What did UP do to their retired 4-6-6-4 3985

[Robert Gift]

What did UP do to their retired 4-6-6-4 3985 in 1962?

"3985 was retired in 1962 and sat in the Cheyenne roundhouse for several years afterwards."

What did they do to 3985 while it was in the roundhouse back in 1962?
Was it covered?
Ever lubricated?
Where did it go after the roundhouse?
Thank you.

 

[Jon Bentz]

Just read recently in another forum that it is undergoing boiler repairs in Cheyenne. I'm not sure when it's supposed to be finished but I suppose that it will be ready by the UP 150th anniversary celebrations.

 

[Shack]

"3985 was retired in 1962 and sat in the Cheyenne roundhouse for several years afterwards."

What did they do to 3985 while it was in the roundhouse back in 1962?
Was it covered?
Ever lubricated?
Where did it go after the roundhouse?
Thank you.

Are you serious Robert? You always seem so "knowledgeable" about anything railroad related.

3985 was restored in about 1980 and been running on and off since then. It's not out as offen as 8444 but it is serviceable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sUCUa_gzmU

 

[Robert Gift]

Are you serious Robert? You always seem so "knowledgeable" about anything railroad related.

3985 was restored in about 1980 and been running on and off since then. It's not out as offen as 8444 but it is serviceable.

I do not know much about railroads.
But would love to know what, if anything, they did to 3985 sitting in the roundhouse.

Did they bother to cover it?
Any special treatments or moisture-absorbing materials in the boiler to minimize corrosion?
Keep oil in the cylinders and bearings to minimize corrosion?

Back then, did they consider thathey may someday bring the locomotive back into operation?
Thank you.

 

[LoganTrackdog]

It was in the roundhouse for years, then it was outside on display next to the depot for years before being returned to steam.

I'm sure that while it sat in the roundhouse, very little was done to it. Out of the weather is the most important thing, period.

 

[728 Cable Donkey]

There is an excellent story all about it in Trains in either October or November of 1982. I still have it. It was on display outside the depot when they decided to bring it back.
They also took parts off of the Big Boy in Holliday Park.

 

[Bob]

> But would love to know what, if anything, they
> did to 3985 sitting in the roundhouse.

> Did they bother to cover it?

Yes, they did cover it. That's the "in the roundhouse" part. Indoor covered storage. The best way to preserve vintage rolling stock, and in fact better than a cover directly on the locomotive that traps moisture. Then again, they may have put some tarps on her to keep the bird droppings off, I don't really know.

> Any special treatments or moisture-absorbing materials
> in the boiler to minimize corrosion?

I don't know, but I doubt it. Some places would put a small heater in the firebox to keep the dampness away, sometimes just a light. I doubt UP did even that but I honestly don't know. Cheyenne is cold, but the air is fairly dry, and it probably wasn't an issue.

The boiler shell isn't going to rust significantly when stored indoors and dry. You're going to change the boiler tubes anyway when you return her to service, so not a lot of worries there.

> Keep oil in the cylinders and bearings to minimize corrosion?

I'm sure they did that.

> Back then, did they consider that they may someday bring
> the locomotive back into operation?

I don't know for certain but possibly. If you recall 844/8444 was never officially taken off the active duty roster. So they've always had a corporate culture that respected the steam heritage. Did they put away 3985 because it was historically significant, or was there hope to some day run her? I'd be interested to know the answer to that myself.