"Locomotives 3977 and 3985" |
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| Union Pacific 3985, an Alco 4-6-6-4 Challenger articulated steam locomotive, was designed by Otto Jabelmann, vice-president of the Union Pacific Railroad, and was designed to operate in high-speed freight service in mountain territory. In 1942, the railroad realized it needed additional Challengers to help reduce the wartime congestion on the Wyoming Division. The Union Pacific applied to the War Production Board in late 1942 and received locomotives 3975-3999 in mid 1943. |
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| The 3977 and 3985 were rated at a top speed of 70 mph, had 69-inch driving wheels, and carried a boiler pressure of 280 lbs, which produced a tractive effort of 97,350 lbs. The weight of the locomotive was 1,063,500 lbs, and the length was over 121 feet. |
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| The 3977 was fitted with smoke deflector panels and painted in the two-tone paint scheme for passenger service. The locomotive is on permanent display in Cody Park, North Platte, Nebraska. |
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| The 3985 last operated in regular train service in 1957 and later retired to the Cheyenne roundhouse in 1962. In 1981, a group of Union Pacific employees volunteered their services and restored the locomotive to running condition. It is now part of the Union Pacific steam locomotive program, pulling company and excursion passenger trains. |
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| Union Pacific 3985 is featured in the lithograph "Thunder in Weber Canyon" |
