Union Pacific® 4-6-6-4 Challenger Steam Locomotive Making the Challenger in Z scale is finally completing the 1996 dreams of former Small Scale Works where I was a shareholder. I am extremely excited about our upcoming release and AZL and AJIN are working hard with the engineering details at the moment. UP selected ALCO as the producer for their big Challengers and acquired a total of 105 which were delivered in 5 batches from 1936 to 1944. The AZL release will not include the two first batches since these locomotives were quite different from the later 3 batches. The 3 last batches were delivered from 1941 on and used the following road numbers: 3950 – 3969 (1941) / 3975 – 3999 (1943) / 3930 – 3949 (1944) The locomotives made for D&RGW used road numbers 3800 – 3805. After WWII these Challengers were sold to Clinchfield which renumbered the locomotives to 670 – 675 and also converted the Challengers to single stacks. AZL will basically produce three different versions of the UP Challengers and the one D&RGW version. There is much written about whether the Challengers were coal or oil fired and the answer is both. When delivered, all Challengers were coal burners, but a coal strike in 1952 had Union Pacific convert some to oil burners. It is rumored that the conversion job only took one day! The bulk of the AZL UP Challengers will represent coal burners in black livery. UP also repainted some Challengers in a two tone grey and mounted smoke reflectors (ears) and this version will also be made. The last version will be today’s only operational Challenger, road number 3985. This locomotive has been converted to an oil burner and will show these changes on the tender. Speaking of the tender, UP standardized the tender for their last big steam locomotives, thus the Big Boy (4-8-8-4) and the FEF (4-8-4) all used the same “Centipede” tender as the Challenger. Where did the UP Challengers operate? Unlike the Big Boy’s which only operated out of Cheyenne (WY), the Challengers were used on UP’s main routes in the West. UP used the Challengers for freight as well as passenger service. AZL hope to show some Challenger metal at the NTS in July, but we might be a little ahead of ourselves. In the meantime check out the two remaining UP Challengers. 3985 is scheduled for several runs this year and 3977 is on static display in North Platte, Nebraska. Yours Sincerely, Hans Riddervold Rail Miniatures
Wow, it sounds like its going to great addition to z scale. Can you give us some additional information. Are all the drivers power, and what is the minimum radius.
John, Sorry, I have no further information at this time. It is still early in the design and development stage. Rob
It would be cool if they also did the very few other mods needed to make an NP version with the single stack, as nobody would want to mess with $2000 worth of finished brass to try the kitbash on their own!
Err... there are a lot more differences than that. The Z6 is significantly bigger than a UP/DRGW/Clinchfield Challenger.
Yes, bigger firebox, bigger smokebox. NP had unlimited access to almost free Lignite coal, which rated close to peat moss in energy density. The fireboxes on NP steamers were made larger accordingly, and their smokeboxes were also larger. But for the most part, the angled cab and single smokestack are the main obstacles that need to be made for NP, then the dual cross compounds can be added, and a few other details to make an NP challenger. I would model the Z-7 and Z-8 Classes because I like the NP Centipede tenders best, where the Z-6 Class had Pseudo Vandy tenders.
Chris, we'll leave the kit bashing to the master. After that Berkshire, have at it !! I'm just hoping that they can get both drivers powered this time. The AC12 only had one set of powered drivers. .
I know I am only dreaming about the possiblility of ever owning one of these, but I'd sure like to see any pictures as soon as you get them. Having seen the Cab forward in person it really is a work of art.
Mattias, We don't have pricing as of yet, but there will be three UP versions and a Rio Grande version coming. Here is a sneak peak: Rob
Eye candy?.............that's more like a total visual overload. Wow and then some. Question Rob, I have a customer who is asking about traction and possibility of a decoder. I know traction is a touchy subject, but a legitimate one. While running these in actual operation is the bottom line for most, shucks, I'd give your right arm to have all three brass in a beautiful wall display with lights. Then of course, you have to go on and produce a Pacific, Northern, and Berkshire.......and the list goes on. Maybe I shouldn't design my display cabinet just yet? )
My understanding, the Challenger has traction tires to make it work with three driving axles. Regardless, this locomotive looks so amaZing, I keep saving money to have at least one. Then that beauty will go thru a major surgery. You guys can call me crazy, but I'll bite the bullet, and my Challenger will receive a 12 mm motor with a huge flywheel in the tender, universal joints to drive every axle, lots of weights, a DCC decoder, smoke generator and who knows what else... The only problem, I have to perform the surgery in many phases, when my wife is on business trips, otherwise I'm a dead meat. Anyway, I can't wait...
