UP 3985 pulls 143 freight cars (READ DESCRIPTION)

From what I heard that the original video got taken down so I’m reuploaded here. I DONT own the footage. Plus I took this from a tiktok video. It’s not the best because there is a text at 0:10 and the tiktok logo on the left middle of the video

[@bigtex144]

This clip never ceases to amaze me. We are very fortunate to see steam at all these days with excursions, but for many important reasons, the trains are usually small, have a diesel helper, and are operated at modest efforts and speeds. But this is all out max effort. Look at the volume and blast of heat, smoke, and steam shooting out of the exhaust. Notice how you can barely even hear the 2 toots of the whistle over the roar of all that power. You know the fire is stoked as hot as it gets, the boiler is at max psi, she's using her steam as fast as she can generate it, and you can almost feel the immense strain on the connecting rods as it roars by, absolutely charging up Archer Hill as if the steam era never even ended. This is precisely what she was built to do and accomplished successfully for 20 years through the 40s and 50s. Getting to see a machine doing what it was designed for is a work of art. All of us railfans are fully aware of the many reasons diesels replaced steam, but "less powerful" was definitely never one of those reasons!

[@TestECull]

Pfft it ain't at max effort. It's cruising. 3985 has more to give. If it was truly running as hard as it could run you'd hear distinct chuff beats from it. You don't. They're muffled and muted...the engineer's got a fair bit of cutoff in play there.

[@crocowithaglocko5876]

I’d say 35 mph with 143 cars tacked on counts as a pretty damn good performance

[@aaron-prime117]

Climbing the hill like that yes but on the flat line 3985 can go faster actually though because I’m pretty sure Steve had her throttle wide-open to attack the climb. Imagine if it was Sherman Hill instead then the challenge would’ve been a little more difficult but she would’ve made it either way

[@mindeloman]

The big engine that knows he can.

[@easterniowarailfan7168]

imagine 4014 3985 (once repaired) and 844 hauling a 250+ CAR TRAIN cross country??

[@producer.james1]

The cost to run: everything

[@datguymiller]

4014 doesn't have the route availability

[@aaron-prime117]

It’s not a bad idea but bigger chances will be all three would triple had a special excursion together on a Union Pacific tour when they’re reunited maybe kind of like how 611 and 1218 did with those other two locomotives on NS a long time ago. Besides Ed doesn’t want to push the big boy too hard like Steve did the challenger,

[@judsmi9699]

Not 844. Unless the train was a perishable train.

[@Papaw_YeeHee]

This is the only know clip to show UP #3985 pulling an APL Intermodal train from I believe it was the 80's. APL was showing interest in having a steam locomotive pulling one of their Intermodal trains, and Union Pacific offered #3985. The locomotive took the grades better than anyone could have expected, yet this clip is the only known clip in railroading history of the event.

[@bigtex144]

Fortunately, this clip was taken from an entire DVD of this trip called "Heavy Freight & Union Pacific 3985" originally by WB productions but now part of the Pentrex catalog. It was summer of 1990! I can't recommend the DVD highly enough, there are so many other fantastic clips of 3985 roaring along with this freight, including shots at 70+ mph and all. Plus it's narrated by Howard Fogg. After seeing this clip a decade ago from the original poster, I had to get the DVD myself! So fortunately there is some more action to be watched! :)

[@atilllathehun1212]

The sheer power of that thing, mightily impressive.

[@EpicRails]

0:37 the little *toot toot* 😊

[@bigtex144]

I love it! And you can barely hear it over the roar of the exhaust

[@Snoapyfluff]

I hope she can do this again someday

[@CSX4772]

I'd like like to see big boy do this same feat

[@sirbarongaming2138]

Same here, but seeing 4014 push that stalled freight train a few wks back was awesome

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

@@sirbarongaming2138844 did it long before 4014 even began restoration.

[@user-pn3gg5ou5p]

it already pushed a diesel up hill

[@aaron-prime117]

@@user-pn3gg5ou5p while pulling it’s coaches up the grade.

[@aaron-prime117]

@@sirbarongaming2138 while pulling it excursion as well

[@KevinRichards-my5oj]

It's cool to see an old steam engine still on the rails. 🚂 😎👍

[@strongman410]

Greatest catch in history steam engine did the job of two diesel locomotives

[@aaron-prime117]

The train was originally supposed to be pulled by 4 or t5 diesel‘s and 3985 took it solo

[@TheCatd6r]

Thanks for reposting! Couldn't figure out what happened to the original clip...

