Union Pacific Railroad

Challenger # 3985 and # 3977   type 4-6-6-4 

Last update 02/06/2012

Click link to see a test run of the black pilot model:   http://www.youtube.com/embed/4ufO7JeSezc

Click link to see a test run of the grey pilot model:     http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=_rOmS9bS5zE

 

Union Pacific Challenger project announcement.

Aster Hobby USA LLC is commissioning the UP Challenger type 4-6-6-4 locomotive as the next US prototype project. Our feasibility survey has concluded. A sincere thank you to everyone having responded with the required reservation deposit to give this project a green light. There is still some time left to get on the reservation list. A $1000.00 down payment is required. Please call us, or your authorized Aster dealer as soon as possible..

The "projected target price" for a Challenger KIT is US $ 12500.00 A target price for a RTR (ready to run) version has not yet been established. The  $ 1000.00 down payment is fully refundable should the project be abandoned for any reason.

A pilot model may be introduced by August 2011. Projected target date for production release is end of 2011. Progress updates will be posted on this website.

The current economic situation does no longer permit large scale production and long term product warehousing. Due to the cost of this locomotive, only as many as are reserved will be produced. Therefore, if you are seriously interested in the UP Challenger, please act now. The UP Challenger locomotive will be designed and built by Aster Hobby Co. Inc. in Yokohama Japan.

Notification: October 4th 2011

Reservation deadline has expired. Total Challenger production will be 120 units for worldwide distribution.

US retail prices  FOB Spartanburg SC are :

Black # 3985 kit  US$ 12900.00     Black # 3985 RTR US$ 14900.00

Grey # 3977 kit   US$  13500.00    Grey # 3977 RTR   US$ 15500.00  

 

The standard Aster design will be Union Pacific Challenger # 3985 in black, as preserved today in Cheyenne WY. The grey UP Passenger (or Greyhound version shown above in color) will also be produced, modeled after locomotive # 3977 as preserved on static display in North Platte NE. A black version without cab numbers and tender lettering (undecorated) will be made available strictly by advanced reservation only. This will give you a great opportunity should you desire to decorate the locomotive kit yourself in Rio Grande or Clinchfield lettering or kit bash it into a Great Northern Z-Class.. (see photos below). 

Four  pictures below, courtesy Steam Locomotive Cyclopedia Vol.1
The Challengers ordered by Union Pacific from ALCO were numbered 3950-3999. Aster Hobby Co. Inc. is modeling the only operational example # 3985 still owned and operated by Union Pacific Railroad in Cheyenne WY. Some of the UP Challengers have been used in Passenger service and painted grey with yellow striping (pictured in color above). Both Challengers # 3985 and # 3977 have been preserved as oil burners and will be modeled by Aster Hobby Co. Inc. in "as preserved condition".
The Rio Grande operated several Challenger locomotives purchased from Baldwin. In 1943, five more were purchased from ALCO on a war order. They were identical to the UP Challengers. The ALCO engines # 3800 - 3805 did not match with the Railroads operations and maintenance system and were later sold to the Clinchfield.  
The Clinchfield Railroad purchased their Challengers from the Rio Grande. Besides converting them to single smoke stack they remained identical in appearance to the UP Challengers.
 

Some milestone dates for the Aster Challenger project:

2/10/2010 UP Challenger project announced and survey started.

4/6/2010 UP Challenger survey ended. The Challenger survey has concluded. We are happy to announce that because of sufficient reservation commitments the project is receiving a green light. Negotiations with Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha NE are in progress to obtain the trademark licensing permit required for model manufacturers. 

4/13/2010 Union Pacific Railroad Company grants Limited Production and Trademark Certificate to Aster Hobby. Nothing in the way now to go forward with the project.

1/20/2011 Pilot model design concept and development started.

8/15/2011 1st. pilot model received and rejected due to performance problems.

12/26/2011 2nd pilot model received and performance improvements approved.

 

 

4/20/2011 Pilot model design phase nears completion.

5/25/2011 Design complete. First components starting to be manufactured.

UP Challenger sand domeCA6VD7CA.jpg (1269230 bytes)

UP Challenger pilot truck frame.jpg (1405905 bytes)

butterfly fire doorCHFG2.jpg (655631 bytes)

UP Challenger rear engineCHRS2s.jpg (601314 bytes)

click any of the 6 pictures above to enlarge

 
IMG_1169 (1014 x 760).jpg (192717 bytes) IMG_1170 (1014 x 760).jpg (218551 bytes) IMG_1129 (1014 x 760).jpg (221324 bytes) IMG_1127 (1014 x 760).jpg (226422 bytes) IMG_1128 (1014 x 760).jpg (206825 bytes)
IMG_1166 (1014 x 760).jpg (155388 bytes) IMG_1157 (1014 x 760).jpg (194091 bytes) IMG_1135 (1014 x 760).jpg (229171 bytes) IMG_1139 (1014 x 760).jpg (177354 bytes) IMG_1155 (1014 x 760).jpg (176949 bytes)

Click thumbnails above to enlarge pictures

8/15/2011 1st. pilot model received and rejected due to performance problems.

12/26/2011 2nd grey pilot model received and performance improvements approved.

   
 
The boiler steaming issues encountered during the performance evaluation of the first pilot model have now been resolved. The manufacturing process for the production versions will now resume with a scheduled release date of May 2012.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

                

Please check back later for additional updates.