A comparison between Challengers

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Which are you more likely to buy?

A fully diecast Lionel Challenger for $699 MSRP
Or a plastic Athearn Genesis Challenger $599 MSRP

2

Depends, how each run, what the features are and where they are made. I would prefer to support Athearn if I can since they do more HO scale stuff. Even if you don’t feel that they are the best locos to come out with you can’t argue the fact that it is great for the hobby.

3

I agree with BJoseph. Support the companies that have stood by the HO scalers all along. I bought the grandson a Lionel G guage train set and now I can’t get track or turnouts or anything for it. Look it up at Walthers, all Lionel G out of stock!!! Looks like Lionel moved into G to make a big score and when it didn’t pan out they quit and left me and others with non supported G equipment. Now they are looking to do the same in HO and I’ll bet dollars to donuts the end results will be the same. Two years from now you’ll break a coupler and find Lionel don’t make or support HO anymore and there are no spare parts. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. NEVER AGAIN LIONEL!!!

4

for that kind of money … I’m alergic to plastic.
besides I’d only buy a good quality product … no rush, I’ll wait til there is a consumer review - need time to save up anyway.

5

as I model in N scale I would be grateful to have a choice. If you look there is very little steam outline stuff available and I don’t have room for an HO layout.

6

Hmm I would probably go with Athearn, Lionels challengers arent as prototypical. Now as for the Gas turbine they made I would have to pick it since no one else except the brass manufacturers have made one.
I havent had a close look at the athearn challenger to see if they have it with all the modern exscursion details, like the large water glass on the rearof the tender and the connection at the base of the tender for firehoses.

7

And the winner is… Bowser!
Die cast locomtove kit $182.95
Super Detail Kit $ 91.95
Centipede Tender Kit $ 54.95
Total $329.95

and the best part is, I get to put it together my self. Any custom modifications I want to make are easier, and I also get to break out the airbrush and can choose my favoirtie paint scheme and number. And if UP doesn’t fit my fancy, There is always D&RGW (2 types), Clinchfield, Western Maryland, Delaware & Hudson, Northern Pacific, and Spokane Portland & Seattle, if I so desire as well.

James

8

Myself, I’m waiting for BLI or Proto to come out with either a Rio Grande L-105 or a NP Z-6. The rest of you can UP yourselves into a coma when it comes to a 4-6-6-4, but I never liked the looks of that loco, even when #3985 came here to Sacramento for Railfair, several years back. Besides, the UP Challenger was the lightest of its type ever built–97,000lb TE. Hell, they could have done the same thing with a 2-10-4, right?

9

James,

If I were a steam kind of guy I’d do it that way also!!!

10

I own one of the Lionel Challengers, but would not recommend it to anyone. The running qualities leave a lot to be desired and the detail is not accurate, but I like the sound and it is fun to watch it running. My Challenger had to be run on rollers for about ten hours to break it in and the model detail is way below average. The tender is a problem as they cast in a large line vertical running down the middle of both sides where a row of rivets should be. The engine comes with a weight in the tender in addition to the fact it is a cast metal tender and is allready overweight. You can increase the pulling effort of the engine just by removing the tender weight and lubricating the tender axles. Tony’s Trains has a good article about improving this engine so it can pull more than eight plastic Passenger cars on a 2% grade. We had one on our club layout when they first came out and it would not pull eight cars up the 2% grade without help.

I also have a reservation for one of the Athearn Challengers, but the prices that are quoted are not street prices. I have reserved my Athearn Challenger for $350. If you look at list prices, you might not get the best comparison.

11

I’m getting an Athearn Challenger. The Lionel ones are waaaaaaaaaaaay overpriced.

12

I keep hearing that the Lionel Challengers ,which weigh 31 oz without tender, can barely pull anything. You’d expect somthing that heavy to be powerful, but nope. If I were to jump in on one, I’d say the Genesis.

Even if the Genesis is plastic , stock it may have more tractive force than the Lionel.

And twhite, I’d be for a D&RGW or NP/GN 4-6-6-4 too.

13

I would wait for a brass one to be released. Forget the Athearn thing and the Lionel thing a ma do. Besides I would not want a UP Challenger, NP or SP&S would be way better.

14

James, like this?
[image]http://www.brasstrains.com/inventoryimages/000489.jpg[/image]
Yes, it was born a Bowser!! Check www.brasstrains.com ,current inventory, UP, for a detailed listing!
Frankly, if I felt I had to own one of these engines, I’d rather save my money for the Key brass version. My only use for Athearn is kitbashing fodder, and the Lionel version is tooooo slippery.

15

Aggrojones and DMIR230, thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! Now is anybody else out there listening when it comes to a 4-6-6-4? ANYONE? If so, let’s form a sort of Underground and pick away at the UP mania like the Danish did to the Germans in WWII. In effect: Overwhelmed, but NEVER CONQUERED! Eventually, the L-105 and the Z-6 WILL PREVAIL!

16

Neither, I was disappointed with the Athearn 2-8-2 AND 4-6-2 when they came out and I don’t trust Lionel to be here long to support their product. GO NP Z-6

17

Yes! Yes! Exactly! It’s also in Version B of my favorite steam loco paint scheme to!. Also being in the custom painting business I find the price pretty reasonable to. Alas I would rather do my own stuff though. But My birthday is this weekend. [:D] Do I have any takers? [8D]

Now if we could just start a wave of motorizing Revell-Monogram/Con-Cor Big Boy kits.

James

18

Mind boggling. The Lionel Challenger. How can a locomotive that weighs 31 oz be such a weak puller? Is it the plating on the drivers? Can the plating be worn off? Are the pony and/or trailing trucks taking weight off the drivers? Can anyone with this steamer anwser these questions?

19

I was about to get one of them during that Trainworld 10% off sale, but I remembered they can’t pull worth a darn, so I didn’t. Plus the boiler detail on my Rivarossi is better than the $700 MSRP Lionel one!

20

Oh yeah, heres a sixth vote for an NP or DRGW 4-6-6-4!