Posted by Dana M. on March 24, 2019 
Interesting and exciting photo BUFFIE! Another interesting bit of information to consider is that since they are trying to convert the 4014 to burn oil - they have taken the tender from 4-6-6-4 Challenger No. 3985 and will pair it with the 4014. This tender will then be cosmetically restored and repainted and renumbered to 3985 and eventually paired with it when it goes back on static display in a location yet to be determined. I can't reveal information, but sources I know have told me that since the Big Boy is being restored - the Challenger will be put back together and placed back on static display again.
Posted by Sport! on March 25, 2019 
A "tender moment" of sorts.... ;)
Posted by Kurt Lawson on March 25, 2019 
If 3985 is to go into static display somewhere, that would be a contradiction to what Ed Dickens has said to me and quite a number of other people over the last several years and is sad news.
Posted by Toby Schwartzman on March 26, 2019 
Dana M. has a storied history of disseminating hearsay. Take it with many grains of salt.
Posted by Dana M. on March 26, 2019 
Kurt Lawson - From the very beginning when Ed Dickens went after 4014, he let it be known in several interviews that if he got a Big Boy restored, he would put 3985 back in a park for static display. Those were/are his own words in several interviews at the beginning of the quest for going after 4014. Toby Schwartzman - I have my sources, and like I stated to Kurt Lawson, Ed Dickens himself has let it be know that he wanted to put "Steve Lee's locomotive" (3985) back in a park for static display. In one interview shortly after getting 4014 back to Cheyenne, Ed was asked about 3985 and he stated "3985 when disassembled for its rebuild, was put on the back burner when we went after 4014. There are many parts of 3985 that have since 'come up missing' or have been damaged or misplaced, and it would be difficult to replace them. I think it's best to put 3985 back in a park, and focus on having just two steam locomotives to operate. We don't want to spread ourselves too thin having to maintain three, especially when you have the largest locomotive to deal with!" Again - Ed Dickens OWN WORDS in several interviews at the beginning of the 4014 project and HIS idea to put 3985 back in a park. I know he's said that after 4014 is operational they would turn their attention back to 3985 - but one recent interview he gave that he mentioned 3985, he said - "It won't be a 'high priority' to get 3985 back together since we will be taking 4014 around the system. 3985 will have to wait another year or so!" Again - Ed Dickens own words. He is NOT in any hurry to put 3985 back together, and from the outset, he stated that he wanted to put 3985 back into a park since they will have the Big Boy and not need TWO articulated locomotives to maintain. I also have some personal sources that have inside information.
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