UP SUNSET CHALLENGER

That is really attractive. Might check the gearbox arrangement - I think the ones with tooth belts have bronze axle gears.  Earlier Sunset had brass axle gears - not great for extended running.

My guess is you can find photos of greyhounds pulling almost anything, including cattle cars.

Whoa. I can't remember if I saw this model in that paint before? If our grandson sees it, he'll be after me to get it.

Very nice and sorry to interrupt your post. I would have guessed mainly a passenger scheme but I'll defer to the experts on that. I remember reading something about nearing their retirement from service and finishing their term pulling anything?

There is a great debate amongst some UP fans as to wether or not the TTG w/aluminum striping ever existed.  Some FEF’s were done in this livery and I believe a few Challengers may have been as well but I can’t prove it.  FWIW, both Kohs and Key produced Challengers in this scheme in O scale.  As to your questions, yes, the locomotives in this scheme were intended to pull heavyweight cars in TTG.  While I’m not sure of the timeframe, my best guess is that the aluminum striping came first and was later changed to yellow to coincide with  new cars that arrived on UP property in the early fifties.  

TTG?  Now you are making me look.  Is that a Union Pacific acronym, or an O Scale-ism?

TTG doesn’t show up in my copy of Kratville, but on page194 he says “ This, in addition to the 1946 gray and white or yellow striping . . .” .

That is in the Jabelmann Challenger text.  I will look further.

I purchased one of these early on from Sunset 3rd rail.  Mine is also 2 rail version but it is all black. If I remember correctly, it is from 1995 or 1996.

PRR 5841 posted:

There is a great debate amongst some UP fans as to wether or not the TTG w/aluminum striping ever existed.  Some FEF’s were done in this livery and I believe a few Challengers may have been as well but I can’t prove it.  FWIW, both Kohs and Key produced Challengers in this scheme in O scale.  As to your questions, yes, the locomotives in this scheme were intended to pull heavyweight cars in TTG.  While I’m not sure of the timeframe, my best guess is that the aluminum striping came first and was later changed to yellow to coincide with  new cars that arrived on UP property in the early fifties.  

Documentation about Two-Tone Gray can be found here:

https://utahrails.net/up/ttg.php

Rusty

Many thanks to all for those precious informations, the utahrails website is full of great documentation and history.  Daniel

For what it's worth, the very first two-tone gray Challenger, #3946, was done at Albina Yard (Portland, OR) in 1946. Color photos were taken and forwarded to Omaha headquarters for approval. Once approval was given, other Challengers that were assigned to passenger train service to Portland, OR as well as Los Angeles, CA, were also painted into the two-tone gray "Passenger scheme". Note that all those Challengers assigned to passenger service were converted to oil burning and also had "Wind Wings" (smoke lifters) fitted to the sides of the front walk-ways.

Thus, the model pictured is a coal burner, and has no "Wind Wings", it is therefor not prototypically correct.

Sure looks nice anyway!

It is not a perfect period model, you are right but I am happy to have it and in France not many people have a great knowledge of the history of UP. Thanks for your infos. Daniel