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Absurdity Happens

Doug Harrop Photography • June 21, 1982

 

Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" No. 3985 had recently been restored to service. It was involved in a big charter by the National Railway Historical Society in June of 1982, and toured the states of Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah.

 

Mr. Harrop hiked into Bear River Canyon to catch 3985 on Union Pacific's Ogden Subdivision. The coal fired steam engine is pictured crossing bridge 45.04, running between Pocatello, Idaho and Ogden, Utah that day.

 

I've often thought if you built a model railroad that featured the eight miles of track between Wheelon and Cache Junction, folks would claim it looked absurd and fake. No Class 1 railroad would build such an outlandish rail line.

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Uploaded on March 14, 2026
Taken on June 21, 1982