Pre-Order
Athearn Genesis - Item No. ATHG-1025
3.8 out of 5 Customer Rating

HO4-6-6-4 CSA-2 Challenger Locomotive, UP #3823

$529.99
RC Club points earned on this item shown at checkout.

Improved loco-to-tender connection harness for increased durability and serviceability

Upgraded headlight lighting with brighter LED

Dual cube speakers for great sound quality

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

ALCO constructed the first 4-6-6-4 locomotives in the world, numbered 3900 to 3914, for the Union Pacific Railroad in 1936. These huge engines were named the Challenger Simple Articulated, or CSA-1, class. The railroad received 25 near copies, classified as CSA-2, the following year.

Unlike compound Mallet engines that crawled along with drag freights, the Challengers had two sets of high- pressure cylinders and could safely reach passenger train speeds. The mammoth locomotives also had a heavy-duty starting tractive effort of 97,400 pounds.

Originally constructed to haul fast freight up the famous Wasatch grade, the CSA-1 and -2 Challengers would hold a variety of assignments over their long careers- including passenger service. Depending upon their operating territory, they burned either coal or oil, and some locos were converted back- and-forth several times.

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

  • #3820 Class CSA-2, Worthington feedwater heater, large sand dome, covered vertical bar pilot, walkway “hump”, no steam pipe to front cylinders, blackened metal side rods, satin paint finish, oil burner. Era 1940s+
  • #3823 Class CSA-2, Elesco feedwater heater, large sand dome, covered vertical bar pilot, walkway “hump”, no steam pipe to front cylinders, blackened metal side rods, satin paint finish, oil burner. Era 1940s+
  • #3907 Class CSA-1, Worthington feedwater heater, standard sand dome, boiler-tube pilot with wide handrails, no walkway “hump”, steam pipe to front cylinders, blackened metal side rods, satin paint finish, coal burners. Era 1936+
  • #3911 Class CSA-1, Worthington feedwater heater, standard sand dome, boiler-tube pilot with wide handrails, no walkway “hump”, steam pipe to front cylinders, blackened metal side rods, satin paint finish, coal burners. Era 1936+

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

  • Illuminated number boards and headlights
  • Headlight turns off in reverse
  • Illuminated directional back-up light in the tender
  • Correctly operating eccentric cranks
  • Adjustable top cab vent and cab windows
  • Pivoting front and rear engines for negotiating 18” radius curves
  • Current pick-up on all driver and wheels
  • Boiler backhead with full details and printed gauges
  • Synchronized chuff, whistle, bell, blow-down, air compressor, dyno and pop-off valve sounds
  • User-controlled whistle, short whistle, bell, squeal, coupler crash, injector, water stop and light dimmer
  • Individually-applied detail parts, including brass-painted bell and whistle, piping, valves, generator, steps, air pump, air tanks, reverser and coupler lift bar
  • Front coupler pocket can be inserted to mount operating coupler
  • Dual cube speakers for great sound quality
  • Upgraded headlight lighting with brighter LED
  • Improved loco-to-tender connection harness for increased durability and serviceability
  • Minimum recommended radius: 22”

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE:

  • Tender-mounted DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound
  • Dual cube speakers for optimal sound quality
  • Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
  • Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode
  • Engine, whistle, and bell sounds work in DC
  • All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
  • Precision slow speed control
  • Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights
  • Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes
  • CV chart included in the box

Product Specs

Sub Brand
ATHEARN
Minimum Radius
22" (559 mm)
Reporting Mark
UP
Era
1911-1940
Prototype Manufacturer
American Locomotive Company (ALCO)
Full Road Name
Union Pacific
Scale
HO
Wheel Configuration
4-6-6-4
Lighting
LED
Sound
Ready
DCC
Ready/21-Pin NEM