Union Pacific No. 3977

Union Pacific No. 3977 is a 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" type steam locomotive owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. 3977 was built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York. It was one of 25 of the next Class 4-6-6-4 Challengers (Nos. 3975-3999) bought by the Union Pacific that year.
Being a simple expansion articulated locomotive, the Challengers would reduce the reciprocating weight of a compound and increase the 50 mph speed limit of the railroad's then most powerful locomotive, the 4-12-2.
This was one of ten Challengers liveried in two-tone grey with yellow striping and lettering (known as the "Greyhound" scheme), fitted with smoke lifters and put into passenger service between Portland, OR, and Seattle, WA, as well as along the Columbia River to Huntington, OR, in 1946.
In 1952, No. 3977 was converted to burn oil, when five circulators in the firebox were removed and replaced with firepans. The engine was renumbered to 3710.
In 1958, it was retired from service, but after several years was donated to the city of North Platte, NE. Following retirement, No. 3710 was renumbered back to its old number, 3977. When it was saved from scrap, and when it was first relocated to Cody Park in October 1968, however, No. 3977 had the usual UP black boiler and graphite smokebox, although it was subsequently restored to the two-tone livery it had sported while working in the northwest. Today No. 3977 has been preserved and is on display in Cody Park.
==Trivia ==
*This locomotive is one of two surviving 4-6-6-4 challengers in the world, the other being the 3985.
*In 1959, it was sent to Omaha, Nebraska, to work at the various terminals in Bailey Yard serving as a snowplow to melt snow off the tracks alongside with the Union Pacific 844 while it was numbered 3710.
*It is unlikely the engine will return to operation.
*On October 28, 1956, it was seen in helper service, pushing a freight train.
*3977 was on display with a Centennial locomotive No. 6922.
*3977 and 3985 were both built in the same year, 1943.
Category:Locomotives
Category:Union Pacific locomotives
Category:ALCO locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Articulated locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:4-6-6-4 locomotives
Category:4-6-6-4 steam locomotives
Category:Six-coupled locomotives
Category:Built in 1943
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Restored locomotives
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:American steam locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives of the United States
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:Preserved steam locomotives