3985 Prepares for departure east from Cheyenne 22may04

[@billc226]

An amazing locomotive. Love the section of the clip where you can hear the stack talk.

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 3985 está soprando o 2000s whistle igual a voz da cunhada Angelica

[@MLManimasters]

In most countries, the freight train is shunted onto the right line with smaller engines before the main engine comes up. THIS is the America, home of the largest, strongest, heaviest, and toughest steam locomotives, where every locomotive is EPICALLY BEASTLY AWESOME enough to move their ENTIRE 50 TON TRAIN onto another track-BACKWARDS-NO SHUNTERS.

[@evanf1293]

this sure brings back memories and I can't wait until 3985's restoration starts to bring her or him back to service by 2021 or 2022 to be alongside with 844 and 4014 and maybe get a triple-header as a celebration for its return. just like how union pacific has planned to have a doubleheader with 4014 and 844 sometime in May of 2019 and then a triple-header for 3985's return to service.

[@wolfgrizzer]

The 4005 was the oil test locomotive with a standard Thomas oil burner. The single burner caused spot heating on the crown sheet which caused it to leak putting water into the firebox.

[@TrainsForever09]

I'd love to see a Big Boy run again!! Heck, they kept a Challenger working fine all these years. Coal. Hm, well I guess the only logical way is shipping it in from out East to the UP. But in the end, all def worth it. Which Big Boy do you think is the best candidate for restoring back to working order?

[@johnmtgemmell8325]

I can vaguely remember steam locomotives from my childhood. My father was a railway employee working on the track. I recall one afternoon I went to visit him at his depot & a steam train had arrived & waiting for another train to come from the opposite direction ie crossing on the loop. I can clearly remember my father telling me to become a guard at the rear of the train. My father died & never got to see me become a railway employee...not as a guard but as a locomotive engineer up the front.

[@joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050]

I think your father is seeing you there in the sky, proud of you

[@DarkCloudTashi]

This is totoally awesome! my dad loves trains and was watching it ove and over >> *over my sholder and soon after the first watch took the computer from me >>* i think this is the best! fav~

[@DerangedDragon99]

I watched as the last AT&SF steam engine was put to bed, at the Engine shops in Topeka, KS. 2 years later, not only was the engine gone, but so were all the other steam engines gone as well.

[@ketch_up]

@SkipW They are being used as water tanks, but they were originally built as fuel tanks for the gas turbine electric locomotives used by UP from 1948 to the early 70s.

[@Xantec]

3985, not so much a locomotive but a work of art!

[@catlover2368]

have a story to tell about this girl and her sister 844 when she visted st louis in 2009. me and my uncle tagged teamed in chasing after both engines he never seen 844 and i have never seen the 3985 before. so my uncle went chasing after the 844 while i went after the Challenger best memory i have ever had!

[@anasfaltics]

SkipW, these are beautiful. Thank you.

[@SkipW]

It is, but it backed on to the mainline at the west side of town. waiting for the green signal eastbound, (FYI the center of Cheyenne,WY is the rail yards)

[@TrainsForever09]

Why thank you :) I try not to go overboard, even with you, but man, some of your comments really did irk me. At times, made me like my work with these engines is meaningless. I can actually think of many other "machines" that deserve a scrappers torch well before steam locomotives. Cars are at the top of my list!! With all those junker cars out there, you could make millions selling that metal!! And the uses are nearly endless!!

[@santafemiket]

I sure miss the Big Boy! I hope to see again in my life!

[@Moltar_Railfan]

santafemiket first of all that’s challenger not big boy. Second big boy 4014 just got restored! It’s ok though! I used to think that was big boy too!

[@dariusthedmirconsolidation3494]

@@Moltar_Railfan it’s a mini big boy! That’s what they always say about the challenger because of its difference

[@deloreanman14]

@Trailltrader - She burned coal originally but was converted to oil firing in the early 1990s due to line-side grass fires ignited by flying coal sparks.

[@MLManimasters]

You should see a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy in action, then. 5 to 6 miles of cargo, metal, and rock behind it. 2 of them once had a train almost 7 miles long.

[@zacharycalgher3978]

May 22nd, 2004 was the day Hallam NE was hit hard by an F4 tornado.

[@ltk_xv72]

Holy crap this video was taken on my birthday!!!!

