My oldest grandson received an early Athearn version of the Challenger for Christmas in 2006. The loco operated flawlessly for three years or so and then just quit. I installed a Soundtraxx DSD-100LC decoder to replace the MRC that was standard. Since replacing the decoder, the loco has again, been operating flawlessly.
Here is a picture of the loco rounding the curve (22 1/2-inch radius) at the west end of the BRVRR layout. My grandson uses it as his desktop photo.
The loco navigates the BRVRR layout with its several snap-switches and 18-inch radius reversing loop without problems. It has no trouble on the 20 and 22 1/2-inch mainlines.
We purchased the loco from Trainworld at a considerable discount in 2006. Money well spent in my opinion.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
Texas Zepher anoles22I'm on here today looking for advice/direction on an engine that I've been wanting to get for quite some time. The engine is the Challenger. I need it in HO scale and preferably with DCC and sound. Does anyone have an opinion on what manufacturer makes the best one for the best price? I really want this engine. It would be the head of my fleet. So any information on it is greatly appreciated. I would ask what railroad? If you are talking Union Pacific, Rio Grande, or Clinchfield there are several options. If you are talking about the NP / GN / SP&S as far as I know there is only one option at the moment. The Sunset Z6 or Z8. In real life the NP units were much more powerful, in model form I think the die-cast Genesis would win a pulling contest with the brass Sunset. No I have not put them head to head on the track I think the real winner in the pulling category would be one of the old Bowser models if you could find one on the used market. I've got one of those too but is is still in "kit" form. Here is the new Sunset NP Z6. It has Tsunami sound from Soundtrax. This is a Genesis L105. It has the old junky MRC Briliance sound processor. I believe the new ones also have Tsunami's. Oh yeah the min radius for the Sunset is stated to be 32", the Genesis is reported to be 18" (this is because the rear set of drivers unprototypical pivot). In practicality I consider 36" to be the minimum for either. They just look goofy on anything smaller.
anoles22I'm on here today looking for advice/direction on an engine that I've been wanting to get for quite some time. The engine is the Challenger. I need it in HO scale and preferably with DCC and sound. Does anyone have an opinion on what manufacturer makes the best one for the best price? I really want this engine. It would be the head of my fleet. So any information on it is greatly appreciated.
Here is the new Sunset NP Z6. It has Tsunami sound from Soundtrax.
This is a Genesis L105. It has the old junky MRC Briliance sound processor. I believe the new ones also have Tsunami's.
Oh yeah the min radius for the Sunset is stated to be 32", the Genesis is reported to be 18" (this is because the rear set of drivers unprototypical pivot). In practicality I consider 36" to be the minimum for either. They just look goofy on anything smaller.
Texas:
Actually, that's an L-97 that the War Board assigned the Rio Grande from a Union Pacific order during WWII. Rio Grande didn't like them and got rid of them as soon as they could. Model-wise, the Genesis model of the L-97 is a honey, even though the sound leaves a lot to be desired (I've got one of the early ones). One thing I wish is that someone would come out with a model of the Rio Grande L-105, which next to the NP Z-8 was the heaviest and most powerful of all Challengers. I've got a couple of old brass Westside models, which I like a lot, and even if the detail isn't up to current brass, they're smooth, powerful runners--in fact they definitely give the Genesis a run for its money pulling-wise.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Addendum to UP 4-12-2:
When those ex-Grande Challengers reached the Clinchfield, the double stack was replaced with a single stack about the size of a manhole. Does the Clinchfield model have that, or did they simply paint Clinchfield on the basic UP model?
As for why a Challenger and not a Big Boy, Challengers were run over a lot of geographically different areas by a number of different lines. The 25 Big Boys spent their operating life in one sparsely-populated area, running through some of the most barren territory this side of Mars...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - without 4-X-X-4s)
Ahem--that Genesis Challenger is not a Rio Grande L-105 Challenger, but is a Rio Grande class L-97 Challenger instead.
The actual Rio Grande designed L-105 challengers were completely different animals, and have never been offered outside of HO brass. (The brass Key/Samhongsa versions are the best for bang for the buck.)
The Rio Grande L-97 Challengers were diverted from an existing Union Pacific order by the War Production Board, who refused to allow Rio Grande to build more of their own design when Alco was in the midst of building challengers for the Union Pacific--and did not need to reset/retool their factory. Rio Grande considered them to be "inferior" to their own (because they wanted the higher tractive effort of their own design) and resold them to Clinchfield shortly after the war.
The MTH HO UP/DRGW Challenger has no problems negotiating my Kato 26.375" radius track, and the one I had ran very reliably till I dieselized.
If one wants the absolutely most accurate model, then consider the Athearn Genesis Union Pacific version, as it is likely more accurate. There are brand new ones out there from the previous runs, and new ones are coming with likely better sound.
My 2c.
John
I believe that the only two non-brass Challengers are those coming in a few months from the Athearn Genesis line and those on the shelves from MTH's run a few years back. The price will probably be comparable, although you should spend an hour and shop around the www for some bargains. Try trainworld.com and modeltrainstuff.com, both bargain shops. There are others.
I would advise against getting an older run of the Athearns for the reason given...the original MRC decoder seemed to have no end of annoyed users.
Crandell
Wilton, why not a Big Boy? Lot more Big Boys out there to be had and look close to being the same. I have had 3 Big Boys, 1 PCM and 2 Athearn's. Both will handle a 18 inch turn, look silly but will handle them.
http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/WPFun/BigBoy.jpg.html]
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Anoles22,
I'm on the pre-order list for Athearn's Genesis DCC/sound Challenger - due in stores in June 2013. From everything I've read or heard, Athearn makes pretty good locomotives. I have one of their DCC/sound ATSF GP-7s, and it is very nicely detailed, and a good runner. I think Athearn shows their Challenger will work with 22" radius curves.
Wilton.
Hello everyone!
I'm on here today looking for advice/direction on an engine that I've been wanting to get for quite some time. The engine is the Challenger. I need it in HO scale and preferably with DCC and sound. Does anyone have an opinion on what manufacturer makes the best one for the best price? I really want this engine. It would be the head of my fleet. So any information on it is greatly appreciated.
Also, does anyone know what kind of curves an engine like that would be able to handle? Thanks in advance!!! :)