Steam trains opened the land, they helped to build the land. I am not a huge fan of 'excursion steam'. Most are slow, or have 'visible diesels', and are often short runs. These machines of power and beauty where built to work, hard. Often, none railfans question the need of diesel assist. And while I agree in the need for it, it is great when a railroad running steam does not make the diesel stand out and have people question 'which engine is actually doing the work?' In this production, there is no "noticeable" diesel, the 4-6-6-4 is running at speed in many places, pulling upto 16 wagons of various kinds behind the engine and main tender. Through many locations of the American midwest, we see a wide variety of locations, both rural and urban, shot from a number of different angles. And there are a few meets along the way with mainline diesel action. From Cheyenne Wyoming to St. Louis Missouri to Texas. There is plenty of action. This is possibly the finest modern day steam action caught on film. I am remarkably surprised and highly impressed with this video. Whether a diesel or steam fan, all who view this video will be very pleased. It is a "must have".

This program shows the Challenger in operation in the year spanning from June to October 2001. Here are some of the highlights in this program:

June 7, 2001: Cheyenne, WY to North Platte, NE Ferry Run
June 8, 2001: North Platte, NE to Council Bluffs, IA Ferry Run
June 10, 2001: Council Bluffs, IA to Sergeant Bluff, IA Excursion Roundtrip
June 19, 2001: St. Louis, MO to Gorham, IL Roundtrip NRHS Convention Excursion
June 22, 2001: St. Louis, MO to Kansas City, MO Ferry Run
October 21, 2001: McAlester, OK to Ft. Worth, TX
October 22, 2001: Ft. Worth, TX to Houston, TX
Extra scenes of 3985 in the state of Kansas on its way to Texas in the credits

One of the complaints about this program is that for the June operations, the narrator gives the wrong dates. There is also little narration in this program. But that gives the 3985 a chance to do the talking for the entire program.

got done watching this a while ago this was a video i've always wanted for years and i now that i finailly bought it i was vary satisfied with it challenger 3985 follows union pacific challenger 3985 on many different excursions in 2001 railway productions follows the 3985 across much of wayoming and the midwest as part of the union pacific steam program first there's a visit to cheyenne wayoming with a look in the steam shop with a tour of the equipment in the roundhouse including the steam engines where they are maintained a brief history on the restoration of the 3985 as well as brief look with the 844 the 5511 and up big boy 4004 on display in holiday park than the first trip follows the 3985 from cheyenne to north plate nebraska and would latter head into iowa for an exscursion from council bluffs to sioux city with many great locations watching the challenger work her stuff with the scenery of the midwest providing a beautiful backdrop the next segment follows the 3985 for an nrhs trip operating from st. louis missouri to gorham illinois and concluding with one more look as the challenger runs from mcalester oklahoma to houston texas with extra scene of the challenger in the state of kansas in the credits overall this a great video that i've wanted for years and now i think it's pice of history since the 3985 is now retired and no longer the largest operating steam locomotive in the world which is now held with the successes of the restoration of union pacific big boy 4014 while it's unknown for the future of the challenger it's nice to watch footage of the 3985 when she operated for the time she ran and bringing excitement to railfans that can be revisited in this video for years to come