[@DASCO2136]

Ya im in the same boat with you with NS cutting the steam program. A friend of mine and myself have desided to work towards being the President and CEO of NS and restore the steam excursion program

[@PatrickLipsinic]

It operated the largest steam locos but as for Steam Capitol. I would say Altoona, PA was with the Juniata Shops.

[@Dyynamo]

The biggest British steam loco's are usually about the 220psi mark when the safety valves blow so I can't see this being much different to that.

[@mikeklaene4359]

Amazing machines and really neat to see. Burning oil was better than coal which was better than wood. But they ARE maintenance nightmares.

[@03dktart]

4014 is in good shape. i saw it a couple of years ago and it looked great and seems to be in good operating condition, but the 4023 was the last big boy i know of to get an overhaul (1957) and then be put in the roundhouse with the 3985. it was owned by the UP and sat in the roundshouse until 1975 then it got donated to omaha. i really wanna see that locomotive i heard it looks amazing. but i think they should restore the 4023.

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 3985 blows it's 2004 whistle

[@TrainsForever09]

Yup. I've seen the 4014. Cosmetically, its in great shape. The real question is what does she look like on the inside? I say if all the parts are there, clean her up and get her moving again!!! We'll worry about small technical details such as finding a turn-table big enough to turn them later on.

[@olechevy]

Excellent video ! I read that this was converted to burn oil ? How does this affect the train as far as performance VS coal? The 2 tenders behind the coal box are those full of water ? If so how is it transfered? Last but not least how reliable is this train? Thank you.

[@SkipW]

@CGiordano464 Oregon to Missiouri still on for this year it also did a run to Texas in April ( 2010 )

[@geomodelrailroader]

@CityFolk120 Skip is right water towers are just landmarks now. Because the water tower are not used these water tenders are placed behind #844 and #3985 on each trip. without the water tenders the locomotives will run out of steam.

[@SkipW]

when I have caught them filling 2 tenders with water they used local Fire Depts using fire Hydrants. and 1 tender is for fuel oil so I hear

[@stuartk.9104]

probably

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 3985 goes to Houston tx 2004

[@CENsystem]

Haven't seen this video on years!!! Memories

[@tahititoutou3802]

I noticed something that surprised me from 3:41 on : the choo-choos from the front and rear traction sets are sometimes in synchronisation, then get out-of sync, then get in anti-phase, then get closer, then get in sync again, and the cycle repeats. Which would mean that the traction wheels of one set are slightly smaller than those of the other set. I thought they were similar... I know that they cannot be manufactured to be EXACTLY similar, But I counted that the cycle repeats approximately every 15 to 16 wheel rotations, which means a diameter error of about 6.5% which, on 69" wheels, would mean a 4.485" difference. These figures, of course, are not precise to the last digit but, even including MY error in counting the repetition frequency, would be much more than the manufacturing tolerances. Was that made on purpose?

[@tahititoutou3802]

***** The "thing" on the last wheel going into the cylinder is called a pushrod (even though, half of the time, it actually is a "pull" rod. LOL). Now there is another pushrod (horizontal) that links this wheel to the other two of the same tractor group. This forces these three wheels to turn exactly the same number of turns else the horizontal rod would bend. Hence, if tractor wheels don't turn at the exact same speed, they cannot be in the same group. Implying that the wheels from either the front set or the rear set would be smaller. This is quite possible due to manufacturing errors, but by 6.5%??????

[@tahititoutou3802]

Well... surely, as the wheel turns, the cylinder pushrod will be tilted up then down! You will find this on every steam loco (except steam turbine locos).

[@NEAFarmKid4010]

They could be ever so slightly different, but the main reason for getting out of sync is a slight amount of slippage going on on either the front or rear set. That's what I've heard anyways.

[@badboylll]

thank you so much for the fast forward =]

[@SkipW]

It is probably one of the Nuclear Missle crews from FE Warren AFB headed off to a missle silo for a crew change

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 3985 may 22nd 2004

[@BudmanPackfan]

@Trailltrader it's called external combustion. Perhaps you comparing to trucks and such, which is much more efficient form of combustion.

[@Dusty.Sniper.Gaming]

@dragonscape99 no its called "challenger" the "big boy" is 4-8-8-4 not 4-6-6-4

[@exsteamer]

@ravinago But the steam engine burns twice, or more, as much diesel as on diesel engine. The steam engine is about 8 percent efficient and the diesel is about 22 percent.

