Union Pacific’s Clinchfield Challenge, Santa Claus Special 50th Anniversary

SKU: DVD-PNX-CLINCH
(11 customer reviews)

Original price was: $29.95.Current price is: $24.95.

UP Challenger 3985 made a first-ever run east of the Mississippi River when it pulled the Clinchfield, now CSX, 50th running of the Christmas ‘santa Claus Special”.

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Producer

Pentrex
Run Time

2 hours
Narration

Yes
Shrink Wrap

Yes, Brand New
Technical Details

NTSC, Region Free, View Worldwide on Computer

Union Pacific Challenger 3985 made its first-ever venture east of the Mississippi River in 1992 when it traveled off line onto CSX rails. This historic event celebrated the 50th running of the Santa Claus Special, a Christmas tradition of the former Clinchfield Railroad that was being carried on by Clinchfield successor CSX. Each year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Santa and his helpers would ride the special train, tossing candy and gifts to the children of the coal mining towns that lined the route from Shelbiana, Kentucky to Kingsport, Tennessee.

At one time the Clinchfield Railroad owned six of the big Challenger engines and used them to haul Appalachian coal. It seemed appropriate then for UP and CSX to work jointly to bring a Challenger back onto Clinchfield rails again. Before that could happen, the 3985 would have to undergo a name and numbering change. Leaving UP rails in Memphis, Tennessee, the Challenger traveled to Huntington, West Virginia, where it was converted to “Clinchfield 676”. After leading the Santa Claus Special, “Clinchfield 676” ran an employee special out of Kingsport. The 4-6-6-4 is a sight to behold as it works up through the twisting, rugged Appalachian Mountains. The sound of the steam whistle echoing through the hollows will take you back in time, and the small coal mining towns that dot the route will remind you of another era in American railroading. All the excitement of big Clinchfield steam is here for you to savor and enjoy!

11 reviews for Union Pacific’s Clinchfield Challenge, Santa Claus Special 50th Anniversary

  1. Curtis Watson –

    This program provides great coverage of 3985’s excursion onto CSX trackage. Interesting highlights include B&O, Chessie, Seaboard, and Clinchfield units at work in the background; the special’s runs over Copper Creek trestle; a few mishaps including repairs to the Challenger after striking a coal hopper on another track and the tender’s wheels repeatedly coming off on a wye, necessitating the train to be pulled backwards by a diesel; and a parade featuring Santa Claus, who rode in on the train. The 3985’s transformation into Clinchfield 676 and back is covered, and the last half hour of the program is 3985’s return trip to Cheyenne, where Engineer Steve Lee reflects on the trip. Overall, a very excellent program to have in one’s collection, in addition to Greg Scholl’s coverage of the same event.

  2. Jeremy C. Schultz –

    As always, Pentrex had the overall “production level” quality of this video pinned down to a “T”… If you purchase the Greg Scholl and Main Line Motion Pictures versions of events when it came to 3985 on CSX, then please purchase THIS one as well. It will give you the most complete perspective once you have watched all three. Don’t miss out on witnessing this SUPER rare occurrence of a Union Pacific steamer being a guest on an Eastern railroad.

  3. Ron Harber III –

    My personal favorite excursion event on the challenger 3985.

  4. Lloyd –

    UP steam is always a thriller. Combined with CSX for the Clinchfield Santa Claus train in Kentucky & Tennessee was a great idea. This video does a fine job showing the train in action and the crowds that came out to see it (or were the crowds just there for the candy & gifts being thrown from the train 🙂 🙂 )? Either way…. it is an awesome sight to witness.

  5. Mwdonoughue –

    This program showcases 3985’s most memorable trip, besides the 1992 NRHS Convention in San Jose, CA. Included is tons of running on days of carrying weather, and different passengers consists.

  6. Michael W Donoughue –

    I own the Questar version of this program, which includes a steam train photo gallery as a bonus feature, that showcases the photos on the cover and back of each Extreme Steam program in the collection. This program was one of my favorites growing up, and it was nice to see 3985 pulling an assortment of passenger cars, as well as running during both sunny and rainy weather.

  7. iliketrains –

    Another high quality production from Pentrex. I would recommend to anyone considering purchasing it.

  8. David Holland –

    This is one of my favorite videos from pentrex. This video shows the Union Pacific challenger 3985 used to pull the Santa Claus special on the clinchfield railroad. You will see special interviews with people who made this possible and also see the challenger in the clinchfield lettering for the event. Well worth the money

  9. Mark Grady –

    Love how 3985 went on CSX rails to be Clinchfield 676. Does this have chapter sections?

  10. herronhigh239 –

    I love how they disguised the 3985 to Clinchfield, I hope they do this again in the future.

  11. Adam Bass –

    Thsi DVD is great the mighty challenger puffing through the mountains of the old clinchfield it’s a must have for a fan on big steam

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