Western Railroad Discussion > Union Pacific 3985: Not 'Till 2016

Hey Railfans this is the Joint Line Railfan.
I was recently surfing YouTube when I came across a statement in the description of a video. Apparently, a volunteer/worker for the program was asked about the status of 3985, and when it will be out shopped and ready to go. The worker said that it is not planned for the Challenger to be out on the road until the year 2016.
Soo...looks to me like it'll be a while before the high iron sees 3985 again! 844 all the way for a while. Personally, that is A-okay. Any steam is awesome steam! (Especially if it's UP Steam) but for the Challenger foamers, the waiting game continues...
If anyone has any information to prove me wrong on this, or if there's anybody out there with more information on the matter, please feel free to reply! Any information is greatly welcomed and appreciated!

Thanks for tunning in!
Nick Valdez, Colo. Spgs. CO

Posted from Android

Here she was on her first trip through the Shasta Area on Labor Day Weekend 2005. Man I can hardly wait to chase it again. Wait a minute I'll be 72 years old!!!!

Robert Morris Photography
http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/index1.html

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Gotta be up and running by 2019. Why? Well that would be 150 years since 1869, wonder what will be planned for that, and I wonder how many of us might not make it that far... Keep healthy! === === = === JLH

Wow what a great photo! Thanks for sharing!

Posted from Android

Oh yeah haha. Who knows where I'll be by then. Hopefully doing something with trains. That 150 anniversary should bring in some great celebration

Posted from Android

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Photobob: that is a beautiful photo of
one really magnificent machine! I wish
I could have seen her in person there.

DeutzHDL: I find that very hard to believe.
None of those guys ever do a slipshod job.
That is Steve Lee and company you are trying
to insult. Anyways, how could the 3985 have
managed to pull the Circus Train so well in
2010 if what you say is true? Sheesh.....

Live and learn

Posted from Android

I agree

Posted from Android

I've had the pleasure of touring the Cheyenne roundhouse during the UPHS convention a few years back. I was VERY impressed by the entire operation! I'm sure they'll have the 3985 back in tip top shape. The U.P. realizes they have an incredible public relations tool with the historical fleet. U.P. has always embraced its rich history. Keep up the outstanding job U.P.!

Posted from iPhone

"The original work to get put back in service was a slip shot job and they're paying for it now and it'll be expensive for UP."

Wow. In all of my years with U.P. Heritage Fleet and the Steam Shop, I have never, repeat NEVER seen Steve Lee & Company short cut or band aid anything unless it was to get home to perform the proper repairs. This is downright insulting.

DeutzHDL Wrote:
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> A good friend within the steam community said she
> needs a lot of work. The original work to get put
> back in service was a slip shot job and they're
> paying for it now and it'll be expensive for UP.


Just where do you people get this crap???? Sounds like more bs from the "current crew" and the new manager.

All the time I was on the crew nothing was done slipshod. Steve never spared the money to make things right. I am not sure what this gentleman is talking about. There were some modifications that they tried after I left that didn't work out but that was not slipshod either. Before Steve took charge of the program, the mechanical department had charge of 844/8444 and there was no budget for its maintenance or operations so that came out of the mechanical monies. Thus then it was the OMT (one more trip) philosophy to keep it going. I have seen correspondence from within the company requesting its retirement back then but thankfully that never happened.

No nothing was ever done slipshod and I am sure the new crew will endeavor to do the same with the two locomotives.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

DeutzHDL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A good friend within the steam community said she
> needs a lot of work. The original work to get put
> back in service was a slip shot job and they're
> paying for it now and it'll be expensive for UP.

This is probably someone with an axe to grind who is vaguely familiar with the program and wants to act as a know it all.
Without a name of this "source" I suspect the information was simply made up.

Joe

DeutzHDL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A good friend within the steam community said she
> needs a lot of work. The original work to get put
> back in service was a slip shot job and they're
> paying for it now and it'll be expensive for UP.

<<<sigh>>>>

Another attempt to smear and besmirch those who came before.

The "original work to get put back in service" would have been done in the 1978-1981 time frame. IOW, over 30 years ago. So you and your "good friend"
are saying that this locomotive operated all those years since and ran all those thousands of miles on the strength of a "slip shot job?"

Yeah, right. More foamer crap from people who are clueless.

DeutzHDL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A good friend within the steam community said she
> needs a lot of work. The original work to get put
> back in service was a slip shot job and they're
> paying for it now and it'll be expensive for UP.

Beside all the previous comments about the above post, I'll add that the term is "Slip-Shod", not "slip-shot". Slip Shod refers to the art of the furrier, the person who shoes horses. A slip-shod job is one where the horse shoe is improperly attached to the horses hoof and could slip, causing a thrown shoe and possible injury to the horse and by extension, to the rider.

Mike

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DeutzHDL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I figured repeating what I was told by a very
> reputable steam guy would hurt some feelings here.
> Never was my attempt to start anything. What was
> said to me and I repeat again was some things that
> should have been done, exactly what I don't know,
> wasn't at the time for what ever reason and now
> this rebuild is taking a lot more time and is more
> intense. I know Steve Lee isn't like that or
> anyone else in the steam program so back off. I
> have the utmost respect for all of them and have
> met them many times.


Without a name to this "very reputable steam guy" your comments are nothing but hearsay and frankly I consider them
to be made up by you. Name your source or withdraw your comments since it's obvious you are not in the UP's steam program and only
out to badmouth others.

Joe

"farrier"!!

Ed

I was on the UP844 today and asked about the 3985 and indeed they told me 3 to 5 years before it will be rebuilt.