MTH Imperial UP Challenger(Gray) or UP Big Boy...Your opinion?

Either option is very nice. I know I wouldn't mind having one or the other, considering I saw both the gray Challenger and several black Big Boys last summer on my "American Tour". 

I used to never really like the gray paint but after visiting the #3977 Challenger, I've grown to really like it. 

I have the Lionel Vision Line Big Boy and the MTH Premier Challenger.  Both are a pretty imposing figure on the tracks, I doubt you'll be disappointed with either option.  I also like the gray Challenger paint, a nice contrast from the many black steamers I have.

I own that MTH Challenger and I love it.  Fits in well on my layout which is roughly the same size as yours.  It runs smooth, is very strong, and sounds great.  It will also smoke you out of the room.

I don't have any steamers, but I like both the gray paint scheme and the Challenger.

Real, non streamlines steamers wear BLACK, like the Oakland Raiders!

Does the 4-6-6-4 come in BLACK?

Yep Dominic, the Challenger comes in black, but I still like the gray.

Thanks guys...  I realize it is a toss up...I guess for me the gray is a nice contrast to typical black steamers...SJC...really like your pictures...can you elaborate about your "Tour"? Where are the engines? 

gladstone23 posted:

Thanks guys...  I realize it is a toss up...I guess for me the gray is a nice contrast to typical black steamers...SJC...really like your pictures...can you elaborate about your "Tour"? Where are the engines? 

I had to get a family car from San Francisco back home to the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC. While in a bit of a rush, we got to see lots of things (trains and non-trains) on our cross-country. 

As for the photos above:

#1 is at Kenefick Park in Omaha. This beautifully restored Big Boy overlooks the highway and Missouri(?) River. Also to the left is a DD40 Centennial Diesel. The park is dedicated to UP President Kenefick as the UP headquarters are in Omaha. Neat city! 

#2 & #3 are of the Big Boy in Cheyenne on display at the city park. Of course, the UP steam shop is just down the street where the other Big Boy and steam engines are. While we didn't get a good view, the ABA set of E units was parked outside the shop - beautiful looking engines!

#4-#6 are at Cody Park in North Platte, Nebraska. We needed gas, food and coffee so we started to cruise around North Platte. We were trying to find the Golden Spike observation tower at the rail yard - the largest rail yard in the world. Well, we never got there. Instead, we saw a sign for "Cody Park Railroad Museum". Naturally, we went in search. This was a great find - a city park had a small UP depot moved to it along with signals - all lit up. The station had some displays. Outside was a Centennial diesel, reefer car, Challenger steamer, baggage, RPO car, and caboose. All were beautifully kept, freshly painted. All of the cars were open and you could walk through. Even better, the cabs of the locos were open and fully restored - all components were in place with markings to designate their function. Cody Park was really a neat place. I would love to go back again. What was cool was the Challenger was parked on a curve allowing one to see the articulation. 

Thank you for the details ...I would like to try and visit those places if I am ever out that way!

The RK Big Boy is way more impressive than same Challenger... Your photo alone speaks for itself..

On some level I agree with you... This is where I am torn ... The Big Boy model  is over 4 inches longer I believe ... I am sure it would be impressive in the layout... I have one on pre order with the passenger set ... It will be delivered soon to the dealer  and need to make my final decision and face my doubts ... I could purchase the Challenger  and cars separately from other dealers and the price would be about the same ��

The Big Boy looks ugly on curves because it has a huge amount of overhang. The large amount of overhang usually impacts track-side scenery.

The MTH Challenger is the superior runner of the two locomotives, so I would opt for the Challenger, but in Clinchfield livery.

Thank you for that info Bobby....I saw the  Rail King Big Boy at a train show recently and my reaction to it was that it makes me nervous... so many wheels  and parts...wondering if it would make it through my tunnel...if I have enough clearance between track loops ...would the train stall on  certain switches ...I will take your thought into consideration....esthetically I like the Challenger much better... I am into paint schemes  :-)

I think the Imperial Challenger should not have problems with most layouts.  As far as stalling on switches, I tend to add a tender roller if I have that issue.

Your answering your own question. Go with what YOU like and looks best on your layout. You got to live with it ..  If seeing all the motion makes you jittery don't go for it (-:  . To me it adds more excitement (if u can all it that) .  I owned / own both and by far and away the big boy draws more viewer attention.  

Thanks Joe G....do you think the Big Boy looks "ugly" on curves with the large overhang?

Gladstone ..... Looks fine on 072 and wider.....

Full disclosure - I own neither.   But here's the things :  they both have the exact same motor and electronics, and you didn't say price was an issue, so it comes down to a choice of aesthetics.  Based on the photos, the Big Boy seems less blunted and more graceful to me.  An Imperial, either, should look fine on 054 and 072. Put it this way, several of us bought the scale VLBB and have 072 max curves and don't sweat the obnoxious overhang.  

Thanks  PJB... What do you mean by less blunted?

Gentlemen,

   Both look great to me, buy them both and have fun, remember the 072 and bigger curves however, looks like I am going to put in an 072 loop this next Christmas also. Seems I just purchased and engine that requires 072 and larger myself.

PCRR/Dave

gladstone23 posted:

Thanks  PJB... What do you mean by less blunted?

gladstone23:

Sorry, I should have said that better.

Keeping in mind that the prototypes are two awesome giants that command attention, I personally would want my model to grab as much "wow" attention as possible too.  From the photos, the majesty of the prototype Challenger - at least to my eye - seems diminished in the Imperial rendition by what seems to be the way in which they compressed it from scale proportions. Whereas, at first glance the Imperial BB seems nicely proportioned with flowing lines and seems to have a commanding presence.  At least to me...

... but as I said earlier, this is just a personal aesthetics view. The guts are going to be the same and both locomotives will perform similarly, so it all depends on what you're after.  Good luck in your decision.

Peter 

Ever notice how the large catalogue photos meant to best showcase a locomotive are almost exclusively from an angled perspective?  It's because this is the most pleasing view and, in the case of a non-scale locomotive, does a fabulous job of diminishing any compression shortcomings.  

A really good example from memory is the RK N&W J steamer back in the 2009 (?) catalogue.  The large showcase photo would have you thinking it is very realistic, and it looks almost as good as the photo of the Premier version.  Then you look at the small photo of the RK version from the side view.  It shows the non-rounded squared off blunt nose, the small drive wheels with the boxy boiler/body riding too high, etc.  You ask yourself, 'is this the same locomotive in both photos?'  That's why, at least to me, the side view is the most telling photo when it comes to deciding on the aesthetics, especially of a non-scale locomotive.