I was just wondering what everyone thinks of the Challenger and any problems they have had with them. Thanks! Jim
I’ve got an Athearn Challenger and think its great. The detailing and performance are way better than the late model Rivarossi Challengers I have. The detailing is right up there with my Trix Big Boy. Plus it has DCC and sound already installed! All this for about the same price as a Riv on Ebay!
Since it is my only sound equipped loco, I think the sound is great. I have read other’s posts about poor sound quality, but I’m happy with it. It handles my 22" radius curves and less than perfect trackage very well. I have had it since Xmas and have yet to have it derail, unlike my other steam locos, Trix Big Boy included!
It’s a good puller on my 4% grade, out pulls my Trix Big Boy, but of course the Athearn has traction tires and doesn’t slip like the Trix.
I am highly considering another Athearn Challenger and perhaps the Athearn Big Boy too! For the price, I think it is a bargain in today’s market. Especially considering that you can nearly buy 2 Athearn Big Boys for the price of 1 Trix! (Retail $450 vs $800)
Hornby/Rivarossi is supposed to be re-releasing a Big Boy soon, but unless it has new finer detail tooling with DCC and sound, I wouldn’t even consider it anymore.
My only “problem” with mine is the limited range of the remote about 6 ft in a cluttered basement otherwise it’s a fine performer. I can’t comment on the sound as I’ve never heard the real Challenger, so I’m admittedly happy in my ignorance. I run on DC so I just had to get used to using the remote.
I saw one for the first time yesterday and thought it was just incredible looking.
I had the chance to borrow one for 2 weeks and I LOVED the thing. Probably the best steamer on the market. It runs GREAT, the motor is SILENT, the deatil is brass quality, and I’m not a knit-picker when it comes to sound, so I thought it was great. I can’t wait for the Big Boys[:)].
Good loco, great puller, smooth runner, nice looking (I’ve got the Rio Grande 3804) nice sound, though the whistle’s a little weird (but then I thought the whistle on the prototype was a little weird when I heard it at Railfair a couple of years ago). I’d like to see Athearn come out with some variations on the boiler/superstructure–maybe a WP variation, or something resembling the NP/SP&S Z-class Challengers. I’ve never been a huge fan of the looks of the UP prototype–a little to ‘clean’ for me. I like a lot of ‘clutter’ on my articulateds–like pumps on the boiler face, etc.
But it’s a nice loco. No complaints from this end.
Tom
Delaware & Hudson ran Challengers. If Rivarossi could market one for D&H I think it shouldn’t be beyond the capabilities of Athearn. Obviously I’m in favor of your suggestion of other road names and physical variations. [tup] [tup] Let’s keep our fingers crossed, maybe Athearn will deliver.
Jon
If I could get mine programmed I might be able to give a better review. I’ve had it for about two months now and it has traveled a total of about 5 feet - Onto the programming track. The programming directions are worse than pathetic. There appears to be no manual reset on the decoder.
This topic has come up several times and if you search for “4-6-6-4” there are many posts of opinins. Be certain to use the advanced search and set the date so it searches more than the last month.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=56100&REPLY_ID=633090#633090
My LHS had one for 299 and I went with cash in hand. He put it on the track and fired her up…BEAUTIFUL locomotive and it runs perfectly…except for the sound…the sound is just terrible. Of course, if you have nothing to compare it to, then the sound will be fine for you , but my BLIs sound WAY better than this Athern Unit. The Bell is horrible, the horn sounds like it doesnt belong and a stuipid engineer comes on and yells “ALL A_BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOARD”…that there spoke to where this locomotive was marketed.
I would only consider buying this loco if you were to swap out the sound with something a little more ‘worth it’ (Tsunami or DSX).
Oh…and I didnt purchase it.
David
I wanted an Athearn Challenger until I read that.
what?
I have never heard a challenger with an allll aboooooard sound…
mine doesnt do that.
The one I borrowed didn’t do that either. I had mine on DC, so maybe the all-aboard thing is DCC only.
Both of mine are DCC and I’ve never heard it either
Ditto. I don’t have one, but two friends do. One DC, One DCC. No “all aboard” from either of 'em.
Well, that’s good. I guess I still want one then.
Mine does the “all aboard”, the first time I heard it I thought it was pretty dumb for a freight engine (yes I know Union P also used them on passenger trains)unless that was the call for hobos to board the train…
When I first posted this question I had all ready bought the Challenger and I hoped that it would get rave reviews. I know dumb to buy the engine and then ask everyone what they thought of it but it was one of those spur of the moment things. I saw the engine test run and was impressed with the sound and mostly with the detail Athearn had added to the engine. I have never seen a real Challenger let alone hear one running so I can only imagine what it would be like to see one in operation. I have heard the B&O mallets and other smaller steam locomotives from back in the 1950’s and can remember some of the sounds. I guess what I am trying to say is that we mostly have to rely on memory or films and audio tapes as to what they sounded like. I like the sound of the Challenger and the detail but the ‘All Aboard’ they could keep! Yes mine does it. [:)] Jim
Mine doesn’t do the “All Aboard” in DCC, maybe there is a CV you turn on and off… I’ve never messed with any of the settings other than its address…
Are you sure that the “All Aboard” was on an Athearn, sounds more like a Lionel Challenger to me!
I’ve had one for almost a year now and all I can say about it is WOW! The locomotive is a beautiful piece of machinery. It is almost dead quiet, smooth as glass when in motion, and very detailed. The packing is well thought out, so as to preserve both itself and the locomotive, even under heavy usage. It pulls very well and runs over roughly laid track without derailment.
My only complaint is the radio like control for DC and sound. Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I just couldn’t get used to the fact that the power pack throttle had to be advanced at all times, whether the locomotive was in motion or standing still. I was so unimpressed with the radio control system for DC, I yanked it in favor of traditional DC control. I really wi***hey could give the option for just switching to straight DC control and seperate sound types activated by the remote, should the owner so choose.
BTW, I have not used it on DCC, so I cannot comment on the performance in that area. [:I]
No , it is a Athearn up_santafe . Athearn G9129 in Clinchfield #672. I think it alternates between saying "All Aboard "and some kind of air release. I"m running it in DCC and F6 is the button you push. I sure wish I could disable that conducter! [:)] Jim