Here is my account of my day chasing UP 3985. First of all, I dont really chase trains, I just wanted to go out and see the 3985 since it was in my neighborhood and you just never know if you'll get the chance again. So I started around 4:30 am headed toward Hearn, TX. I got to Navasota, TX a little after 8am and continued north on hwy 6 until I found a nice spot and waited where I watched 2 UP and one NS freight trains go by. By that time only 3 other people stopped to wait and watch. A few other passersby asked what we were doing. It was a beautiful clear, warm day. I was glad to see the other guys that stopped to watch because that reassured me that I was watching the right track. Im also glad I brought my scanner as it made it easier to keep track of things. I guess somewhere in the 9 o'clock hour I first saw a faint patch of smoke in the distance and soon after heard the unmistakable sound of a steam whistle far far away. Next was the sight of the headlight surrounded by a dark cloud of exhaust. It blew past us doing about 45mph and hardly any stack talk; those 4 or 5 cars and no grade is obviously very easy for that girl. As soon as it passed us we all hoped in our cars and got after it, where did all these other cars come from all of a sudden!? 3985 crept thru Navasota and I was able to get ahead of it and again along trackside to see it ceremoniously move passed me. Now here's the begining of my mistake. All of my maps show only one track along hwy 6 down to Houston, so I headed to the next town on 6, but 3985 diverted and went thru Spring, TX and south. Well I had a nice lunch in Waller, TX and headed down to the display site in Houston where I got to meet several of the UP steam crew. They were the nicest group and they represent UP very well. 3985 arrived in all her glory and is a wonderful machine and its all thanks to the devotion of the UP Steam Crew and UP. Thanks ya'll for keeping it alive!
As I write this Im wearing my button up UP 844/3985 shirt that I got that day.

Wasnt that Fun!
Alan Dickerson

adofmsu@aol.com