Challenger 3985

colin · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:16 pm

Why does the Union Pacific Challenger 3985 burns oil instead of coal

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G. Jenista · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:26 pm

> Why does the Union Pacific Challenger 3985
> burn oil instead of coal?

Likely the inherently greater fire hazard with coal vs. oil.

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Tom von Trott · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:18 pm

She burned coal when it was first restored. I think it was converted in 1990(? I know it was before railfair '91) to burn Oil, I believe using parts from display 3977. Before the conversion 3985 had a very limited operating area due to fire hazard (If memory serves some states specifacally banned UP from running the locomotive in them). Since the conversion 3985 has basically had free reign of the UP system, restriced only by size.

Tom von Trott

> Likely the inherently greater fire hazard
> with coal vs. oil.

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WOOLY · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:40 pm

You are correct it was coverted to oil in 1989/1990. They used the oil tank out of 3977's tender & the oil burning appliances out of 833 now in Ogden. Before that it was pretty much limited to Cheyenne to Laramie. Wooly

> She burned coal when it was first restored.
> I think it was converted in 1990(? I know it
> was before railfair '91) to burn Oil, I
> believe using parts from display 3977.
> Before the conversion 3985 had a very
> limited operating area due to fire hazard
> (If memory serves some states specifacally
> banned UP from running the locomotive in
> them). Since the conversion 3985 has
> basically had free reign of the UP system,
> restriced only by size.

> Tom von Trott

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jimwrinn · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2004 4:00 pm

If I recall right, the 3985 burned some sort of lignite coal that was half coal and half dirt that had a bad habit of spewing from the stack in still live form... setting lots of fires.

I recall a trip in spring 1987 from Cheyenne to Laramie and back, riding in the dutch door with goggles... the experience was somewhat like I imagine it would be like while sandblasting--if you turned the nozzle on yourself.

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Phil Mulligan · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2004 4:51 pm

In 3985's coal days, we rode a trip out of Denver to Laramie; the 6936 pulled the train from DEN into WY where 3985 was waiting from Cheyenne.

Every movie run we wound up stomping out little fires before they became big ones.

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John Craft · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 pm

> I recall a trip in spring 1987 from Cheyenne
> to Laramie and back, riding in the dutch
> door with goggles... the experience was
> somewhat like I imagine it would be like
> while sandblasting--if you turned the nozzle
> on yourself.

Yep. And in a tunnel, ot a sandblaster - try a grinder.

I rode 3985's cab through Hermosa Tunnel twice in 1988. In June, I was caught completely off-guard by the incredible shower of sparks rushing by the cab window, and desperately tried to get it on film. I went back in October specifically to try again (Steve Lee: "you REALLY think you can get it? OK, c'mon.") I wasn't able to.

But Greg Scholl got some really good video in the Tunnel of that June run. It's on his "Union Pacific Steam - Volume I" tape.

JAC

Les Moore · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2004 10:37 pm

> If I recall right, the 3985 burned some sort
> of lignite coal that was half coal and half
> dirt that had a bad habit of spewing from
> the stack in still live form... setting lots
> of fires.

It burned Wyoming and/or Utah coal.