Union Pacific 3985 Retrospective

In 2019, the Union Pacific quietly announced there were no plans to overhaul Challenger #3985 following the restoration of Big Boy #4014. 3985 was to be permanently retired. In this program, we look back at the Challenger in action between 1992 and 2010.

This program covers operations east of Cheyenne, beginning with the movements to and from her visit to the old Clinchfield Railroad in the southeast in November, 1992. Also seen are appearances at National Railway Historical Society conventions in Chicago in 1993 and St. Louis in 2001. Numerous multi-day deadhead moves are followed, including pacing scenes in Nebraska and Iowa. The program ends with the last journey the 3985 made, which took her to Illinois on the old Missouri Pacific. This train was chased back to Cheyenne, and the program ends as the 3985 returned home for the last time.

This two-hour program shows the 3985 in action in all four seasons, and will be a welcome addition to the library of any fan of big steam.