HO 4-6-6-4 UP #3985 Challenger with DCC and Sound (ATHG98971)

This HO-scale Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger with DCC and sound is a detailed model designed for HO model railroads, capturing UP’s modern excursion version of the Challenger. The oil-burner variant represents late-era operation from the 1980s through the 2000s, delivering an authentic UP appearance on your layout.

Powered by a tender-mounted DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound, the model runs in both DC and DCC modes with full DCC functionality and authentic engine audio in DC. It features illuminated number boards and headlights (headlight off in reverse) and a tender back-up light, along with a fully detailed boiler backhead with printed gauges. Drive components include current pickup on all wheels and pivoting front and rear engines to handle curves, with a front coupler pocket for mounting an operating coupler and a minimum radius of 22 inches. Rich detailing covers numerous individually applied parts—brass-painted bell and whistle, piping, valves, generator, steps, air pump, air tanks, reverser and coupler lift bar. New features add dual cube speakers for richer sound, a firebox flicker effect with a see-through firebox door, brighter LED headlights, and a sturdier loco-to-tender connection harness. For realism, synchronized chuff, whistle, bell, blow-down, air compressor, dyno and pop-off valve sounds are included, with CV-driven options to tune additional effects like injector action, water stop and light dimming.