Much of life is the art of turning adversity into virtue. The darkest years of the Great Depression (1931-1934) provided a wakeup call for the railroad industry. Variations of best practice pre-1930 would no longer suffice, especially with railroad motive power. The Union Pacific was among the carriers that got busy and applied intelligence with respect to motive power design. They recognized that the large, slow, drag-freight locomotives were unsuitable for the speed that shippers demanded. The trick was to develop a powerful locomotive, to power long freight trains at much higher speeds.
Union Pacific was an early user of articulated locomotives, but only to a limited extent. By 1909 the railroad worked to reduce the maximum gradient on its mainline between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming to 1 ½ percent, and purchased three 2-8-8-2 locomotives to power freight and later 2-8-8-0 locomotives were added. In the early 1930s business dropped by 40% and the UP retied many older locomotives including part of their articulated fleet. By the mid-1930s however, UP management anticipated an eventual upturn in traffic that would exceed the capabilities of their 4-10-2 locomotives.
Thus, the first 15 revolutionary Challenger Locomotives were built by American Locomotive Company in 1936. The Challenger design featured a practical 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement. UP was not alone with the paired, six drive wheel articulated design. In the east, the N&W would field a 2-6-6-4 and later the C&O would pioneer with a massive 2-6-6-6 design. That was a major break from past practice since many early articulated locomotives rode atop a paired set of eight-wheels. The Challenger design employed larger drive wheels that were one important element in advancing speed.
The outstanding performance of these revolutionary locomotives influenced UP to upgrade their older fleet of articulated locomotives and refine the design of the Challenger itself. Subsequent orders followed and eventually the UP-Challenger fleet totaled 105 locomotives that were employed over the entire UP system. Several oil-burning Challengers were permanently assigned to passenger service to Los Angeles and Seattle and achieved speeds up to 60 MPH. The Challengers eventually succumbed to diesel-electrics but locomotives #3977 and #3985 were saved for preservation.
Broadway Limited Imports has introduced a commanding model of the early Challenger: https://modeltrainstuff.com/search?q=early%20challenger
Highlights include: Models are available in two configurations: Pagagon4 Sound/DC/DCC with smoke or the Stealth Series – No Sound, DCC-Ready models with factory-installed speakers. The Stealth Series allows model railroaders to easily install their own 21-pin DCC decoder for a simple “plug and play” upgrade.
This production run will feature multiple era-specific versions: As-Delivered Front Engine, Rebuilt Front Engine and Integral Cast Cylinder Front Engine. In addition to these historically-accurate versions, three fantasy paint schemes will be offered and an unlettered, painted brass version for maximum customization.
Experience the thrill of this pace-setting locomotive, enhanced by state-of-the art design and manufacturing that successfully preserve the dynamics of the prototype. Our competitive pricing and popular preorder option will guarantee that you not miss this opportunity to add one of these new Challengers to your fleet.
Frank Wrabel
Modeltrainstuff.com