Update:
After getting the first challenger in, I ordered another one. Both with Clinchfield roadnames. 671 and 673 loco numbers. They are both brand new in the original box and sleeve. The box looks brand new. It's like they were never opened and I don't think they were.
The owner of the website is slow in responding but you do eventually get your merchandise. He still has three HO scale Lionel UP challengers available. They are the gray oil tenders. As far as I know they are brand new, never used, in original box with paperwork just like the 2 I got. I think he's asking $309 for each. Considering MSRP in 2003 was $699 I think it's a decent deal. The locos are all dye cast body and frame. They have a factory decoder, QSI, DCC and sound equipped or DC. There is a switch on the bottom of the tender to choose between DCC or DC.
If anyone is interested his website is CRSTRAINS.COM.
Thanks for the info. Didn't they have something like a 10 year agreement to manufacture some Lionel items I believe. I think that ran out. Besides isn't MTH going out of business?
In any event the steamer I got is brand new. Never been unwrapped. Still in original shipping box from early 2000s. The Lionel box looks like it just came from the box maker. It was still packed in the Lionel sleeve. Manuals everything, brand spanking new. Hopefully I shouldn't need any replacement parts.
Aye congrats!
This might be a stretch, but I recently learned that MTH might have gotten Lionel's challenger tooling and therefore it should be physically identical to the Lionel challenger instead of being its own thing.
Just a random fact.
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
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Just got the locomotive in today. Absolutely gorgeous steamer. All die cast body and frame. Very heavy. Original owner never unwrapped it nor had it out of the box. Looks brand new as does the box. Was still in original shipping carton from early 2000s. Very impressed especially if it runs as good as it looks. Ordering the other Clinchfield one today.
Not sure how this is going to turn out. I ordered the locomotive and paid for it through paypal a week ago today. Owner of the site said it would ship within 1 to 2 days of him receiving payment. Paypal told me the transaction was instantaneous. I have no notice of shipping or a tracking number. He has not responded to my email inquiries and it's going on 7 days. Hope I haven't been scammed, will give him a little more time. The name of the site or web address is crstrains.com just in case others come across it.
Update: Turned out fine. Got the locomotive in. See below. Will order and I am ordering from the site again.
Sounds good! Let us know how it turns out!
Thanks for the replies. I found a place that has a few from an estate for sale. They were basically kept in the box by the owner and never run except maybe to test out. I'm getting one with the Clinchfield road name. Decent deal I think, less than half of the original MSRP. I'll let you know how it turns out as I am just now getting back into the hobby and haven't got any of my layout ready for trains just yet. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll be able to run some of the new trains I have acquired.
I acquired this baby in late 2005.
I did some sleuthing before I placed the order for one that was on sale on eBay by a now-gone Canadian retailer. I learned from a review and a fellow who fixed what he thought were some issues that there are three possible items of concern:
a. bent, binding valve gear or rods;
b. excessive weight in the already heavy diecast tender; and
c. muffled sound, or whatever his observation was, I forget, about the way the speakers were mounted, or baffled (in an angled bracket, as you'll soon learn if you purchase unmodified locos).
I called the dealer and said I'd be willing to purchase at their current price provided their tech certified that it was a solid runner, no problems with the running gear. They agreed, and it was sent to me.
I did find a cube weight, suprisingly heavy, mounted forward of the speakers, I think...again, it has been 14 years and I had the tender open maybe ten minutes. I removed the weight, and have had no cause to regret the suggestion from buddy. I have it in a much-too-light IHC dome car.
At his suggestion, I stuffed some polyfiber in and round the speakers. I didn't notice, or can't recall that I felt I had made, a mistake. It's still there.
To me, you should be assured that the model runs without hesitation, no hitch, no bent rods, etc. If that checks out, and the decoder sounds good (and it's still the original QSI), I don't see any need to worry. All of my QSIs still work. I have had ESU fail, but no QSI's. None of the OEM or Revolution/Titan variants that I put in engines that came to me needing conversion from DC have ever given me a lick of bother.
From there, if you decide to lighten the tender, probably not a bad idea, that may be all you'll want to do.
They're not especially well detailed. But, mine is a solid puller, very reliable, a joy to have really, and one of my favourite steamers.
No experience with them but from an initial impression they look to be well detailed and smooth running. From the factory they came with QSI sound.
Here's a review link: https://www.trains.com/mrr/news-reviews/reviews/staff-reviews/lionel-returns-to-ho-scale-with-this-4-6-6-4-challenger-steam-locomotive/
Since the shell is diecast, there is lots of space in the engine, which is unoccupied. Could have space for custom lighting, or smoke if that's your interest.
I have no idea if theyre prototypically accurate or not, nor do I know if they had any quality control issues.
Lionel made a limited number of these back in the early 2000s with QSI sound and DCC. Union Pacific and Clinchfield road names. Have come accross a couple and just wondering if anybody has any experience or knowledge as to their quality and the decoder that they came with? The original MSRP was $699.