Make sure you stop at the website below and take a look around - lots of good history and information there!
http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/locomotives/3985.shtml
Challenger No. 3985
The History of the Challengers
Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 was designed by Union Pacific and
built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company. It is one of 105
Challengers built for Union Pacific between 1936 and 1943 and is the
only operating engine of its class in the world today – the largest and
most powerful operating steam locomotive.
No. 3985 last operated in "regular" train service in 1957. It was retired in 1962 and stored in the roundhouse in Cheyenne, Wyoming, until 1975 when it was placed on display near the Cheyenne depot. A group of Union Pacific employees volunteered their services to restore the locomotive to running condition in 1981.
The name Challenger was given to steam locomotives with a 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement. This means that they have four wheels in the leading "pilot" truck, which helps guide the locomotive into curves; two sets of six "driving" wheels, and finally, four "trailing" wheels, which support the rear of the engine and its massive firebox. Each set of driving wheels has its own steam cylinder. In essence, the result is two engines under one boiler.
The frame of the locomotive is "articulated," or hinged, to allow it to go through curves. When watching the approaching locomotive go through a curve, you can see the boiler swing out left or right independently of the lower half of the engine, as the rear half of the locomotive remains in a straight direction until its wheels and frame are halfway through the curve.
The Challengers were designed for fast freight service, but occasionally pulled passenger trains. No. 3985 originally burned coal and pulled a tender with a 32-ton capacity. In 1990, it was converted to use No. 5 oil. The top speed of No. 3985 is about 70 miles an hour.
Prior to the Missouri River Eagle/Sedalia Sesquicentennial Special in 2010, No. 3985 had been shop-bound for routine maintenance since 2008. These videos show her first test runs after that down-time.
- Past the Cheyenne Depot (8/31/2010)
- No. 3985 shakes off the cobwebs.
- Heading to the Mainline (8/31/2010)
- No. 3985 is Alive!!! (8/30/2010)
- Steamed up and ready for a test-run tomorrow.
- Video Update on Status of No. 3985 (7/24/2010)
- Quick Recap With Ed Dickens, Manager Heritage Equipment & Facilities (Steam Engineer)
| Vital Statistics | |
| Tender Type: | 14-wheeled |
| Water Capacity: | 25,000 gallons |
| Fuel: | 6,450 gallons No. 5 oil |
| Gauge of Track: | 4 ft. 8-1/2 in. |
| Cylinder: | Diameter: 21 in. Stroke: 32 in. |
| Driving Wheel Diameter: | 69 in. |
| Boiler: | Inside Diameter: 94-11/16 in. Pressure: 280 lbs. |
| Fire Box: | Length: 187-1/32 in. Width: 108-3/16 in. |
| Tubes: | 2-1/4 in. Diameter: 45 x 20 ft. 0 in. 4 in. Diameter: 177 |
| Wheel Base: | Driving: 12 ft. 2 in. & 12 ft. 2 in. Engine: 60 ft. 4-1/2 in. Engine & Tender: 121 ft.10-7/8 in. |
| Weight in Working Order, Pounds: |
Leading: 102,300 Driving: 404,000 Trailing: 121,600 Engine: 627,900 Tender: 446,000 |
| Evaporating Surfaces, Square Feet: |
Tubes: 527 Flues: 3,687 Fire Box: 500 Circulators: 81 Total: 4,795 |
| Superheating Surface, Square Feet: |
2,162 |
| Grate Area: | Removed, 1990 |
| Maximum Tractive Power: | 97,350 lbs. |
| Factor of Adhesion: | 4.17 |
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