In 1941, Union Pacific Vice President Otto Jabelmann, in cooperation with ALCo, updated the Challenger type with increased boiler pressure, a larger firebox, roller bearings and a larger 14-wheel tender. These new Challengers produced 97,350 pounds of tractive effort. With their higher sustained 5,400 horsepower, the 4-6-6-4s could double-head with 4-8-8-4 Big Boys to handle unprecedented tonnage over the 1.14% Wasatch grade. It was on that Wyoming Division route that the early Challengers had proven themselves in 1936, where they had handled the same freight as a double-headed 2-8-8-0 and 2-10-2, only faster. The only major difference between the wartime 4-6-6-4 “4” class and the previous class of improved Jabelmann Challengers was a 6,500 pound increase in weight due to wartime material shortages.

Built to National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) standards, the Lionel HO Challengers likewise offer impressive performance. Equipped with a versatile DCC system, each model is ready to run on your digital or analog HO layout. All are Seuthe® smoke unit-ready for easy installation. The Lionel HO Challengers also include QSI® Quantum Sound® electronics. Along with authentic synchronized chuffing, each locomotive includes Sound-of-Power®, which varies the intensity of the chuff according to the load. Listen to the realism of the Lionel HO Challengers hauling heavy freight or passenger consists over the toughest grades.

The Lionel HO Challengers are offered in each of the major liveries and configurations of the 4-6-6-4 “4” class. Details such as smoke deflectors, tender type, ashpan type and stack configuration are all correct per each version’s specific prototype. Many of the detail parts are separately applied, including sliding cab windows and an opening roof hatch. Each of the six versions is offered in two road numbers.

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