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As a UP modeler uninterested in DCC, I'm pleased that Athearn Genesis is doing the Challenger as an analog version, although I could do without the extra-cost sound as well. I don't find any sound system on the market sufficiently realistic. The Rivarossi model is dated (compare the detail and operating characteristics to a Broadway Limited Class A) and due to the July 10 bankruptcy of the Lima group (which owns Riva) it may disappear from the marketplace along with their Big Boy. I'll probably be selling my two Riva Challengers to buy the Genesis 3985. Both the Trix Big Boy and the Lionel Challenger are way overpriced. Trix/Marklin have always been very expensive, so their Big Boy's price is no surprise. It does leave a niche between the Riva model's price/quality and the Marklin model for someone else like Genesis or Broadway Limited to compete. It was asked how many Big Boys or Challengers we need. My response to this is how many F units or RS2/3's do we need? Right now, Athearn makes two lines of F units, and Intermountain, Stewart, Proto 1000, MRC and Roco are all in that market too. Kato recently did the RS2 and now we have one from Proto 1000. At one time we had RS3's from MDC, Stewart and Atlas simultaneously. Meanwhile, we don't have an SD24 or RSD15 "Alligator"... but we do have DL109's and Erie-builts! Bizarre. In terms of steam, I'd agree we need more variety, but I'm not interested in kettles. If I want switchers for the 1950's, I'll run an NW2 or S2. Give me 2-10-4's, 2-10-2's, 4-8-4's and 4-8-2's. Broadway Limited shows a lot of promise in this sense with their Pennsylvania J1, which can be used to produce a C&O T1 as well. If Riva is bust, perhaps they'll do a UP FEF/NYC Niagara (they're very similar). David
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