Athearn or Lionel Challenger ....which is best?

[Anonymous]

I'm in the market for an Athearn or Lionel 4-6-6-4 #3985....which should I get?

I'm leaning towards Athearn since it has the controller with it....I run good ol DC by the way....

I saw Lionel Challengers going for $225 now.....seems like a bargain though.

Only think is I wan't the oil version and I think Athearn only makes the oil version.

What do you all think?

[Anonymous]

I had the option of doing either or both but exercised the Athearn option and
at the higher fare.
It's my first Athearn but they have been in HO long enough that I can sleep with an Athearn on board and didn't mind paying pullman fare.

www.firsthobby.com still shows the Athearn at $255.00 + shipping and taking pre-orders.They also are listing the Lionel Gas Turbine at $220.00 + shipping.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Minuteman

I'm in the market for an Athearn or Lionel 4-6-6-4 #3985....which should I get?

I'm leaning towards Athearn since it has the controller with it....I run good ol DC by the way....

I saw Lionel Challengers going for $225 now.....seems like a bargain though.

Only think is I wan't the oil version and I think Athearn only makes the oil version.
What do you all think?

If you run DC only, the Lionel will make sounds, but you have very little control over the functions of the sound. We are not sure of the operation for the athearn, so it will be hard to make a decision on the facts about the two. Detail wise, the Athearn has no competion when you compare it to the Lionel and most places are offering the Athearn engines for about the same price. The Lionel is a bargain for 225 and I have seen it for less. The Athearn is about 239 at the lowest priced places and that is a bargain also.

The first group of engines coming from Athearn are limited to the Excursion version of 3985, and it is an oil version with all of the extra boxes on top of the oil compartment of the tender. They also have the undec version of the same engine.

The second group of engines coming from Athearn will have both the oil and coal versions of the Challengers that represent the in service engines before 1959.
These are the ones I really want to purchase, but there is no way of knowing what price they will be once all of the competion is gone.

My concern is, what price will the later version be, so I have reserved two of the first group and some of the later ones also so I can take advantage of the price break now. It would make sense for Athearn to increase the price once all of the Lionel units are gone.

The running qualites of the Athearn engines are unproven as of today, since I have not run them or read a good review about how they operate. I have seen their proto model at a show, and they have the detail and look that will match Overland, Key and most any other engines out there that cost at least six to ten times more.

[Anonymous]

[?]Hello, all Just getting into this and wondering who has the athearn challenger at 239.00. Also want the gray one with smoke deflectors and white stripes. I have no idea which one that is in athearn ( thinking it might be road # 3977) Appreciate any help just started in HO 2 years ago and now going to change over to Dcc. It will be good by to my old mantuas and rivarossi's.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by In training

[?]Hello, all Just getting into this and wondering who has the athearn challenger at 239.00. Also want the gray one with smoke deflectors and white stripes. I have no idea which one that is in athearn ( thinking it might be road # 3977) Appreciate any help just started in HO 2 years ago and now going to change over to Dcc. It will be good by to my old mantuas and rivarossi's.

I don't normally give out web pages, but here goes. His name is Vic. He called yesterday and notified me they were ready. If he does not have the one you want, try Trainworld.com

http://www.discounthobbywarehouse.net/

Several of the dealers have them on Ebay and they are going for close to 200 hundred, but you never know if you are going to get one for sure or lose the bid at the last moment.

Good Luck

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bangert1


Several of the dealers have them on Ebay and they are going for close to 200 hundred, but you never know if you are going to get one for sure or lose the bid at the last moment.

Good Luck

What sucks about Ebay is that these shaddy guys can buy some Lionel Challenger cheap and run it to death, put it back in the box, and sell it to unsuspecting people via the internet. The consumer will purchase a worn out steamer, and if their not an experience modeler, they might not be able to tell the difference.

[cacole]

Unless someone owns both, they're not going to be able to give you a comparison as to which is best. I have a Lionel Challenger and like it, but Lionel is pulling back out of the HO market and there are rumors abounding that they may even declare bankruptcy if they lose the lawsuit brought against them by MTH. That decision is supposed to be forthcoming this week sometime. The Lionel may, therefore, wind up as an orphan for which you can get no repair parts.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

Unless someone owns both, they're not going to be able to give you a comparison as to which is best. I have a Lionel Challenger and like it, but Lionel is pulling back out of the HO market and there are rumors abounding that they may even declare bankruptcy if they lose the lawsuit brought against them by MTH. That decision is supposed to be forthcoming this week sometime. The Lionel may, therefore, wind up as an orphan for which you can get no repair parts.

Cacole
Your quote is right on since no comparison can be made unless you would be able to have both models and run both to decide the best. The pictures clearly show the Athearn the best in detail since I have seen both of them at a show, and the Athearn are close to my Key models in overall detail. I do own the Lionel and have some ot the Athearn on reservation, but they need to be compared side by side to know which one is best for the person that is buying it.