Union Pacific Scrapped 103 Challengers. It Kept One For 79 Years — Then Gave It Away.

Union Pacific Challenger 3985 was the largest operating steam locomotive on Earth until the railroad gave it away dead behind a diesel. The film traces how the 1.14% Wasatch Grade east of Ogden forced Alco to build 105 Challengers from 1936 to 1944, why 103 were scrapped leaving only 3985 and 3977, and why Union Pacific kept Big Boy 4014 and donated 3985. It follows the November 2022 Heritage Donation Special to Silvis, Illinois, the tender swap, and Railroad Heritage of Midwest America's restoration now putting 222 tubes back in the boiler.