Union Pacific 3977

The Union Pacific Challengers are a type of simple articulated 4-6-6-4 steam locomotive built by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) from 1936 to 1944 and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad until the late 1950s.
A total of 105 Challengers were built in five classes. They were nearly 122 ft (37 m) long and weighed 537 short tons (487 tonnes). They operated over most of the Union Pacific system, primarily in freight service, but a few were assigned to the Portland Rose and other passenger trains. Their design and operating experience shaped the design of the Big Boy locomotive type, which in turn shapes the design of the last three orders of Challengers.
Today, only two Union Pacific Challengers survive. The most notable example being Union Pacific No. 3985, which was restored by the Union Pacific in 1981 as part of its heritage fleet program. However, due to mechanical problems, it was taken out of service in October 2010, and eventually retired in January 2020 from excursion service after the restoration of Big Boy 4014.
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