UP 3985 makes a run on Sherman Hill in the days before she became a show horse. Cold winter days really accentuate steam exhaust.

The Railroading Heritage of Midwest America held its annual "Walk Amongst Giants" fundraiser on June 29, 2024. The fundraiser allows visitors to go inside the former Rock Island steam sh... (more)

The Union Pacific brought Challenger #3995 to the 2001 NRHS convention hosted by the St. Louis Chapter NRHS, shown here enroute to St. Louis. The convention paid homage to the 150th anniversary of... (more)

Union Pacific 3985 puts on an impressive display as it begins a photo runby. This was the infamous trip in which the coal burning 3985 set a lot of brush fires, which led the Union Pacific to chan... (more)

A unique line-up of steam power in the Blue Hour at the steam shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming includes UP 5511, UP 'Big Boy' 4014, UP 844, and UP Challenger 3985.

Union Pacific Thoroughbreds The crew of the steam program at Union Pacific Railroad set out to record the last time 844, 4014, and 3985 will ever be together again in the steam house i... (more)

Union Pacific Thoroughbreds The crew of the steam program at Union Pacific Railroad set out to record the last time 844, 4014, and 3985 will ever be together again in the steam house i... (more)

Union Pacific Thoroughbreds The crew of the steam program at Union Pacific Railroad set out to record the last time 844, 4014, and 3985 will ever be together again in the steam house i... (more)

The Challenger Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 3985 inside the former Rock Island shop at Silvis, Illinois. Built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company, 3985 has been donated by Union Pacific R... (more)

Here is a unique topside of view of UP Challenger 3985 as it is led east from Sidney, Nebraska.

Everything just worked out perfectly for this chase with the Challenger 3985. It had spent the night in Pocatello, Idaho. I departed early eastbound with cool temperature, so the smoke and steam w... (more)

After putting together its tool cars, UP 3985 is ready to depart the fairgrounds where it has been on display for Topeka Railroad Days.

UP 3985 is headed to the 2001 NRHS Convention held in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Pacific Railroad.

The Challenger rests after running up from Denver, before a trip out east the following morning with the "Missouri River Eagle" special. There were no large crowds this brisk September ... (more)

Following its rescue from display adjacent to the passenger depot in Cheyenne, UP 3985 was restored for service. In March of 1981 it made its first test run on the mainline - handling a short cons... (more)