Train Simulator: Union Pacific Challenger Loco Add-On DLC

I see a lot of people un-recommending, and that's understandable, but I feel differently for this locomotive. I would recommend this engine, but for a slightly different reason. This locomotive is a little more valuable now since the Clinchfield route came out for TS 2021. Buy it, then go over to Railworks America, and get the Clinchfield reskin for this model, get the reskin set up, get the Clinchfield 55ton hopper that was reskinned from Micheal Stefan's 55 ton hopper, and then you can run a steam era coal train on the Clinchfield. It's a challenging run, but it's a fun challenge, and it feels right at home on the Clinchfield. Before anybody asks, the Clinchfield did have a batch of Challengers which were completely identical to the Union Pacific's in real life, right down to having a Centipede tender like the UP Challengers. The only cosmetic difference was featuring a rectangular numberplate on the smokebox in place of the Union Pacific shield. Sadly, the reskin couldn't fix that, but from from the right angle, it looks completely convincing. The physics on this model aren't great, but due to the models age, I'm going to forgive that this time. Despite how old this model is and it's slightly lacking physics, I recommend it.

I'm not going to complain about the graphics due to the age of the DLC, but the sounds aren't that great, and the interior of the cab looks empty, like they got it half way finished and decided not to put the rest of the gauges and controls in the cab.

This is one of the older steam locomotives in the game, so if you are looking for ground breaking quality. This isn't it, but it is still a great locomotive to have, and I enjoy using it

This is a good addon. However, there are quite a bit of cons and pluses. (Cons) -Whistle Loop too long -Passenger cars are not updated or realistic to the modern cars today. -Cannot change the whistle file to make it more realistic in 2010. (Plus) -Scripting of locomotive done well -Easy to maintain and drive -Pulling limit insanely well -Easy to travel 70 mph with a 90 car freight train

Like my review of the old big boy, this thing is in the same boat. The sounds are identical, and horrible with a long drawn out whistle. The model is OK, but it shows its age now. There are no physics, they don't exist. The controls are very very basic. To boot, they removed content from this pack! There used to be a bonus Union Pacific 2-8-0 that used the same sounds and cab, and had been planned to be finished but never was. At this point, this should be included in the base game.

Not a particularly in depth simulation, but it's the Challenger. A fun little sim when you want something a bit simpler than the FEF-3.

When I first saw the pricetag, I was excited. I thought to myself, "What a great deal!" I couldn't wait for the download to finish. Excitedly, I put the Challenger on my favorite test map, Pacific Surfliner. (Long, has many hills, and is good for finding out what a loco can do) My exitment turned to dismay when I opened the throttle, and it all went downhill from there. Soon, I realized why it was so cheap. The Challenger is completely unrealistic. The front engine set's number boards display a different number than the number on the cab. When the wheels are slipping, it is only the rear set of drivers, because an articulated acts like a lash up of diesels, or a double header: an engineer on each "loco" even though one is just a set of drivers. The challenger can't keep steam up even when the throttle is closed. How do they solve this problem in the programming? When the boiler pressure hits less than 170 PSI, the generation rate shoots up, and the usage rate goes way down. (EG, the usage rate is at 2,475, it shoots down to half that, even with the throttle wide open. I gave up on using advanced controls and manual fireman when running the Challenger) The whistle goes on for 3 seconds, even when I just tap the key. The cylinder cocks don't work, even though there is a valve for it in the cab, and the bell is a rapid, high pitched dingdingdingdingding, instead of a deeper, slower dong--dong--dong. The couplers on the cars that you get are broken: once you uncouple, you cannot recouple. There are no interiors for the passenger cars and the caboose, either. (This is a minor complaint, but it is something that I wish they had taken the time to do) You cannot use the in-cab injectors, you HAVE to use the toolbar. The Challenger is a well modeled locomotive, but that does not redeem it. The running characteristics are junk. It cannot even reach 70 mph, which the real Challenger could do easily!

Here we are in TS2016 and this old stalwart of a model is still chugging along in the DLC store. A Railworks 2 model (2012), this is one of the oldest DLC locos available for TS, so don't expect anything grand if you decide to purchase it. Please take the $7.99 price tag seriously for what it is. It's at a reduced price because this mammoth is ancient (pun not intended). As part of the TS Classics range, you shouldn't expect anything technologically signifigant or magnificently designed. It may have been state of the art at the time it was released, but it pales in comparison to what is available now. PROS: -It's the only Challenger model for TS that is available to my knowledge. -Will serve well for scenario creators on old steam routes. -3rd party minor upgrades are available on RWA. -Reduced price tag that comes with the TS Classics range. CONS: -Disgusting stock sounds -Disgusting cab -Disgusting exterior -Disgusting physics -Just Disgusting (for today's standards) Buy it if you need it for scenarios, or if you wish to own a little piece of history, but don't buy it thinking it's good content. Perhaps one day, DTG will look back and give this loco a makeover, but don't expect that anytime soon.

Only buy this one if you want to make your collection complete. It drives, didn't encounter bugs, basically as base engine ok. However not very advanced in scripting, animations or behaviour. On sale for a few bucks it is a nice additions, not worth full price though

The Pros: A nice looking model, seemingly very realistic nice sounding whistle nice old-school bell Quite a few scenarios for Sherman Hill. Cons: The passenger cars included do NOT have a passenger view the whistle loop is too long. Extremely hard to see out of the cab window. Overall, I would definitly recommend this DLC, especially to anyone who is a fan of UP steam.