BROADWAY LTD N SCALE CHALLENGER

The Challengers boasted several technical breakthroughs that contributed to their success. Operating with a high boiler pressure of 280 lbf/in2, a feature typically reserved for passenger locomotives such as the FEF Series, they sported 69-inch drivers—impressive mammoth wheels typically found on passenger locomotives. Most freight engines required smaller wheels to generate the necessary torque. Surpassing speeds of 60 miles per hour, which was unprecedented for most other railroads using articulated steam locomotives, became a regular occurrence on the Union Pacific.

During Union Pacific’s fourth order in 1943, ALCO built thirty-one locomotives adhering to the same specifications. However, due to the War Production Board’s intervention, six completed locomotives were diverted to the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad through a lease facilitated by the War Department’s Defense Plant Corporation. These locomotives, numbered 3900-3905, formed the Rio Grande’s Class L-97. Later, in 1947, they were sold to the Clinchfield Railroad and renumbered as 670–675, becoming the Clinchfield’s Class E-3. Unfortunately, these six Challengers were eventually retired in 1953.

Among the surviving Challengers, Union Pacific No. 3985 stands out. Restored by the Union Pacific in 1981, it operated in excursion service as part of the heritage fleet program. Recently, it was donated to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America in 2022, where it is currently undergoing a second restoration. The only other surviving Challenger, UP No. 3977, is on display in North Platte, Nebraska.

Broadway Limited Imports’ first production run of Challengers features the following notable characteristics:

Paragon4 Sound & Control System featuring ROLLING THUNDER
Integral Dual-Mode Decoder with Back EMF for Superb Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC
Precision Drive Mechanism Engineered for Heavy Towing and Smooth Slow Speed Operation
Operating Smoke Unit with On/Off Switch
Six Drivers and All Tender Wheels Pick-up Electricity from Track
Die Cast Locomotive Body with Die Cast Chassis for Heavier Weight and Maximum Tractive Effort
Rubber Tires on Two Drivers for Additional Tractive Effort
Premium Caliber Painting
Prototypically Accurate Paint Schemes and Road Numbers
Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Grab Irons, Piping, Tender Ladders, Whistle, and Bell
Prototypical Headlight and Rear Light Operation
Separately Controllable Cab Light
Prototypically Accurate Sounds for the Union Pacific Big Boy
Operating Microtrains-compatible Couplers
Will Operate on Code 55, Code 70, and Code 80 Rail
Minimum Operating Radius: 9.75 inches

Each model is equipped with Broadway Limited Imports’ Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC sound system, complete with smoke and integral GoPack capacitors.

Additionally, apart from the Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC sound models, Broadway Limited Imports offers these locomotives as part of our Stealth series. These models, known as No-Sound / DCC-Ready, operate on DC straight out of the box. Alternatively, modelers can easily install their preferred DCC decoder. The front and rear lights are directional by default, and other lights are always illuminated with track power. However, certain lighting features may be dependent on the aftermarket decoder chosen by the modeler.

These models are expected to arrive in the Spring of 2024, with an order deadline of November 16th, 2023