The Challenger on Sherman Hill - English • Great Railways

Filmed in October 1983 by renowned railway documentary producer Nick
Lera, the giant Union Pacific ‘Challenger’ was at the time the largest operational steam locomotive in the entire world. Articulated on the Mallet principle, this 500 ton coal-fired giant was built in the 1940s to haul three thousand ton freights over the Continental Divide of the USA at an elevation of eight thousand feet. Restored after years in a museum, No 3985 made a celebration re-appearance on its old stamping ground, the famous Sherman Hill in the Wyoming Mountains. With classic run-pasts in the scenic boulder country near Laramie, this film portrait also features the rare privilege of a ride in the Challenger’s cab, showing the nine feet by fifteen feet firegrate being fed by a mechanical rotary stoker drawing on a 28-ton supply of coal in the tender. To make its operation in heritage service more viable, the 3985 was later converted to oil firing, making this film a dramatic record of the Challenger running at full power in its original condition.
Text (c) Nick Lera 2023
Narrated by William Hamilton.
We will be uploading new videos every week so please subscribe to our channel if you want to stay tuned!
Subscribe Here ► bit.ly/2NbISUZ
More Videos ► bit.ly/2NdiZ7s
Thanks for all your support| rating the video and leaving a comment is always appreciated!
#GreatRailways #thechallenger #shermanhill

[@bensonjarvis5025]

A unique video of UP 3985 without an extra tank.

[@anotherHelldiver]

Or diesel helpers.

[@transportationproductions1794]

Wonderful.

[@omahas9000]

Bob Neely at the throttle. A fine guy. His wife told me his work on the steam program was his most favorite ever.

[@THOMAS81Z]

steve lee

[@omahas9000]

@@THOMAS81Z The majority of the cab shots clearly show Bob Neely running. I think maybe I saw Steve in the last shot.

[@lukegreen5341]

0:58 This Union Pacific Challenger Class Express Steam Locomotive Looks Amazing. Thanks Mate. X❤

[@DrFruikenstein]

Any word on current progress with 3985? As close as I live to Silvis Illinois, I still haven't gotten any news on progress with the nearly ancient boiler.

[@danielboone3770]

❤❤❤❤❤love

[@prabniksandhu4648]

Do you have return to Blue Ridge by Nick lera ?

[@jamesbelcher8509]

7:47 [train chugging]

[@TheBoysTopSecretisOrganization]

Music to my ears.

[@JCZ2601NL]

🇳🇱SUPER👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🍀

[@jamesbelcher8509]

🇺🇸Humans 🇺🇸 Aladdin [Scott Weinger, voice] Jonah [Tom Hanks, voice] Ted Shackelford MYH [Brian O'Connor, voice] Roger Radcliffe [Brendan Fraser, voice] Arthur Pendragon [Nick Stahl, Sandy Walper, voice] Gaston [Richard White, voice] Josh Gad Lefou [Josh Gad, voice] John Henry Wiseman [Roger Aaron Brown, voice] Rolonda Mrs. Wiseman [Jules Arita Koostachin, voice] Jenny Bennett [Spencer Locke, voice] Aviva [Athena Karkanis, voice] Tillie [Kath Soucie, voice] Kayla Gaye [Kayla Ladd, voice] George Shrinks [Elizabeth Daily, voice] Harold "Dad" Shrinks [John Cleese, voice] Becky Lopez [Bryn McAuley, voice] Perdita "Mom" Shrinks [Kathleen Laskey, voice] Hong Mei [Jessica Zucha, voice] Aunt Judy Lopez [Nancy Kulp, voice] Paul Bunyan Lopez [Oliver Platt, voice] Chris Kratt [Chris Kratt, voice] Pecos Bill [Patrick Swayze, voice] Martin Kratt [Martin Kratt, voice] Ashley Ashima Nilgiri [Leah Gloria, voice] John Darling [Kathleen Barr, voice] Wendy Darling [Tina Desai, voice] Molly Mabray [Sovereign Bill, voice] Layla Mabray [Jules Arita Koostachin, voice] Tooey Ookami [Sequoia Janvier, voice] Willow [Letty Beans, voice]

[@anotherHelldiver]

And the challenger wasn't even the largest they had.

[@TheBoysTopSecretisOrganization]

It's the Big Boy.

[@hunter15371]

Not the Challenger…do your homework. 1:24

[@user-ff9gn2yz6d]

train train elvis lajeuneese parfait le train est party a aushiwits letrain de la mort les jiuifes ils ont oublies ca . malheresement lhitoire ce repete