Union Pacific 3977 Challenger Union Pacific 6922 EMD DDA40X Cody Park - North Platte, Nebraska
9/3/2004
CODY PARK RAILROAD MUSEUM
I thought some
might like to see some photos of another surviving Challenger, UP Challenger
No. 3977. This locomotive is happily sitting in Cody Park in North Platte,
Nebraska as part of other Union Pacific car displays. It is a nice railroad display
park, which my wife and I visited September 3, 2004.
Union Pacific
donated and installed this locomotive at the park on October 19, 1968.
On display at the Cody Park
Railroad Museum is the Union Pacific's Challenger 3977, one of the
largest steam locomotives ever built. It was one of 105 such engines
built by the American Locomotive Company of New York. There are two
remaining "3900" class locomotives, and the only one in the world on
public display is the center of the Union Pacific Museum in North
Platte. Accompanying the 3977 is EMD DDA40X 6922, RPO 2069, Baggage 1350,
and Caboose 25161, along with the Hershey depot fully restored to its original state.
Click on
thumbnail for full-size view
Union Pacific DD40AX CENTENNIAL also known as BIG JAKE
The first Union Pacific DD40AX was numbered 6900 in honor of the
Transcontinental Railroad completion at Promontory, Utah in 1969.
All 47 locomotives were owned by Union Pacific.
Electro-Motive Division of General Motors Called it
"The Worlds Most Powerful Land Vehicle"
Construction started in late 1968 and was rushed into completion at
EMD's
La Grange Plant, so the unit would be ready to pull the Golden Spike
Centennial Special from Kansas City to Salt Lake City to celebrate
the "Golden Spike Centennial Year" starting on May 10, 1969.
The DD40AX is basically a double *GP40 as the DD35A is a double GP35.
The DD40AX superseded the DD40 design which
was listed by GM with a regular cab. The DD40 was never constructed.
Prior to DD40 design 15 regular cab equipped DD35's were constructed for
Union Pacific as well as 27 of the 30 DD35A. SP owned the other three.
DD35B Booster units were also built for UP and SP.
The DD35 were rated at 5000 hp and the DD35A was rated at 6000 hp.
Origin: U.S.A (UP), 1969.
Type: Diesel-electric freight locomotive for Heavy Duty Freight.
Standard Gauge: 4ft 8 one half inches (1,435mm).
Propulsion: Two supercharged 16 Cylinder two-stroke type 645
3,300hp (2,460kW)diesel engines with integral alternators
feeding eight nose suspended traction motors.
Operating weight: 545,432 lb (247.5t).
Axle load: 68,324 (31t)
Two 4 axle trucks with 40 inch wheels.
Overall length: 98 feet, 5 inches (29,997mm).
Tractive effort: 133,766lb (603kN)
Maximum speed: 90mph (144km/h)
Height: 17 feet, 3 inches above the rail.
Fuel tank capacity: 8,200 gallons.
Unit cost: $551,168 in 1969 dollars
