Today we are going to take a look at a recent release by Athearn, in their Genesis product line. I actually preordered this locomotive, and the model I got was Union Pacific #3985. This happens to be the one that is preserved by Union Pacific as part of their steam program, although it has been laid up for some time. The reason for the lay up in unclear, although there are a number of rumors that speculate on some major mechanical issue. However, the HO scale counterpart operates very well!
UP #3985, at the Northern Lights Model Railroad Club. All Photos by James Ogden.
Athearn's Genesis line of products are generally high quality models, and the Challenger locomotives are no exception. They are offered in three road names and undecorated. In addition to Union Pacific, for which there are five road numbers to choose from, they are also available in Denver & Rio Grande Western and Clinchfield Railroad. DRGW and Clinchfield are each available with one road number. All models come factory equipped with DCC and with Tsunami sound, by SoundTraxx.
Exterior
The exterior of the locomotive is primarily black, but features numerous separately applied detail parts. The model includes numerous pipes and hoses, as well as all the grab bars and hand rails found on the prototype. The wheels are all metal, as are the various side rods, connecting rods, and valve gear. All the drive wheels actually provide pulling power and electrical pickup. The locomotive includes crisp, clear lettering, and includes some of the smaller lettering, such as the builders plate, and various other data and information, all of which is readable. The locomotive features an LED headlight and even has lighted number boards. The pilot comes with a non operating, scale size coupler, but a replacement coupler pocket, with an operating coupler, is also included in the box.
Cab and Firebox detail.
The tender also features a high level of detail and equally crisp lettering. The tender also has numerous separately applied detail parts including hand rails, grab bars, and piping. The tender also features metal wheels, which also serve as electrical pickup. The locomotive and tender together have at least 15 axles with electrical pickup, making this a very reliable locomotive, even on dirty track. There is a rear headlight on the tender, which functions automatically when the locomotive moves backwards. The tender is connected to the locomotive with a drawbar, which is permanently attached to the locomotive. Additionally, there is a small bundle of jumper wires that connect the locomotive to the tender.
Tender Detail
Overall, the engine and tender feature a high level of detail and an excellent paint job. Additionally, the model comes with a small bag of additional detail parts which can be applied by the modeler.
Operation
The Challenger models are dual mode, and can be operated on a DC system or on a DCC system. Some of the sound functionality is reduced when operating on a DC system, since there would be no way to activate many of the sounds without DCC functions.
When the locomotive is placed on the tracks, it immediately begins making sounds, although the number of sounds coming from a stationary, idling steam locomotive are considerably less than a diesel locomotive. Once the locomotive starts moving, the sound picks up dramatically as the locomotive begins to work. This particular locomotive sounds like it is chuffing very quickly when it moves, but that is due to the two sets of cylinders. The exhaust chuffs would be twice as frequent when compared to a simple steam locomotive.
Running Gear and Firebox detail
The locomotive operates smoothly at low speeds, although there seemed to be a slight delay in the response time. It was almost as if the decoder had to think about what it was told to do. Besides the short delay, the locomotive operated very smoothly and very well. The decoder can sense how hard the locomotive is working and adjusts the sound effects and volume accordingly. When the locomotive is pulling a heavy train up a hill, the chuffing becomes noticeably louder and sharper. When the locomotive is headed downhill with the same heavy train pushing it, the chuffing becomes much quieter and the locomotive sounds like it is drifting.
The one thing that really stands out about this locomotive is the pulling power it can achieve. I brought it in to the local model railroad club the day it arrived to take it on a trial run. The club layout includes some grades, one of which is pretty near three percent. Towards the end of the evening, I decided to couple all the cars I could find together and see what the locomotive could pull. Originally, I found 58 cars, coupled them all together, and began pulling. About halfway up the hill, the locomotive pulled the coupler and coupler box right off one of the freight cars. I decided to try with the remaining 57 cars, and the locomotive successfully pulled them around the layout numerous times. It slowed down dramatically for the big hill, and the chuffing became very loud and sharp, but it never stalled. In fact this locomotive by itself out pulled three locomotives that another member had brought in that same night. I was astonished at the pulling power of this locomotive. I have never had a locomotive that could pull as much as this Challenger can.
Sound
The sound decoder for this locomotive came factory installed. Athearn contracted the sound to SoundTraxx, which makes some very good mobile DCC decoders. The decoder equipped in this model is no exception. The decoder is located in the tender, as is the speaker. The quality of the sound is very high, and the number of effects are also very high. Besides the obvious sounds, such as the exhaust chuffs, air brakes, and horn and bell, the locomotive also features some of the less obvious sounds, such as the blower, injector, and the dynamo that powers the headlight. Not all sounds are used though. For example, the decoder comes with the sound of coal being shoveled into the firebox. This one can be activated by the user, but comes deactivated, because these locomotives were converted to oil. Currently, UP 3985 burns oil when in excursion service.
Overall I am very pleased with this model. While I do not usually model Union Pacific steam locomotives, I must admit that the quality of this model makes UP steam a tempting prototype! The model looks great, performs (and pulls) exceptionally, and sounds impressive doing it. Besides that they have a reliable Athearn drive system, with outstanding electrical pickup.
Manufacturer: Athearn Genesis
Part Numbers:
G97223 (UP Black #3707)
G97224 (UP Black #3710 w/ Smoke Deflectors)
G97225 (UP Grey/Yellow #3977 w/ Smoke Deflectors)
G97226 (UP Black #3982 w/ Smoke Deflectors)
G97227 (UP Black #3985)
G97228 (DRGW #3800)
G97229 (Clinchfield #675)
MPRP: $599.98 http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=Challenger+ATHG&CatID=THLS
Bonus! I took a couple of videos of this locomotive pulling its 57 car train.
This first video is coming off a grade, over the trestle by a glacier on the Northern Lights Model Railroad Club layout.
The second video is on more or less flat track, across a drawbridge.
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