www.rgusrail.com - Union Pacific Challenger #3977

Union Pacific Challenger class #3977 is on display at Cody Park in North Platte, NE. It was donated by UP and installed at the park in October 1968.

#3977 was delivered in June 1943, one of 105 Challenger 4-6-6-4 simple articulated type locomotives built by Alco for UP between 1936 and 1944. #3977 was part of the fourth delivery (class 4664-4).

There were five deliveries in all. #3977’s design is much the same as the earlier series, but it was heavier because war time shortages meant heavier metals had to be substituted in some components.

Because it stands on a curved track, #3977 shows how the front engine and frame of articulated locomotives swing out at an angle from the boiler as the locomotive takes curves.

I first visited #3977 in March 2008, but the locomotive was not open to the public at that time. In these two photographs, you can see the old depot building from Hershey, NE, which houses various UP operating equipment and furniture.

Even though #3977 was not open, there were some good views through the fence. The water spout in the right hand photograph came from UP’s North Platte roundhouse. The semaphore signal was also donated by UP.

I next visited in September 2008, when the locomotive was open to the public.

#3977 is the only UP Challenger on public display, although UP has an operating Challenger, #3985, part of its Heritage Fleet, which is housed at the Cheyenne roundhouse and which makes regular excursions to different locations.

Centennial class #6922 (EMD DD40X) was built in 1969. It retired in April 1985 when it was donated to the City of North Platte. It went on display in Cody Park in August 1985.

UP continues to operate a Centennial class diesel, #6936, as part of its Heritage Fleet.

You can see photographs of Centennial #6900, the first of its class, on the Kenefick Park page of this website, and Centennial #6916 on the Spencer S. and Hope Fox Eccles Railroad Center page.

A baggage car, mail car and caboose are part of the display.

These were also donated to the museum by the Union Pacific.

Union Pacific Challenger 3977, Cody Park, North Platte, NE

Challengers were designed to run unassisted from Ogden to Wahsatch, then fast to Green River to return to Ogden with another train. The “challenge” this posed gave rise to the name during the design phase and was subsequently utilised in publicity.

The Challengers sent to the north west divisions eliminated helpers and double-heading, and were amongst the last steam locomotives retired by UP. After dieselisation of those divisions, they were sent to Ogden for helper service and some freight use. #3977 was converted to burn oil in 1952.

#3977 was one of 10 Challengers liveried in two-tone grey with yellow striping and lettering, fitted with “smoke lifters” and put into passenger service between Portland and Seattle, WA, as well as along the Columbia River to Huntington in 1946.

The two tone livery was also applied to UP 4-8-4s and some Pacific and Mountain class locomotives hauling passenger trains on these divisions.

When first relocated to Cody Park, #3977 had the usual UP black boiler and graphite smokebox. However, it was subsequently restored to the two tone livery it had sported while working in the north west.

View of the pilot, air pumps, left front cylinder with flexible steam piping joint, steam delivery pipe to rear cylinder, and Walshaert gear. Driving wheels are Boxpop type, and all were fitted with Timkin roller bearings. Both Alco engine truck and trailing truck were fitted with SKF roller bearings.

View of left front rods and valve gear, and left rear cylinder with steam pipe. Radius rod hangers are attached to radius rods on both valve gears. The Alco reverse lever is on the right rear engine.

Unofficially, they could easily reach 90 mph, and they proved extremely versatile, hauling freight and passenger services over most of the UP system. Finally, in 1958, they were forced out of regular service by parts shortages.

The last Challenger was retired in July 1962 and except for #3977 and #3985, all had been scrapped by November 1962.

Inside the caboose.

Two more views of the mail car.

The mail car.