[@arkansastrash320]

All I can say is AWSOME 3985 I hope lives forever !!!!

[@BudmanPackfan]

@CGiordano464 2011 schedule is to be released in early April on the website upexcursion

[@leslie0965]

love her bark! when she backs the train up

[@zsacapala]

5 * and favorites, the big boys are really incredible

[@turnoutjim]

some other reasons for not restoring a Big Boy is that there's no place to turn them around. Most turn tables are long gone andd the ones' that are left couldn't support the weight or the darn things are too long. The wye's at most servicing facilities and balloon tracks are only capable for smaller four and six wheels trucks.

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 3985 puxando vagões exclusivos para mulheres especiais 6hs às 9hs às 17hs às 20hs segunda à sexta sábado á domingo feriados nacionais

[@onebadbirdy]

how does the parts on thoses locomotive stay in place with out falling apart l but why do they have a extra engine or is it to help it push it along ? but for the steam when it comes out is it really hot or would it really hurt somone but was just cerious

[@CGiordano464]

@guitboxchicken the Santa Fe had like some really big atriculated steamer to. It was HUGE!

[@Metracab123]

When Will The Next Steam Locomotive Go Through Illinois Or Near Chicago area ? Do You Know If Not Please tell me who would know or a website i could Find any information on anything?

[@fjbutch]

What a beautiful monster.....got to be at least 10,000 HP. love the deep whistle.....

[@valeriebassett3107]

Thanks for sharing

[@TrainsForever09]

I figured you were going to bring me down with your brilliant logic. Besides being a train nut, I am an avid history buff. Steam locomotives are just as big a part of American history as is the Declaration of Independence or the Statue of Liberty. But what if someone shredded the Declaration of Independence, claiming it was a useless document. Or disassembled the Statue of Liberty, claiming the metal is worth more in parts then as a whole statue.

[@Koko54545]

03dktart have you ever been on the durando and silverton narrow gauge railroad

[@BigUnitBeef]

The 4012 in steamtown is a rumor. 4014 in Pomona, CA is actually in near running shape. 4023 in Omaha, Nebraska is also servicable. 4018 is in the worst shape in Texas. She is suffering a lack of funding just like the Battleship Texas. UP has also stated that it wouldn't make sense for them to put a Big Boy in service....if they only knew the money they'd make on that!

[@ffej980]

i go every year to visit 611 and 1218...they are very well preserved...as far as running again...who knows...

[@03dktart]

also is that the tender to the 838 out by the turntable.

[@TrainsForever09]

Well so far my investments are ok, so no complaints there. And that's great you support railroads overall!! And it was your decision to leave UP. But since 99.9% of steam programs are privately funded, well, I guess that's pretty much self explanatory. Maybe steam will never come back in North America as the lead locomotive type. I just enjoy seeing them in a museum as much as I do working with the railroad I am involved with that runs some steamers. All the way around, everybody wins.

[@TrainsForever09]

Before I begin, I would like to point out a few things. First off, my knowledge of the ACE3000 project comes from books, magazines, periodicals, etc. >How much did you invest? How much did you loose? I was only a baby at the time this project was actually going on.

[@padda4]

Is there anywere on internet were i can find a blueprint or cross-section on this train?

[@pianomanmaestro]

@Trailltrader It is an Oil Burner!

[@QuebecCentral]

very nice vid thanks for sharing !!

[@1979cl1]

This good old steamer is an old reliable!!!

[@THOMAS81Z]

the 3985 was converted to oil in 1990 with parts from oil burner 3977

[@steve7112004]

Awesome! Thank You.

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 3985 going to Houston tx

[@ZachPumphery]

They usually put a treatment in it for the proper pH to keep scale and other crap out.

[@TrainsForever09]

And as we all know, the tourist railways/private railways are all funded by donations, grants, etc. Museums have virtually no costs maintaining trains on display, so that's kind of a freebie. To the best of my knowledge, the only North American railways that have "active" steam programs are the UP and the CP in Canada. Even if for some sad reason those programs ended, the trains wouldn't be scrapped. They would be preserved, either sent to a museum or private RR.

[@EvergreenRailVideo]

on the oregon trip, is she gonna role through portland?

[@Roncace]

I so want to see that machine one day

[@Train2589]

man how do you always get to film this stuff. It is like you know exactly when and were it will be.

