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ERA OF STEAM RETURNS TO PB

By Bobbie Crockett/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, January 23, 2004 11:22 PM CST

The world's largest operating steam locomotive made a stop in Pine Bluff on Friday, giving more than 100 spectators a glimpse of railroad history.

Union Pacific Railroad's "Challenger" No. 3985 roared into town ringing its bell and blowing puffs of white steam.

As the giant "iron horse" chugged past the Michigan Street crossing, train fans young and old watched, waved and snapped pictures. The 61-year-old locomotive is on a tour celebrating railroad heritage.

"When I was a little kid, I used to ride on the train," said John B. Frazer of Warren, who wore a striped engineer's cap. "I've been a steam engine enthusiast for a long time and I wanted my grandson to see it."

Frazer and 3-year-old Mastin visited the city's Arkansas Railroad Museum before awaiting the Challenger's arrival.

For many, the locomotive brought back memories.

"I just love trains," said Barbara Atkins of White Hall. "I remember when my sister and I were real small -- probably 3 or 4 -- and we lived next to a railroad track."

A train worker would toss out packs of Wrigley's gum from the caboose each time it rolled by, Atkins said.

"Ever since then, I just fell in love with them," she said.

"This is history," said Pine Bluff resident Charles King, who watched the train with his wife, Mary. "In the '40s there were a lot of these locomotives."

D.L. Minter, 75, and Walter Baker, 95, know firsthand about the engines. The Pine Bluff men worked on trains for 40 and 30 years, respectively.

"I was a machinist and plant manager of the locomotive plant here in Pine Bluff," Minter said.

"I was a 'car knocker,' " Baker said. "I kept them running."

For 11-year-old Ben Goodwin of El Dorado, the train's visit was a chance to see a real locomotive in action.

"It was great -- kind of noisy," said Ben, who started collecting model trains when his grandfather gave him a set.

Spectators got a chance to see the locomotive up close when it stopped for maintenance. Workers oiled the locomotive's main driving rods and refilled its water tanks. Earlier, a crowd turned out to watch the locomotive pass through Altheimer.

The locomotive is 122 feet long and weighs 1 million pounds. It has six-foot diameter drive wheels and can reach a top speed of 70 mph.

It has a "hinged" frame that allows it to easily negotiate curves.

The train is on a nine-state, 3,500 mile tour on its way to Houston. It will be displayed during Super Bowl XXXVIII activities in that city, which has a rich railroad heritage.

No. 3985 was built in 1943 for fast freight service and was retired in 1962. In 1981, Union Pacific volunteers restored the locomotive to running condition. It is based in Cheyenne, Wyo.

The locomotive is expected to pull out of Pine Bluff around 7 a.m. today.

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