One has to go...Big Boy or Challenger? Thoughts?

Keep them both it sounds like you already have regrets.  They are not eating anything but a little space.

I have to go with Tom, if I can't decide if something has to go, it stays.

I always thought the Challenger was cool.

But I agree with @Tom47. It sounds like you regret getting rid of them even though you haven't. Try to keep both!

Sell both!

Gerry:

If you do decide you want or need to sell one I would suggest running both through all your turnouts and crossovers and see if any have trouble negotiating the turnouts - like sparking ( the locomotive despite specs saying it can negotiate a specific curve still has problems with that radius turnout) or losing sound (roller spacing  on tender especially on crossovers) etc. That would be the one to sell. If they both run well then it is back to square one.

PS - I have a Lionel Northern which specs say can negotiate O54 curves, and it does on simple O54 curves but for some reason it tends to spark when going through some O64 turnouts.
Joe

I agree with the above comments, why does one have to go? Is it because of space, you don't run them enough, you can't run them. They are both beautiful locomotives, even if you only display them. You bought both of them for a reason, I would keep the both of them for the same reason that you bought them for.

In the past I have sold some of my steam locomotives. Not a large amount just a few but I regretted selling most of them. Steam is special to me. So I say keep both. I assume both of these are Premier?

Here's how I come out on this.

"Big Boy" is a silly name for a loco, and "Challenger" is a cool name for a loco.

So, . . . sell the Big Boy.

Mannyrock

@Hudson J1e posted:

In the past I have sold some of my steam locomotives. Not a large amount just a few but I regretted selling most of them. Steam is special to me. So I say keep both. I assume both of these are Premier?

Yes both are Premier.

Can't justify keeping both. Too much $ tied up in engines and the larger ones seem to get less and less run time.

The look of the smaller steam engines is pleasing to me on my layout but I want to keep one large UP steamer.

If you are a big UP fan, keep both.   If  you really like other RRs that used smaller power, then sell both.     My modeling focus is on one RR, so that would help me make a decision.     However, even with that, I have stayed away from the very large steams that my favorite RR had, because they would overwhelm the layout.  

If you sold one how many locomotives would you have remaining?

If the answer is more than one, maybe it's time to reject the tyranny of the "OR" and embrace the genius of the "AND" and keep both.

Flip a coin…

then keep them both

Gerry, I saw your response and can't argue with that. So based on that explanation keep the Challenger, sell the Big Boy.

I understand thinning the herd .... I do it. I have to.

The Big Boy is actually out running on the rails ... so that may be cool.

I don't understand when someone says a particular engine is "ugly," .. . but I do rather the looks of the Challenger.

I assume its a UP Challenger? I don't know MTH stuff. If it is a Clinchfield engine dragging coal ... that would definitely be the one for us easterners.

Tough call.

Let’s apply computer digital logic to this problem, refer to the attached drawing.  In the ‘OR’ scenario, the upper diagram, you will keep one or the other depending on the one you choose.  In the ‘AND’ scenario, the only way to keep one is to keep both.  Combining the ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ decisions into the final ‘AND’ decision gate, you will see, regardless of which one you choose in the ‘OR’, you will still need to select both to keep either one.  So, unless you want to offend Mr. Spock, the only logical decision is to keep them both, or to sell to me at an obscenely cheap price the one you don’t want.

I’d be a poor choice to be offering advice to you on this topic. I’ve never been able to part with anything including engines I’ve not run in years. 😉

Curt

Sell both and pick up an Allegheny - you won't regret it!

@CALNNC posted:

Let’s apply computer digital logic to this problem, refer to the attached drawing.  In the ‘OR’ scenario, the upper diagram, you will keep one or the other depending on the one you choose.  In the ‘AND’ scenario, the only way to keep one is to keep both.  Combining the ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ decisions into the final ‘AND’ decision gate, you will see, regardless of which one you choose in the ‘OR’, you will still need to select both to keep either one.  So, unless you want to offend Mr. Spock, the only logical decision is to keep them both, or to sell to me at an obscenely cheap price the one you don’t want.

Your logic is not quite right.  You should have concluded: So, unless you want to offend Mr. Spock, the only logical decision is to keep them both, or to sell both to me at an obscenely cheap price.

You are so right!.  So, to make the circuit work correctly, you need to add two more gates.  An 'AND' gate with the wife decision input, and another 'AND' with one leg inverted to route them to me, changing the wife 'No' to a yes for me.  Of course, if the wife says yes, you get to keep them both.

I can't offer any real advice except to add that I have sold a few steam engines that hardly ever saw any runtime, I regret every one of those decisions.

Keep both. If you sell either you may regret it. If you sell Big Boy and sometime down the road if  you want one you may not find one.

Keep the Challenger. Or sell both and get a B&O EM-1.

@Gerry posted:

Thinning my collection and am a bit torn between selling my Big Boy or Challenger. One has to go.

Both are PS 2, so all the features are pretty much the same. Both are great looking and have tremendous nostalgic and historic value.

What is you opinion?

Thanks, Gerry

If you think you are going to regret selling one of them then you will. I have been in the same boat as you many times. I always regret it after the fact and beat myself up over it. Good luck

@Joe Fauty posted:

Gerry:

If you do decide you want or need to sell one I would suggest running both through all your turnouts and crossovers and see if any have trouble negotiating the turnouts -  That would be the one to sell.

I concur with Joe.  If you are going to sell one, keep the one that runs best on your layout.

It seems like someone continuously makes the Big Boy every other year.  Sell the Big Boy, keep the Challenger.  If your financial situation changes, they will make the Big Boy again... and you will get a better one, assuming you even want it again.

Some years ago I needed some cash quickly and sold what I believed to be my favorite train, an MTH RK NS OCS ABA and passenger set.  A few years later I came into some money and purchased a MTH Premier NS OCS ABBA and passenger cars.

I don't regret selling the old set.  Something better always comes along.

Have Fun!

Ron

@Gerry posted:

What is you opinion?

Now that you've seen the opinions, it should be clear to you that we're all full of it and you'll have to decide this on your own!

Yes, always best to remember that this is a 'HOBBY', it is supposed to calm you down, and let you relax, and it is always important to have fun with it and kid around with each other.

@Gerry  Those are nice engines - can you thin something else?  I had an absolutely beautiful MTH Premier Southern Crescent engine (PS3) and 5 car passenger set. Took me about 18 months to build the set. After a while I realized I did not have a connection to that railroad and decided to sell the set off. I broke even on the deals.  As I have learned the O scale hobby, I have become more interested in the scale size (high rail) part of the hobby, so I have been selling off my RailKing engines, all of which are articulated engines. (I like BIG steam). The only "little steam" I have is a Premier GS4 Daylight - loved that engine since I was a kid - and she's not all that little.

Since the engines still fit what you are modeling, I would hang onto them for a later time. It will only cost more to replace them, if you can find them.  That said, if you decide to sell the Challenger, I would probably be interested in buying it from you. Best ... Jeff

Do you model the UP?  I just want locos from the area l model, BUT many want any of a number of assorted standouts that ran, even, worldwide. And most, one recent exception, of the locos l want will never be made, so l don't have the $ in  Big Boy, or model the UP.  Which do you have room to run and looks good running on your layout? ( And yes, basements are full of shelf queens, so logic does not apply...only you can decide)

C'mon Gerry.  Man-Up and make the decision. :-)

Which one gets the axe, . . .   the Big Boy or Challenger?

We are all now emotionally invested in this!  I can't move on with my life until I know!

Mannyrock