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4-6-6-4 Alco Heavy Challenger

I've been talking about this for a while, but its 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. There are also parts (mainly the tender and rear locomotive bogie, along with some valve gear pieces) I borrowed from the 3D sketchup warehouse from this model by Andrew T:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/b5b615c7-8125-47f0-8ccd-71aca227f3b5/Union-Pacific-Big-Boy-no-4002


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 eneded up "loaning" (some sources say that UP was forced to lend them) 6 Challengers. 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 a using a single stack.

• 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

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

• 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.
  
• Clinchfield version has proper stack (Single stack vs double)
  
• Proper animations
  
• Matching numberplates
  
• Couplers move (as much as allowed) with the train as it turns, appearing coupled (within a certain angle)

Unfortunately, there is a known issue that I nor 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.

Credit to Ben Coifman of railfonts.com and Pete Willard of railsimstuff.com for all my fonts.

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