The Challenger was a smaller sibling of the Big Boy (4-6-6-4 vs. 4-8-8-4) but saw very similar usage; indeed, the Challenger and the Big Boy were often teamed together, with both used to get up the grade, and the Challenger alone used to get down it.  This MTH RailKing model, though reduced in scale to handle O31 curves, is still a wonderful model that I enjoy operating.  As you can see, the smoke unit is outstanding!  

In late 2000, Lionel brought out an exquisite model of the Challenger in full 1/4" scale.  What follows are some pictures of this enormous, breathtaking model, the first in the Lionel JLC (Joshua Lionel Cowen) series.

As you can see, it's a model of the 3985, the last running Challenger.  A photo of the prototype is shown below.

Here's another Challenger under steam!

UP wasn't the only railroad to have Challengers.  Some of the others that rostered them were the D&H and the GN.  In August of 2007, MTH brought out a Premier line model of the Great Northern Z-6 Challenger.  It's an exquisite model just chock full of detail as you can see in the following photos.  The first shows the locomotive broadside.

The next shows the detail around the cab.

The next shows locomotive detail amidships.

The next photo shows detail around the smokebox.

The next shows the very interesting 'face' of the locomotive with the front-mounted pumps.

The next photo is the requisite smoke photo showing the locomotive in motion, belching smoke in time to the drivers.

The last photo shows the tender.

Last updated: 24 Feb 2023

All of the text contained within this page and all of the photographs and videos taken by ToyTrains1 are copyright (c) 2000 - 2023 by ToyTrains1, and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of ToyTrains1.

If you wish to use any of my content, please see my detailed copyright statement for terms and conditions of use.