3985 @ Ogden 08/28-08/29/05

[spbed]

Most of the people I spoke to at the Ogden UPRR station had no knowledge of what the loco was or meant. They were drawn there I guess by the the publicity in the newspapers or TV had generated before the engine arrival @ Ogden. I spent about 1 hour at the station examining the loco & talking with the engineer. The UPRR gave out spec sheets on The Challenger. The engineer also told me to come back about 6PM as they were going to make about a 200 foot move forward from where it was parked to the water standpipe to take on water. The Engineer further told me they would be departing Ogden @ 0800 hours on the 29th. He told me they would be routed on the former SPRR from Ogden to Elko. Hearing that I scoped out a spot in West Ogden so I could see it moving at a decent speed.

The following morning I went to the grade crossing I had chosen to see the 3985 go by. When I arrived over a hour before the 3985 was due to arrive I found about 10 other railfans had also chosen this spot. These people were real railfans not the curious that I met at the station the day before. The UPRR had also sent a crew to make sure nobody got injured or did anything crazy as the 3985 passed.

The only down side was the 3985 was coming from the east going west so you could not get any head on shots as 3985 was coming out of the east sun. I did catch her though by shooting towards the west so the east sun was over my shoulder.

You can view my pix of the event on my web site listed below this under the 3985 gallery. You can also access all the other galleries I have created for my train pix by clicking on the below listed web site.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

http://vgalleries.com/members/railfan1/The+Trainfan.vrg

[Anonymous]

i love that big steam engine. i wi***he bnsf would do that type of pr work. someday i hope to get steam engine qualified.

[dldance]

as I inidicated in another thread, a fortuitous opportunity allowed me to be at Union Station at 6pm when they made their water fillup. The crewman I spoke with indicated that UP had determined that the steam program (3985 and 844) did more to advertise UP than did their previous print and media ads. Thus all their ad dollars are funneled into the steam program -- and we benefit!. Thanks UP.

dd

ps - spbed - I was the guy in a white shirt and tie!

[spbed]

Thanks & good luck on getting steam certified. The engineer told me they have 6 man only that can operate the UPRR steam locos. [:o)][:p]

Originally posted by [e-mail]

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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