Wayback Machine...UP Challenger on Clinchfield Santa Train

wesp · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:14 am

The discussion about the coal-loader on SR excursions prompted a memory of the visit to the Clinchfield by the UP Challenger for the Santa train. How long ago was that, and what route did the locomotive take to get there? Any other recall is welcome.

Wesley

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:34 am

November 1992:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=122761

This says east through Missouri, west via southern Indiana....

http://n4xi.smugmug.com/Railroading/UP- ... 30&k=drVV4

Lots of videos, etc. exist--at the time, it was probably one of the most covered single railfan events in railfanning history, with just about every railfan and video producer that could get there trackside.

filmteknik · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:48 am

I don't suppose anyone caught the clipping of the hopper car by the running board steps of the Challenger.

Steve

whodom · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 4:49 pm

filmteknik wrote:

I don't suppose anyone caught the clipping of the hopper car by the running board steps of the Challenger.

Steve

I drove all the way up from Charleston, SC with my wife and kids just to see it. I was really hoping they'd bring it all the way south to Spartanburg, SC (the southern end of the Clinchfield) but it only came as far as Tennessee.

I remember noticing the mangled running board on the engine when we first saw it but it was a couple of months before I found out the cause. That must have been a CLOSE shave.

filmteknik · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:58 pm

I hope enough time has passed that all involved can look back with a bit of bemusement. It's easy to say someone just assumed that because identical engines ran on that line long ago it was good to go now, not taking into account the 2nd track added. But that's probably highly unfair. I don't think anyone would just assume nothing has changed since even without a 2nd track, an existing track may have been shifted closer to some obstacle, new structures or overpasses built, tracks raised when ballast is added etc. I'm sure proposed routes are investigated thoroughly. Obviously a mistake was made in this case. Glad it was relatively minor.

Steve

Jim Herron · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:42 pm

We have coverage of the Eastbound move of the 3985 from just East of Memphis through Tennessee and Kentucky for the Clinchfield runs on a DVD called "Union Pacific Streamliners and Classic Steam". It also includes the Clinchfied Santa trains. There are many other subjects in the program from the 1930's-1990's.

-Jim Herron