{"product_id":"preorder-athearn-ho-athg98971-4-6-6-4-with-dcc-sound-up-3985-modern","title":"PREORDER Athearn HO ATHG98971 4-6-6-4 with DCC \u0026 Sound, UP #3985 Modern","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mx-auto mb-1\" style=\"max-width:930px\"\u003e\n\n \u003ch3\u003eUnion Pacific\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the spring of 1941 UP locomotive designers began working on a locomotive to team up with the new 4-8-8-4 Big Boy's then under construction at Alco. The Big Boy's were designed to pull heavy freights up the Wasatch Range in Utah to the division point at Green River, WY. What was needed was a locomotive to take over at that point that could speed the freights eastward across the Wyoming Division. Building on their experience with the original CSA 4-6-6-4 Challengers UP and Alco's designers developed a newer and better Challenger type locomotive. The result was a group of 65 4-6-6-4 Challenger built in three separate groups during World War II. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES: \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n#3985 \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModern Excursion version\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOil Burner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEra 1980's - 2000's\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n#3933\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoal Burner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual smoke stack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTender bunker coal extensions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEra 1940's - 1959\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n#3967\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoal Burner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual smoke stack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmoke Lifters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEra 1940's - 1959\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n#3997\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoal Burner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual smoke stack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTender bunker coal extensions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEra 1940's - 1959\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUP painted several of their Challengers in their two-tone grey paint scheme for passenger service. They also added smoke lifters and converted many to oil burners as well.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES: \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n#3976 \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo-tone grey w\/ yellow lettering and striping. Oil burner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual smoke stack. Era: Late 1940's - Mid-1950's.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSTEAM LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES: \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eIlluminated number boards and headlights\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eHeadlight turns off in reverse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eIlluminated directional back-up light in the tender\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eCorrectly operating eccentric cranks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eAdjustable top cab vent and cab windows\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003ePivoting front and rear engines for negotiating 18\" radius curves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eCurrent pick-up on all driver and wheels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eBoiler backhead with full details and printed gauges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eSynchronized chuff, whistle, bell, blow-down, air compressor, dyno and pop-off valve sounds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eUser-controlled whistle, short whistle, bell, squeal, coupler crash, injector, water stop and light dimmer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eIndividually-applied detail parts, including brass-painted bell and whistle, piping, valves, generator, steps, air pump, air tanks, reverser and coupler lift bar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eFront coupler pocket can be inserted to mount operating coupler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinimum recommended radius: 22\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\t\n\n\u003ch3\u003eNEW FEATURES: \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eDual cube speakers for great sound quality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eLighted firebox flicker effect with see-through firebox door\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eUpgraded headlight lighting with brighter LED \u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eImproved loco-to-tender connection harness for increased durability and serviceability\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSOUND EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eTender-mounted DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSound units operate in both DC and DCC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEngine, whistle, and bell sounds work in DC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent Slow speed control\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMany functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCV chart included in the box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003ePROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe name \"Challenger\" was given to steam locomotives with a 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement. This means that they have four wheels in the leading pilot truck, which helps guide the locomotive into curves, two sets of six driving wheels, and finally four trailing wheels, which support the rear of the engine and its massive firebox. Each set of six driving wheels is driven by two steam cylinders. In essence, the result is two engines under one boiler. The Union Pacific Railroad sponsored development of this type to meet the need for higher speeds in main-line service. Historically, articulated locomotives had been limited to slow speeds by factors inherent in their design. The technical breakthroughs achieved with the Big Boy enabled the carrier to develop a newer, improved Challenger that met their speed expectations. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThough originally intended for freight service, many Challengers were used in passenger service.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Athearn","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43000811028543,"sku":"ATH-G98971-PRE","price":65.45,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0269\/7461\/7663\/files\/ATHG98971_A0_NJU58UCO_5414849f-4047-4b48-a168-28423d2a4e16.jpg?v=1773289400","url":"https:\/\/factorydirecthobbies.com\/products\/preorder-athearn-ho-athg98971-4-6-6-4-with-dcc-sound-up-3985-modern","provider":"Factory Direct Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}