"Union Pacific 3985" |
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| The Union Pacific Railroad’s Overland Route, which stretches over the Continental Divide between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, had 146 million gross tons of freight travel the line in the year 2000. To help move such a high volume of freight over the route, the Union Pacific ordered 1,000 EMD SD-70MAC diesel electric locomotives. Back in 1942, the Union Pacific faced a similar problem of moving an increase of freight and passenger trains over the route due to the war effort. |
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| Click on engine for background info. |
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Original Illustration 10" x 8" - India Ink on Mylar |
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| To help alleviate the congestion on the route, the Union Pacific applied to the War Production Board for more 4-6-6-4 Challenger locomotives (specifications), and received twenty-five of the coal fired engines (3975-3999). One of these locomotives is the 3985, which is now, after being restored by employees and volunteers in Cheyenne, part of the Union Pacific steam locomotive program, pulling promotional and railfan passenger train trips across the vast Union Pacific system. |
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| Union Pacific 3985 is featured in the lithograph "Thunder in Weber Canyon" |
