
Union Pacific Railroad's "Challenger" No. 3985, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, will be on a six-state, 2200-mile tour from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Gorham, Ill., to celebrate railroad heritage. No. 3985 is on the Missouri River Eagle tour to help Sedalia, Mo., celebrate the community's Sesquicentennial on Sunday, October 10. "Sedalia has such a rich railroad heritage that it is only fitting that the world's largest operating steam locomotive help in celebrating their sesquicentennial," said Ben Jones, Union Pacific's director of public affairs for Missouri and Kansas. During this tour, the 67-year-old locomotive will be on display in: Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 3 and Oct. 11; Jefferson City, Mo., Oct. 5; and St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 8; and The Challenger will make overnight stops in: Denver, Colo., Sept. 28; Cheyenne, Wyo., Sept. 29; North Platte, Neb., Sept. 30 and Oct. 13; Marysville, Kan., Oct. 1 and Oct 12; St. Louis, Mo., Oct.6 and Oct. 7; and Sedalia, Mo., Oct. 9. Union Pacific's No. 3985, an articulated locomotive with a "hinged" frame to allow it to negotiate curves, is 122 feet long. It weighs more than one million pounds, has six-foot diameter drive wheels and can reach a top speed of 70 miles per hour. No. 3985 was built in 1943 for fast freight service and was retired in 1959. In 1981, it was restored to running condition by UP employee volunteers for special service. This is the first trip for the locomotive after undergoing maintenance work during the <b>...</b>
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