ecd15 posted:Hot Water posted:breezinup posted:4014 brings out the crowds, and serves as better publicity/public relations for the railroad. But the Challenger looks better. As TexasSP said, it's better proportioned. The Big Boys just look hulky. The Challengers look much better pulling passenger cars as well, which they sometimes did when operational.
Not "sometimes". Quite a number of the UP Challengers were converted to oil burning, Wind Wings ( smoke lifters) added, and even painted in two-tone gray, and assigned to passenger service out of Portland, OR and LA, CA.
It was a faster engine,
Sure was! Good for well over 70 MPH.
and that's no surprise when looking at a visual comparison.
Truth be told, many of the visiting members of the public thought that 3985 was a "Big Boy" anyway. The majority of the public couldn't tell a Challenger from a "Big Boy".
And on the positive side, the Challenger usually operated without any obnoxious graffiti on the smokebox door.
Yes, that too. Plus, 3985 didn't require diesel "assistance" EVERY PLACE she traveled.
