With the St. Louis skyline rising above the train, the Challenger leads the Missouri River Eagle back into town after a fast run up the former Cotton Belt.

As viewed from the Grand Avenue overpass, the Challenger arrives in St. Louis with the Missouri River Eagle heritage tour.

The dedicated crew of the Union Pacific #3985 "Challenger" is lovingly performing routine maintenance tasks such as applying grease to critical moving parts shortly after arrival in St. Louis in... (more)

The crew of the Union Pacific #3985 "Challenger" is making a backup move to cut away the passenger cars before taking the locomotive to a location about 100 yards from here for refueling, inspecti... (more)

The crew of the Union Pacific #3985 "Challenger" is slowly repositioning the locomotive to a location about 100 yards east of here for refueling, inspections, and on-the-spot maintenance after cut... (more)

Union Pacific #3985 "Challenger" leading the "Missouri River Eagle" along Manchester Road on a beautiful early October morning as it slows for its final destination--St. Louis, Missouri (Nikon D2... (more)

The largest operating steam engine in the world lays over in St. Louis.

Missouri River Eagle steams into downtown St Louis through the Grand Ave interlocking

UP 3985 waits in the early morning darkness of 10/9/2010 to head west in about eight hours

The 5036 pops through the Eads bridge and is about to enter the tunnel that leads through the Jefferson Expansion Memorial on Saint Louis' riverfront.

The Challenger tied down in St Louis, with the Gateway Arch in the background.

There's no mistaking where we are here! With the world famous St. Louis Arch in the background, UP 3985 slows to a stop west of downtown.

Two GE's ease the MASKC off the MacArthur bridge towards Gratiot with parts of the Saint Louis Skyline and the Gateway Arch making up the background. Hey Pony, my ride is cooler than yours! :-)

I spent today scouting out locations to shoot the UP 3985 "Challenger" when it arrives in St. Louis next week and found this Hampton Avenue overpass at Manchester to be a great spot. Before I lef... (more)

Running on the TRRA's Merchant's Sub., a BNSF ore load heads south for Birmingham, Alabama.