Still coal-fired at the time, UP Challenger 3985 performs a photo run by on a Cheyenne-Laramie round trip for the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club.

A member of Steve Lee’s steam crew intently watches for a signal from the cab of Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 No. 3985 at Cheyenne, Wyoming, on October 9, 2008.

Just after returning from a trip back east, Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 No. 3985 shows some road dirt highlighting its massive boiler. After spotting a couple of cars, the locomotive will back into the ... (more)

Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 smokes westbound west of Sunol (east of Sidney), Nebraska, on October 9, 2008.

The ground is quite literally shaking as UP 3985 roars around a curve on Sherman Hill, en route "home" to Cheyenne on a Rocky Mountain Railroad Club R/T excursion to Laramie. It was a little miser... (more)

Union Pacific 3985 leaving southern California at Sullivan's Curve in Cajon Pass.

If you ever wondered how it looked at the engineer's seat of Union Pacific Challenger 3985, here you go. This fellow is a UP RFE (Road Foreman of Engines) who, as I recall, had some regular servic... (more)

On the eastward return trip of a Rocky Mountain Railroad Club excursion with UP 3985 between Cheyenne and Laramie, I was given a cab ride by UP's steam boss, Steve Lee, up Sherman Hill. I had Koda... (more)

UP 3985's crew puts on a show on a photo run-by at Buford, WY--on the east slope of Sherman Hill. The train is heading back east after a R/T from Denver to Laramie. At Speer the steam locomotive w... (more)

Looking down the engineer's side of UP 3985 hammering upgrade on the Harriman Line. "UP 3985: clear signal westbound--five three nine dot one, track 3..."

UP 3985 pours on the coal (yes, it was still coal-fired at the time) on a run-by coming down Sherman Hill toward Cheyenne. This was an all-day Cheyenne to Laramie R/T.

UP 3985 leads the Missouri River Eagle eastbound on the Marysville sub.

UP 3985 eastbound pulling the Missouri River Eagle.

Historic UP meets modern UP as a St. Louis bound freight is overtaken by the 3985 at track speed just a few mile away from its destination in downtown St. Louis. Canon 350D.

UP 3985 leads the Missouri River Eagle eastbound on UP's triple track main west of Brady NE.