Lionmaster Challenger ???

Union Pacific in black until they make the gray ones with smoke deflectors and oil tenders. You will be very happy with this locomotive!  It is just a couple inches short of being scale but is accurately proportioned and looks great on O72 curves!  It will easily pull 30-50 semi-scale freight cars.  I like mine with Rail King freight cars.

Thanks! Looking forward to getting it.

Bob

Really it depends on what you wish to model freight or passenger and what year. The black version was primarily used on freight and excursion from 1939 to present, while the two-toned grey was used primarily on passenger services like the "Portland Rose" between 1939-1956. So in other words it's up to you. I personally have a FEF and Challenger in two-toned grey with yellow stripe, both MTH Railking Imperial and I love them both.

I have this LionMaster Challenger from last production run.

This will give you some idea on how they are painted. It is what it is, can not give you a "Why"

  Click photo to enlarge.