[@kenainukunuku264]

Same. Spent awhile looking for it

[@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702]

It got deleted by Pentrex

[@T128Productions]

I didn’t know the clip was from Pentrex.

[@VincentMMoore0]

I’m adding a comment someone else wrote that was on the old video and was hilarious. I wish I knew who to attribute it to:” Diesels: five of us could pull this train. UP 3895: hold my beer.”

[@tylerbell5113]

Although these absolutely powerful monsters were replaced by the cheaper diesels they still do a great job pulling huge freight trains even if they are modern freight cars just like shown here. It just goes to show you that a steam locomotive can still be as powerful even if the diesels rule the rails today.

[@jaysmith1408]

Meanwhile at the PSR planning conference, twenty execs had to tape down their hogs.

[@Mark-xv5lb]

there was a version of this up with 100s of great comments, too bad it's gone regardless, 3985 is just so impressive in it

[@AstroKnight187]

*gigachad theme plays in the background*

[@Jeidjjh]

cool

[@ashleydemoss4609]

I’d like to see a single diesel try this lol

[@TheStanislavson]

Wow!

[@amtrakproductions-mx9ib]

foamers: WWHHHAAAATTT!!!!!!!! THIS IS A MOMENT IN HISTORY!!!!!

[@killman369547]

Big boy doing with 4 pistons what would take 48 pistons today.

[@T128Productions]

This was actually a Challenger type locomotive.

[@rottenroads1982]

Steam locomotives can 100% match the Power of Diesels. And More.

[@aaron-prime117]

Like I said in the last clip of this that was done from the steam giants documentaries. People who say that run was staged really don’t know what they were talking about because an engine of 3985’s caliber can easily handle a train that long solo because that’s what she was built for back in her day along with the big boys.

[@johntaylor1286]

Boy if that don't make your rhubarb stiffen up

[@tonyschiffiler4816]

Looks like it speeded up and slowed down a couple times , still amazing footage .

[@dennisternent2974]

No it’s not. Real time.

[@b.n.c.v5792]

I wonder if 3985 and 6936 will ever pull a train like this again.

[@aaron-prime117]

It’s a bit of a gamble to see if they would ever pull a train like that again but if it’s offered to Midwest America one day maybe it might happen who knows, but even if it does they’ll make sure to monitor 3985 properly and the centennial and won’t overdo it like Steve did

[@b.n.c.v5792]

@@aaron-prime117 what would you mean 6936 would overdo it.

[@aaron-prime117]

@@b.n.c.v5792 Excessive use and pulling too many long trains alone also not being properly maintained. When Steve ran the program he did good coordination but the way he handled things with 3985 was off to an OK start but then he made some bad choices behind union pacific back and made a deal with Wasatch and Wasatch did some shitty things to. And in the end Steve was fired when he got found out but it was too late to do anything for 3985 up till 2010, her system was completely wrecked and worn out because of how Steve ran her and maintained her. As for 6936 we don’t know much what he did with her or the E nines but they ran smoothly at least but Steve focus too much around the Challenger before Ed was put in charge. But one thing I do know is that Steve did run 6936 at a heavy pace whether it was out with 844 or 3985 from time to time before both locomotives ever went solo. But in terms of using those locomotives now by Midwest America they’ll make sure that when they run them whether on freight or excursions they’ll make sure The use of them won’t be excessive otherwise their systems Will face problems again. Right now 6936 needs new trucks and new springs so apparently in the last several times she was used as a replacement helper after the E nines were taken off probably long-distance use and fast running probably wore her trucks and springs out

[@Uajd-hb1qs]

A real testament to the power of steam. Apparently, the 5 diesels used to get this train to Cheyenne before 3985 took over really struggled, but the Challenger just takes it with ease. Just wondering about the fuel usage of each traction. I know steam can be pretty inefficient but do 5 diesels struggling really burn much less fuel and how many diesel locos would it take to match 3985’s performance?

[@user-xf4pp4nh2b]

Steam locomotives can't pull freight cars

[@mthleite_]

well, but it's exactly what is happening on the video

[@eddingtonrailroading]

3985: hold my whistle

[@JimmyCasket02]

I think we just watched a video depicting the impossible

[@anotherHelldiver]

Then what were they doing in 1940?

[@zyancuerdo1615]

Then what were they doing in the 1850s till the late 1950s?sun bathing?