The Union Pacific Challengers are a type of simple articulated 4-6-6-4 steam locomotive built by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) from 1936 to 1944 and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad until the late 1950s.
Union Pacific 3985 runs through Alton, Iowa, on October 1, 2008
Image: Union Pacific No. 3985 "Challenger" (September 28, 2008) (2903831916)
In the Whyte notation for classifying steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, a 4-6-6-4 is a railroad steam locomotive that has four leading wheels followed by two sets of six coupled driving wheels and four trailing wheels. 4-6-6-4's are commonly known as Challengers.
Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 is an example of a 4-6-6-4 locomotive.