[@TrainsForever09]

If you say yes, then please explain to us the costs associated with maintaining these static steam locomotives. I worked at the B&O railroad museum for four years before I moved away from there. That was my job back in high school. So Ill be able to see if youre lying or not with your answer.

[@MLManimasters]

Wow, this can move that heavy weight backwards all by itself? I thought that was dangerous because the driver would not be able to see what's at the back.

[@MC-Racing]

thats one big ass steam train engine.. looks awsome

[@2008FORDF450V8]

@Trailltrader it isa oil burning locomotive it was converted to it

[@THOMAS81Z]

the 3985 was converted to oil in 1990 with parts from the 3977

[@EccentricEngineerYT]

4012 is in Scranton, Pennsylvania, isn't it?

[@fafnir242]

A UP diesel with a K5LA? Don't hear those too often.

[@chancechipmantv]

@CGiordano464 yes that thing is still runing

[@CGiordano464]

they have any trips planned? havent heard much about this thing laytly. it still runnin?

[@robertcouch9021]

Best whistle out of the big three

[@wolfgrizzer]

How many PSI of steam is it at at before and after moving.

[@TrainsForever09]

The ACE3000 project was America's last known attempt to reserruct its steam program. It failed for two reasons: the lead investor I believe died, so his funding was cancelled, and the design that engineers were commissioned to work on made this "newer" steam locomotive too big for most city terminals to handle. And honestly, it all had nothing to do with inefficiency and high costs!! It probably would have worked!! But my answer to the future of the railroads? Hydrogen!!

[@fastj14]

you say oregon to missouri? What part of missouri will it be going through? Is there somewhere online where I can find a schedule?

[@SkipW]

upsteam-DotCom&SteamOn!

[@santafemiket]

My fault 3985 is a Challenger, not a Big Boy!

[@davidng2336]

3985 will steam again soon! Overhaul will begin by the end of this year.

[@atsfevan0242]

@@davidng2336 can't wait!!!

[@joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050]

Me too i hope a tripleheader

[@HighIronExpress]

Man, That was awesome. Now if they only get the Big Boy running!!

[@generationll]

Is that the same horn as the N&W 611?

[@michaelwood9922]

Those are what you call articulated locomotives, 3985 Big Boy And all of the other locomotives i have not mentioned

[@wharris302]

3985 is a Challenger, not a big boy

[@michaelwood9922]

i know it is an articulated

[@TrainsForever09]

I'd also like to point out that you have contradicted yourself in one of your views. One day ago you wrote this in one of your comments: "You like them, okay! I do too. You said that in regards to steam. Then you said this more recently, "I don't like steam locomotives."

[@papoocanada]

Its not the steam CAPITOL of the world but the steam CAPITAL !

[@commodorehorizons]

how much fuel does this train burn per hour?

[@TonoFonseca]

@ravinago Funny how they think that diesel exhaust is cleaner than fly ash eh?

[@NVNRy93]

Great video. Now if UP can take their large Q3 income and get a couple Big Boy's steaming again, I will be happy.

[@Metracab123]

Nice Job!

[@maddennis55]

I thought the train was eastbound in Cheyenne, how did we get west of Cheyenne?

[@Calicoghostown]

Man union pacific rocks at every thing even this big boy is a beauty

[@TrainsForever09]

Now you have a powerful locomotive, using cheap fuel (coal), that's not killing the environment. I dont know about you, but if I were to invest with a railroad, a railroad that has locomotives like that would sure attract me!!

[@charlesdell2864]

Nice video, are the two yellow tenders, filled with oil or water.

[@masonhoven8588]

Water

[@kimweaver3323]

They are called bowsers. The water towers are all gone now, so the steamers need to carry the water they will need for the trip.

[@TrainsForever09]

Expensive, yes it is. Mainly in custom parts costs due to the fact each part has to be specially machined these days. But its all worth it just to see some 10 year old's eyes light up when that big steam locomotive passes him :)

[@TrainsForever09]

"Park them, part them, junk them, cut them, melt them. Sell the metal! Send the parts and assemblies to a blast furnace! Get rid of them!" This is what you say regarding steam locomotives. What if I said that about diesels? What if I commented this same phrase regarding diesels over and over and over again on this video. How would that make you feel? Even better, what if EVERY diesel locomotive in North America was scrapped? You would be pissed and dont deny it.