Steam & Excursion > UP 3985 Railfair '99 excursion

1. Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger 3985 is W/B on Union Pacific's Martinez Sub. Most likely an excursion having to do with Railfair '99. 11:20AM on 6-8-99, East of Davis, CA
2. Amtrak's E/B California Zephyr has cleared. A Union Pacific steam special, pulled by 4-6-6-4 Challenger 3985 has been waiting in the siding and is now coming out onto the main on UP's Martinez Sub. 12:20PM on 6-8-99 East of Davis, CA
3. Doing every bit of 60 MPH, Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger 3985 is rolling E/B to Sacramento, CA on UP's Martinez Sub. 1:12PM on 6-8-99 East of Sacramento, CA

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Very nice. Must admit that I can not recall doing ANY excursions with 3985 as part of Railfair '99. The only steam excursion was with 844 northbound to Tehama and return to Sacramento.

HotWater Wrote:
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> Very nice. Must admit that I can not recall doing
> ANY excursions with 3985 as part of Railfair '99.
> The only steam excursion was with 844 northbound
> to Tehama and return to Sacramento.

I believe you are correct. Didn't they drop the fire on the 3985 shortly after the 844 boiler tube issue happen? Then the excursion that was suppose to be pulled by the 3985 was then pulled by a C40-8 I think?

Railfair '99 happened June 18-27, so it couldn't have been that. I double-checked John Craft's Steam Central calendar (an excellent resource for those wanting to know dates and details of old steam excursions and deadheads), but I think this is it:

UP 844 Roseville, CA - Davis, CA RT
Tuesday, June 8, 1999
Roseville 1000, Sacramento 1100, Davis 1125-1205, Roseville 1330. 3985 may substitute. UP FEF-3 4-8-4 844 construction details: American Locomotive Company (Schenectady Works) 72791 1944. Event sponsor: Union Pacific Railroad

Evidently, 3985 did indeed substitute. The engine also made an overnight Roseville - Reno - Fernley RT May 30-31, while 844 made a Roseville - Tehama RT June 4. (Not to be confused with the NRHS/R&LHS convention trip, which ran out of Sacramento on June 23.)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/23 13:04 by DRGWMark.

Great images!~

Thanks for the info DRGWMark.

bankshotone Wrote:
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> HotWater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Very nice. Must admit that I can not recall
> doing
> > ANY excursions with 3985 as part of Railfair
> '99.
> > The only steam excursion was with 844
> northbound
> > to Tehama and return to Sacramento.
>
> I believe you are correct. Didn't they drop the
> fire on the 3985 shortly after the 844 boiler tube
> issue happen? Then the excursion that was suppose
> to be pulled by the 3985 was then pulled by a
> C40-8 I think?

That is correct. i don't think any of the information posted below by DRGWmark is correct, as both 844 and 3985 were towed (844 dead, and 3985 under low steam pressure) from Sacramento back to Cheyenne. As contract Fireman for the UP Steam Team for the 1999Railfair, we did NOT operate any excursions with 3985 after the 844 round trip to Tehama.

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bankshotone Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > HotWater Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Very nice. Must admit that I can not recall
> > doing
> > > ANY excursions with 3985 as part of Railfair
> > '99.
> > > The only steam excursion was with 844
> > northbound
> > > to Tehama and return to Sacramento.
> >
> > I believe you are correct. Didn't they drop the
> > fire on the 3985 shortly after the 844 boiler
> tube
> > issue happen? Then the excursion that was
> suppose
> > to be pulled by the 3985 was then pulled by a
> > C40-8 I think?
>
> That is correct. i don't think any of the
> information posted below by DRGWmark is correct,
> as both 844 and 3985 were towed (844 dead, and
> 3985 under low steam pressure) from Sacramento
> back to Cheyenne. As contract Fireman for the UP
> Steam Team for the 1999Railfair, we did NOT
> operate any excursions with 3985 after the 844
> round trip to Tehama.

Here's the full schedule based on info from the aforementioned Steam Central calendar:

844/3985 depart Cheyenne on May 14, arrive in Roseville on May 21. There was some event in Roseville they attended IIRC, but it's not listed on the calendar.

3985 Roseville - Reno - Fernley RT May 28-29 - cancelled and seemingly delayed to May 30-31

844 Roseville - Tehama RT June 4

844 Roseville - Davis RT June 8 - 3985 substituted, as shown in the photo.

Railfair '99 begins in Sacramento June 18, both steam engines on display

844 Sacramento - Tehama RT June 23 - NRHS/R&LHS convention special

844 then returned to Railfair grounds and suffered its infamous failure on June 24. Both steam engines were then removed from the grounds.

3985 Sacramento - Keddie RT June 26 - NRHS/R&LHS convention special; diesels substitute due to flue concerns

3985/844 depart Sacramento on June 28 towed behind diesel, arrive home in Cheyenne on July 4



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/23 16:15 by DRGWMark.

I noticed that in all 3 pictures of the 3985 on excursions, there are no diesel helpers. Were most of the trips in those pictures shorter excursions, and a diesel wasn't needed?

Nice pics!!

Trainman41 Wrote:
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> I noticed that in all 3 pictures of the 3985 on
> excursions, there are no diesel helpers. Were most
> of the trips in those pictures shorter excursions,
> and a diesel wasn't needed?

That group actually knew how to run them hard, so no need.

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