Union Pacific 8444 & 3985 Doubleheader to Railfair '81

The Union Pacific Steam program made its first appearance in California with its two excursion locomotives to the grand opening of the California State Railroad Museum for Railfair '81. To reach CSRM, the train operated under Southern Pacific run-through agreements from Ogden, UT into Sacramento.
Union Pacific 4-8-4 8444 was already a recognizable steam locomotive in the west. This trip marked the first public appearance for the 3985, the 4-6-6-4 Challenger, since its restoration in March of 1981. The 3985 was the then largest operable steam locomotive in the world.
This video follows the 8444 and 3985 over Donner Pass between Sparks, NV and Roseville, CA in both directions. You will see the train at many famous locations on this historic railroad line. After the trip west, we get a brief look at the two UP steam engines at Railfair, an event that won over many more fans of the Union Pacific steam program with this first major outing. At the conclusion of Railfair, the two engines are again chased east up the western slope of Donner Pass as far as Soda Springs.
These Super 8mm films were taken by John Filson and Robert Pecotich, and come from the collection of the Western Railway Museum and the private collection of Hunter Lohse. Slides were provided by Gary Perazzo.
Enjoy this look at Union Pacific Steam's first visit to Northern California!

[@kptrains]

Great archive footage from 1981!

[@AhmearClayIombo-dj6di]

Awesome Video

[@bodarville2510]

VERY well done!
Takes me back to a much better time!

[@GoldenBonnie2008]

They look so amazing I love this video!

[@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530]

Great historical video, simply fantastic, these UP steam locomotives.

[@DynamoProductions-trains]

Glad you enjoyed

[@thomasavensjr.2790]

Very impressive and enjoyable footage of Union Pacific steam locomotives 8444 and 3985, this is the first public excursion run for Challenger 3985 as this footage is from 1981 when the Challenger first returned to service after being rebuilt. I always enjoy seeing footage of UP steam power operating in excursion train service ; I am pleased that UP 844 and 3985 still exist today and back in 2019 the Union Pacific returned "big boy" locomotive 4014 back to operation again. I really want to see Challenger 3985 return to operation again, but the locomotive needs heavy maintenance at the railroad repairs shop at Silvis, Illinois and the repair process will possibly take about another 5-10 years.

[@SimonTog]

Super video :)

[@DynamoProductions-trains]

Glad you enjoyed

[@THOMAS81Z]

honestly it looks like 1951 , which is awesome

[@lucasquintanilla1673]

I love this video! By the way, do you happen to have any footage you might make a video of about the early days of Union Pacific 844 such as its regular service life in the 1940s and 50s its time as a snow plow in the winter of 1960 and its very first fan trip excursions in the early 1960s

[@DynamoProductions-trains]

What you see is what we have

[@nathancorcoran5347]

A doubleheader between Union Pacific 8444 (A.K.A Union Pacific 844) and Challenger 3985 to Railfair 81 with a special excursion train.

[@LauraWeber-c9g]

Great video

[@EngineerDaylight]

1:01 I don't think I've ever heard 3985s air ringer on a psi that low before

[@zacharycalgher3978]

Do you have footage of Santa Fe 3751 in 1995 and 1996?

[@DynamoProductions-trains]

Nope

[@Silvertone_Spiral]

I know they probably had their reasons, but I wish that there weren’t any diesels on that train

[@DynamoProductions-trains]

The reason cited in the very video was dynamic braking.

[@Silvertone_Spiral]

@@DynamoProductions-trains Ah, gotcha. I honestly should’ve guessed, it’s why many mainliner steamers got diesels as assistance.