Guess I’m dense…found out today that 3985 is on midwest excursion, leaving Mason City 9/26 for S. St. Paul, and will be on display through Monday. Tuesday it will pass on the backside of my employer at about 9:55; naturally I’m on the frontside and can’t leave[|(]. Gary
Take a break and watch that engine go by.
Here’s what you do:
On Tuesday morning you call in presenting yourself as a representative from the city morgue and informing your boss that you, Gary Smith–or whatever it might be–has just expired from causes unknown and will be unable to report for work today. When you come swinging through those front doors on Wednesday morning you can honestly tell everyone a la Mark Twain that rumors of your death have been greatly exagerated!
Worth a try!!!
9/25/08 After spending the night at Boone Iowa on trip to Twin Cities, 3985 backs out of Boone Iowa UP yard onto UP main heading East to Ames, Iowa. A video run by of the magnificant Challenger leaving Boone for Ames Iowa. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXV5AFmqpZQ
[Above link to 2-1/2 min video clip from the 30 mininutes of Video I shot at 9/25/08 Boone Iowa stop of Challenger 3985]
As of 10/1 at 10AM, Challenger 3985 is currently in route back to Cheyenne Wy. Following link has scheduled stops and time as well as link to GPS showing where Locomotive currently is located. http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/steamtr.shtml
Following is clip from above link detailing remain schedule of this trip:
| Wednesday, Oct. 1 | St. James, Minn. - Sioux City, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Thursday, Oct. 2 | Sioux City, Iowa - Display 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CDT |
| Friday, Oct. 3 | Sioux City, Iowa - Council Bluffs, Iowa |
| Saturday, Oct. 4 - Tuesday, Oct. 7 | Council Bluffs, Iowa - Display 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CDT |
| Wednesday, Oct. 8 | Council Bluffs, Iowa - North Platte, Neb. |
| Thursday, Oct. 9 | North Platte, Neb. - Cheyenne, Wyo. |