4-6-6-4 Alco Challenger

4-6-6-4 Alco Challenger

A challenger approaches…
I’ve been talking about this for a while, but it’s finally here! The 4-6-6-4 Challenger, well, the Alco version…

This is a HEAVILY converted version of Dukeaufdune’s one for Train Fever. He gave me permission a while ago to release this.

History
In the late 1930s, Union Pacific Railroad was looking for something to maintain high speeds for freight over its vast mountains. Their aging fleet couldn’t keep up with the increased demands. They needed big, and they needed speed….and no, not family.

The 4-6-6-4 surpassed expectations and was well-liked by the railroad. In 1941, Union Pacific ordered the heavy challenger, what you see here before you.

On the DRG&W side, they needed something similar. They needed strength, and lots of it. They ended up “loaning” (some sources say that UP was forced to lend them) 6 Challengers. Furthermore, they were around for about two years, and then returned. UP consequently sold them to Clinchfield out on the East Coast, who then removed the double stack in favor of using a single stack.

Skins Included:
UP 3985
UP 3977 Overland Scheme (my personal favorite!)
UP 3979 Grey-White two-tone
UP 3967 Black w/ smoke deflectors
User Repaintable #3200
DRG&W Class L-13 #3802
Clinchfield Class E-3 #673

Specs
70 mph top speed
5000 HP
Available 1941 all, no end date
Maintenance lifespan of 35 years
97,352 lb/f
627,000 lbs

In Game Features
Group Menu listed
MC Couplers
Custom sounds by MrCheesecake
Proper articulation
User Repaintable version
Game aging
Coal versions for DRGW,Clinch, Reusable
Front running, there is no coupler if in #1 position, only the housing, along with the only position that has an emitted light. All other positions have couplers in the front.
Clinch field version has a proper stack (Single stack vs double)
Proper animations
Matching number plates
Couplers move (as much as allowed) with the train as it turns, appearing coupled (within a certain angle)

Known Issues
Unfortunately, there is a known issue that I can UG solve at the current time. This has to do with the front pipes on the front articulated set connecting to the main pipes of the boiler.
In short, I had to manufacture a way to make them appear connected, currently the way the coding works means making the pipes look always connected is impossible. I verified this issue on the vanilla big boy and with Yoshi (Mathias). When this issue can be rectified by the UG programming team, you will see this updated shortly thereafter.