The following is the schedule and route of UP 3985 and train from Cheyenne to the Super Bowl in Houston, TX. Which, incidentally, will be held at the new Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans. It will also be on display near the stadium before and after the Super Bowl. More info is at the UP website, under Media Stuff the game- go Challenger!!! Monday, January 12 Depart: 8:00 a.m. MST Cheyenne, WY Arrive: 11:00 a.m. MST Lodgepole - service locomotive Downtown Depart: 11:30 a.m. MST Arrive: 4:00 p.m. CST North Platte - Front St. between Chestnut and Poplar Tuesday, January 13 Depart: 8:00 a.m. North Platte Arrive: 11:30 a.m. Level - service locomotive Near Hwy. 71 crossing Depart: 12:01 p.m. Arrive: 4:00 p.m. Marysville, Kan. Bestwall Spur Wednesday, January 14 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Marysville Arrive: 10:00 a.m. Topeka - service locomotive Former UP depot - The Great Overland Station Depart: 10:30 a.m. Arrive: 1:00 p.m. Kansas City, Missouri Union Station Thursday, January 15 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Kansas City Arrive: 11:00 a.m. Marshall - service locomotive North Columbus St. Depart: 11:30 a.m. Arrive: 1:00 p.m. Jefferson City - service locomotive UP depot - 301 State St. Depart: 1:45 p.m. Arrive: 4:00 p.m. St. Louis - 1200 Central Industrial Ave., Between Grand and Vandeventer. Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17 Public Display 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 18 Depart: 8:00 a.m. St. Louis Arrive: 11:30 a.m. Gorham, Ill. - service locomotive Depart: 12:01 p.m. Arrive: 3:00 p.m. Bernie, Mo. - Drake Street Monday, January 19 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Bernie Arrive: 11:00 a.m. Hickory Ridge, Ark. - service locomotive Depart: 11:30 a.m. Arrive: 3:00 p.m. Pine Bluff, Ark. - Michigan St. crossing Tuesday, January 20 Public Display 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 21 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Pine Bluff Arrive: 10:45 a.m. McNeil - service locomotive Depart: 11:15 a.m. Arrive: 2:00 p.m. Omaha, Texas - service locomotive Depart: 2:30 a.m. Arrive: 5:00 p.m. Tyler - Old Cotton Belt Depot East Oakwood and North Center Streets Thursday, January 22 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Tyler Arrive: 10:30 a.m. Corsicana - service locomotive 7th and Beaton Depart: 11:00 a.m. Arrive: 2:00 p.m. Hearne - 2003 Market St. Under Hwy. 79 & 6 viaduct Friday, January 23 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Hearne Arrive: 12:01 p.m. Houston - Holly Hall St. crossing Near Reliant Stadium Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25 Public Display 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1 Public Display 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 3 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Houston Arrive: 11:00 a.m. Crockett - service locomotive Old UP Depot Depart: 11:30 a.m. Arrive: 3:00 p.m. Longview Wednesday, February 4 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Longview Arrive: 11:00 a.m. Hope, Ark. - service locomotive Old UP Depot Depart: 11:30 a.m. Arrive: 3:00 p.m. North Little Rock - 1000 W. 4th St. Behind office building Thursday, February 5 Public Display 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 6 Depart: 8:00 a.m. North Little Rock Arrive: 10:30 a.m. Russelville - service locomotive UP Depot - 300 N. Denver St. Depart: 11:00 a.m. Arrive: 02:00 p.m. Van Buren Second Ave. Saturday, February 7 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Van Buren Arrive: 11:00 a.m. Wagoner, Okla. - service locomotive UP Depot - 302 S. Main St. Depart: 11:30 a.m. Arrive: 1:30 p.m. Coffeyville, Kan. Atlantic Street Sunday, February 8 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Coffeyville Arrive: 10:00 a.m. Durand - service locomotive Depart: 10:30 a.m. Arrive: 1:30 p.m. Kansas City, Missouri Union Station Monday, February 9 Public Display 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 10 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Kansas City Arrive: 10:30 a.m. Topeka - service locomotive Former UP depot - The Great Overland Station Depart: 11:00 a.m. Arrive: 1:30 p.m. Marysville Bestwall Spur Wednesday, February 11 Depart: 8:00 a.m. Marysville Arrive: 10:45 a.m. Level - service locomotive Near Hwy. 71 crossing Depart: 11:15 a.m. Arrive: 2:30 p.m. North Platte - Front St. between Chestnut and Poplar Thursday, February 12 Depart: 8:00 a.m. CST North Platte Arrive: 10:30 a.m. MST Sidney - service locomotive 9th and Grant Streets Depart: 11:00 a.m. Arrive: 2:00 p.m. Cheyenne
Heard that BNSF may also have a special train of unknown consist. As BNSF is sans steam, they may have riders, and fan-chasers. But certainly won't draw like 3985! Boxcab E50
This ought to be something! UP #3985 at the Superbowl! I wouldn't want to imagine the confusion! With Railfans, an Football fans, all in one place Lordy!
This is what I could gather from the Railspot group at Yahoo. Railspot covers the railroad scene in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, with brief forays into Kansas. I've omitted the poster's name & email address for privacy. Wed Dec 31, 2003 5:57 pm Subject: Re: RS: BNSF Super Bowl Special ?? The week before the Super Bowl the equipment will be used for an inspection of the Red Rock sub. On Monday the train will start at Kansas City and wind up at Alliance (hopefully) not much later than dark. The next day it will operate from Alliance to Pearland where it will be spotted at the auto facility for the remainder of Super Bowl week. Following the Super Bowl the train will operate from Pearland to Irving via Teague on Monday, laying over at Irving or possibly Dallas Union Station. The next day it will operate to Tulsa, thence on to Kansas City. The specific schedule times have not yet been set up. Alliance is the new yard on the ex-Santa Fe line north of Ft. Worth, and is close to Alliance Airport. I'm not sure where the auto facility in Houston is located, nor its proximity to Reliant Stadium. I CAN tell you that a very large operating steam locomotive will outdraw diesels and passenger cars (except for the most diehard BNSF fans and UP haters) :wink: If I find a schedule, I'll post it here or in the BNSF forum. [ 09. January 2004, 18:54: Message edited by: friscobob ]
Yesterday on some other sites there were reports that the 3985 was running slow, about 40mph, then last night a report that she was held in St. Louis, dropping the fire and draining the boiler. Today I see reports of a blister on a siphon tube in the firebox, with special equipment enroute from Cheyenne to repair the defect. Might move again Wednesday. Have any of you guys chased and photographed her thus far?
