Union Pacific’s 40th Anniversary Steam Excursion
SKU: DVD-PNX-UP3967Original price was: $29.95.$24.95Current price is: $24.95.
On May 17, 1953, the first official steam excursion on the Union Pacific ran from Denver to Laramie and returned via Sherman Hill. To commemorate the 40th anniversary we got a “do over” of the event on May 15, 1993!
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| Producer | Pentrex |
|---|---|
| Run Time | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Narration | Yes |
| Shrink Wrap | Yes, Brand New |
| Technical Details | NTSC, Region Free, View Worldwide on Computer |
On May 17, 1953, the first official steam excursion on the Union Pacific Railroad was sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club. The trip ran from Denver, Colorado to Laramie, Wyoming and returned via Sherman Hill. Locomotive No. 3967, a coal burning Challenger equipped with “elephant ear” smoke deflectors, powered this pioneering excursion.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of this historic event, the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club sponsored a re-creation of the event on May 15, 1993. Wearing new number plates and sporting elephant ears, Challenger 3985 became locomotive 3967 for a day. This sold-out excursion train, with almost 500 people aboard, retraced the original route of the 1953 journey.
You’ll see the ferry moves between Cheyenne and Denver, and you’ll watch as photo run-bys are provided for passengers while the train climbs Sherman Hill. Aboard the train, we’ll talk with several passengers who rode that first UP excursion in 1953. For the high point of our trip, we take a cab ride between Laramie and Speer as the train battles the grades of the original line over Sherman Hill.
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rickyfreni –
In the Pentrex Version of 3985’s 50th anniversary year which this excursion was made days after the Cumbres & Toltec operated Rotary Snowplow OY on a Triple-Header & a series of Freight Specials that was chartered by the Late Greg Scholl, the Challenger’s Rocky Mountain Railroad Club trip retraces the 1953 special where it was renumbered to 3967 & the one-way trip home to Cheyenne as it was renumbered to 3718. Some of these scenes were also used on “Today’s Steam Across America”.
Besides Pentrex, Mark 1 Video was also on the Challenger’s Rocky Mountain Rail Club trip.
There are also interviews with Bob Krieger, Joe Priselac, Bud Lehrer, Photographer Dick Kindig, Edward Haley who mentions Everett Roher, Photographer Jim Ehrenberger, & Charles Max.
Locations include the Cheyenne shops in Wyoming with stock footage from Last of the Giants part 3 during a February 1993 visit with a cameo from 844, MP515.8 on Track 3 in Sherman Hill, Speer Junction with a water tower, Nunn Colorado, Platteville, Denver Union Station which was filmed way before the area was upgraded with Electric poles for the City’s RTD Commuter Rail, but it still serves Amtrak’s California Zephyr from Chicago to Oakland, Brighton, the MP93.65 state line, Between Emkay & Lynch, Harriman, MP544.1, West Perkins, Laramie, Hermosa Tunnel, Fort Lupton, & Greeley with tons of pacing.
Collin Varney –
I love this DVD featuring the UP 3985 challenger masquerading as UP 3967 and running over the original route that the first steam excursion ran back in 1953, I especially love the stories that some of the original passengers who traveled on the first steam excursion a long time ago. The museum car on the excursion was great too showcasing some of the old antique stuff from the Union Pacific in the past but the best part was the cab ride on the challenger during the return trip. Then the challenger renumbered as UP 3718 returning to Cheyenne is great too, the locomotive eventually remastered the same run for the 50th anniversary of the first steam excursion and I hope that UP 3985 will be back up in steam again very soon.
Ron Harber III –
This contains 40 years after the original excursion run between Denver, Colorado and Laramie, Wyoming with challenger 3967 on the point.
Jeremy C. Schultz –
This is some of the FINEST Challenger 3985 footage around! You will not regret purchasing this DVD… A MUST HAVE for your video collection! 🙂
Curtis Watson –
This is a great show! 3985 puts on a good show as not one, but two of her sister engines! Excellent shots on Sherman Hill, and a good glimpse into the excitement of the railfans who rode on this trip. Thoroughly enjoyed!
Collin Varney –
I have the Questar version of this but it was a great video with Challenger 3985 masquerading UP 3967 & and then running back to Cheyenne as 3718. A great video to any steam locomotive enthusiast.