Which Challenger is the best?

[countershot]

Which HO Challenger is the best? Lional,athearn,rivarossi. and if there is a nother let me know. Which one is the best?

[Anonymous]

If you can procure one of the lionel ones, go for it.

[AggroJones]

The Lionel has mixed reviews. Some peoples (like me) recieved units with problems every where. Mine particularly runs with an uneven wobble caused by incorrectly molded gears in the front engine. The springs in the pony truck cause derailments, the oversized crank pins heads catch on the rods, the tender is way too heavy, and the boiler doesn't balance properly over the rear engine.
I found this out after I already ordered one. I have solved some of these problems in mine to make into a half decent locomotive.

I say go with the Genesis if you can. I haven't heard any thing bad about them except the sound which apparently isn't as good as QSI.

[Fergmiester]

I have the Athearn Challenger and As Aggro has said the sound system isn't quite as good as BLI but is still a very good system and well worth the money. I'm quite happy with my Challenger. It's a good puller and operates smoothly. MR product review has a clip of the Athearn Challenger in action.

Fergie

[Anonymous]

My Rivarossi, while not equipped with sound or as well detailed, was (until my cat knocked it to the floor) an excellent engine. It could out pull my Trix Big Boy in the hills and ran beautifully when I installed DCC. The slow speed performance was as good as my Trix.

I know they are no longer in production, and the prices are going unreasonably high on Ebay, but if you can get a new model (with the can motor in the boiler and RP25 wheels) at a good price, I'd definitely go for it. Mine ran flawlessly for many hours till the cat finished it off.

The downside is there isn't much in the way of parts available, that's why mine lives in the engine house now. Perhaps if I see a good deal on Ebay....

[Anonymous]

Whoa, up untill now i've heard nothing but good things about the lionel one.

[cacole]

I have the Lionel Challenger and have had absolutely no problems with it. Mine was one of the very first made, so maybe something went wrong later on if people are having problems with it. The sound is excellent since it is a QSI system. I have heard and don't like Athearn's sound. I have a Rivarossi that is a mute - no decoder and no sound unless you add your own.

But which is the "Best" is a matter of opinion, and everyone will say theirs is the best if they haven't had any experience with others, so your question can't really be answered. Even if someone owns all of the various models that have ever been made, their opinion of which is best may not be what you would consider the best.

If you hadn't specified "HO" in your question, the answer would be simple -- the one owned by Union Pacific that is still used on excursion trips and is based in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

[AggroJones]

Actually, Cole, the highest Challenger was the Northern Pacific Z-8. All mighty and powerful.

[Anonymous]

I bot the Genesis, my first and run DC. The Lionel had a few too many negative operating complaints
posted on three forums. When I pay top dollar, I demand top operating performance and I got it from
Athearn.
To my knowledge I'm the only person that ever reported a small defect out of the box. My dealer,
Firsthobby & Athearn made it right by exchange.
Am I happy?, Would I buy it again?, YES & YES.

Rivarossi,( Lima/Hornby) has a lot of catching up to do. They are a little late pulling out of the station.

[twhite]

I take it we're talking about the UP Challenger and clones, right? The Genesis is a real sweetheart of a loco, although the little radio control thingy that comes with it for DC operation is something you have to get used to. I've got the Rio Grande clone #3800, and it's a strong puller, and the sound is okay--not up to BLI, but not bad. The whistle is a real screamer, but as I remember, having seen and heard the prototype UP, it's not far off. The prototype has a VERY weird whistle, also. However, if we're talking just models of prototypes, the best Challenger I've ever owned is an old Westside import of the Rio Grande 3700 series L-105's, the second most powerful Challenger ever built (105,000 lb TE as opposed to UP's 97,000 lb TE). It's a big hunk of brass loco, VERY smooth running, plenty of room if you want to install sound in the tender, and it will pull the paint off of the walls. Gorgeous locomotive. I like it so well I've got two of 'em. Now if someone would just come out with a model of the NP/GN/SP&S 'Z' series of 4-6-6-4 --the most powerful Challenger ever built--I'd be a very happy camper.

Tom [:P][:P]

[Berk-fan284]

The LIONEL and the ATHEARN are both quite detailed and good pullers, RIVAROSSI(I have the newer production one) is also a good puller, no sound not as detailed as the other two. I have a BOWSER kit (Rivarossi tender and super detail kit) that is HEAVY and should be another good puller (if I can get the nerve to build it and tune and tweak it to a fine egde). So it depends on what you are looking for detail and sound (LIONEL and ATHEARN) or smooth no fuss performance (RIVAROSSI), or build it yourself (BOWSER).

[Anonymous]

I have a late Rivarossi Challenger. It has less than five hours on it. It has been flawless in every way. I want to upgrade it to DCC, but am torn between selling it to buy the Athearn already equipped with dcc and sound, and equipping the Rivarossi with DCC. The cost for each is about the same. I am probably going to end up selling mine, which I really hate to do, because it is really a work of art. On top of the expense of converting it, I have actually changed direction with my layout plans, and it will not fit in as well. I am building an industrial layout that will feature mines and logging, and want to use Shays. So I will probably not be using a challenger at all. I would be open to any reasonable offer on my Challenger or even interesting trades.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

The Lionel has mixed reviews. Some peoples (like me) recieved units with problems every where. Mine particularly runs with an uneven wobble caused by incorrectly molded gears in the front engine. The springs in the pony truck cause derailments, the oversized crank pins heads catch on the rods, the tender is way too heavy, and the boiler doesn't balance properly over the rear engine.
I found this out after I already ordered one. I have solved some of these problems in mine to make into a half decent locomotive.

I say go with the Genesis if you can. I haven't heard any thing bad about them except the sound which apparently isn't as good as QSI.

Your summary is correct in my book as I do own all three of the plastic types.

If you still have problems with the gear wobble, I solved it also. The Lionel has the best sound of the two, but the Athearn has the best detail and running qualities. All three models including the Riv have incorrect running boards, since they do not angle inward at the smokebox.

The UP Challengers made by Key, Overland, Challenger Imports and Tenshodo Models are HO, but I don't think he was talking about those.

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

everyone will say theirs is the best if they haven't had any experience with others

That's right!! My Bowser Challenger's the best because I haven't had experience with others!![:D][:D][:D] With the Bowser you don't need a sound system because it's the loudest engine you'll ever run!![:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

The Athearn Challenger was my first Athearn product and no regrets. Yes, it qualifies for a second consideration.

[nfmisso]

Best recent non brass model is an Athearn with the QSI® electronics and speakers from a the Lionel model.

Future: the QSI® aftermarket solution, then a tweaked Bowser....

[Manifest]

bangert1,

I have two of the Lionel Challengers and they run reasonably well. I am curious as to what you did to solve the problem with the gear wobble.

Mike

[Anonymous]

I vote Bowser with a Northwest shortline motor. Not only can it pull the layout acros the floor. You have the bragging rights to say. "I built this my self."

Craftsman of the world unite.