The Union Pacific Railroad
"Early" 4-6-6-4 Challengers

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The first Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challengers... six exceptional selections from the 40 simple articulated locomotives delivered to the Union Pacific by the American Locomotive Company between September 1936 and August 1937.
 

Photo from the collection of Robert Darwin.

1954 marked the year in which the first of the class was retired; the last not being retired until 1962. Originally built for heavy duty freight service, the locomotives revealed such extreme versatility that the Union Pacific Railroad placed them in virtually all services. Their 80 miles per hour top speed led members of the class into heavy duty passenger service together with the high-speed freight service for which they may be better remembered.

Challenger's production will include:

2483.1 Locomotive #3707.  Gothic lettering / coal fired / large forward sand dome / flush air pump shield / cast commonwealth pilot / 12" Franklin power reverse / train control box on front right running board / Worthington 6 SA FWH.
 
2484.1             Locomotive #3710.  Gothic lettering / small forward sand dome / Elesco exhaust steam injector / 10" Alco power reverse / flush mount air pump shields / cast commonwealth pilot / coal fired / Elesco exhaust steam injector.
 
2485.1 Locomotive #3813.  Gothic lettering / oil fired / Elesco exhaust steam injector / 12" Franklin power reverse / original air pump shields and pilot deck and strap pilot / tender with rear side ladders recessed / small forward sand dome / twin exhaust stacks.
 
2486.1            Locomotive #3804.  Gothic lettering / Worthington 6 SA feed water heater / small forward sand dome / recessed air pump shield / outward hand railings on front pilot area / steps added from pilot deck to running boards / footboard pilot / footboard rear tender steps / oil burner / 9" Franklin power reverse.
 
2487.1 Locomotive #3935.  Gothic lettering / oil fired / small forward sand dome / Worthington 6 SA FWH / original boiler tube pilot and air pump shields / 9" Franklin power reverse.
 
2488.1            Locomotive #3815.  Oil fired / single stack / large forward sand dome / Worthington SA 6 FWH / 10" power reverse / ATC box removed from under running board / air pump shield flush / outboard pilot deck handrails / GSC cast pilot.