a blog about cars, car blog

The View
Through The Windshield

About Cars ... and Everything Else I See
by Joe Sherlock

Union Pacific 'Challenger' Steam Locomotive
photos - page 1 (posted 9/20/2005)

UP locomotive

The Union Pacific Railroad's "Challenger" No. 3985 visited Portland in September 2005. It's on a 2,800-mile tour to celebrate railroad heritage. Its 'home' is in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

UP once owned 105 of these 4-6-6-4 articulated monsters. This huge steam locomotive was built in July, 1943 by American Locomotive Company for fast freight service and was retired in 1959. It was restored in 1981 to running condition by Union Pacific employee volunteers for special service.

This one is pulling a number of UP streamlined passenger cars, including the domed 'City of Portland' car. The engine is also pulling three (!!!) 14-wheel tenders - it must be thirsty. (It used to be a coal-burner but was converted to use #5 fuel oil in 1990. Two of the tenders carry water.) The engine with single tender weighs 1,760,000 pounds and has a top speed of 70 mph.

The following photos were taken at the Union Pacific Yard on the east side of the Willamette River:




More Challenger Photos
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page 1 | page 2 | page 3 |


copyright 2005 - Joseph M. Sherlock - All applicable rights reserved


Disclaimer

The facts presented in this blog are based on my best guesses and my substantially faulty geezer memory. The opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the author and are protected by the U.S. Constitution. Probably.

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