The Union Pacific Challenger 3985
visits Texarkana - June 17, 2004

The Union Pacific Steam souvenir page

Built in 1943, No. 3985 was one of 105 Challenger class locomotives built for Union Pacific. Hauling freight and troop trains, this locomotive played an important part in America's World War II effort. She was retired in 1959 and rebuilt by Union Pacific employees in 1981. She is the world's largest operating steam locomotive. On June 17, 2004, No. 3985 stopped in Texarkana on her way home to Cheyenne, Wyoming from Houston. Read the story in the Texarkana Gazette.

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The crowd gathers in anticipation.

Here she comes! Click here to see her arriving.

Arriving at the station.

Everyone wants a closer look.

Letting off a little steam.

A little girl said, "It looks like it's at least ten feet tall!"

Everyone has a camera.

She's 122 feet long and weighs over a million pounds.

Union Station and the old McCartney Hotel in the background.

The fuel car and water cars.

She pulls freight cars, baggage cars, a passenger car and a dining car.

She needs a lot of TLC.

Lubricating the side rods. Click here to see this in action.

Lubricating continues.

Who is that on the "cow catcher"?

These drive wheels are six feet in diameter.

There must have been a thousand people there.

There haven't been this many people...

...at Union Station in fifty years!

Ready to leave. Click here to see her pulling out.

Now where is that penny?

I just got a snootful of steam!

So long, Texarkana!

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