely very hard to keep these massive beasts running, let alone two at the same time.
4014 is a good successor for the Challenger. 3985's restoration and excursion life paved the way for a Big Boy running again, which many people believed would never happen again. But it did. A similar attitude must have been held when 3985 was being restored.
And just because 3985 has been withdrawn, doesn't mean she will never run again. After all, engines have been retired from excursion service, and brought back again, such as Norfolk & Western 611. Will the same happen for 3985? Only time will tell, for now, her career has come to an end, and she can go on a well deserved rest.
An era for Union Pacific's Heritage Fleet has ended, but a new one has begun with 4014. In the words of a Dr. Seuss quote, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
What are your thoughts on 3985's withdrawal? Do you have any stories about 3985? Let us know in the comments on Blogger or the social media.
Sources:
"Challenger No. 3985." Union Pacific. www.up.com/heritage/steam/3985
"3985." American-Rails.com. www.american-rails.com/3985.html
"Heavy Freight & Union Pacific 3985 DVD." TrainVideoDepot.com.
www.trainvideodepot.com/DVD-Heavy-Freight-and-Union-Pacific-3985_WB040
"Union Pacific: 3985 Officially Retired." Yard Goat Images.
https://mailchi.mp/e626d7c06a78/union-pacific-3985-officially-retired?fbclid=IwAR0VxeTAdLrWTBtICJwScJH_F9HejSocywsgYs10BC3Vzj8eSflgvwwzCxQ
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