Lionel LionMaster Union Pacific Challenger

Hello again!

Having an outdoor space has enabled me to bring some of the model railroading hobby outdoors, and for exploring different perspectives and ways of capturing these models in action. I’m finding that natural lighting and continental factors really helps these models look their part, and being able to stretch longer distances allows for levels of realism most can’t achieve indoors because of space constraints. I’m going to keep experimenting with assembling and shooting content outdoors, so let me know what you think!

In this video, I’m featured two of my favorite articulated locomotives to simulate some of Union Pacific’s efforts in keeping steam railroading heritage alive! #3985 is a restored Challenger which was used in previous decades as the start of this heritage focus, and more recently Big Boy #4014 completed a similar heritage tour around the United States. These locomotives represent a pinnacle of railroading history, and their important contribution to our nations progress.

What I love about the LionMaster models is, unlike their Vision Line counterparts, how they are designed to articulate allows the locomotives to seem a little more realistic around model-gauge curves. The Vision Line locomotives articulate only the front drivers and truck, and while that exaggerates the boiler’s overhang, even over O-72 track it is very obviously over-articulated. The compromise is a non-scale rear articulating driver and truck set…but to me still looks a little better! When combined with the slightly smaller scale of the MTH RailKing 60’ passenger cars… I hope you’ll agree the result is a great scale experience!

I had a ton of fun capturing the switching operation, and capturing me second longest-ever consistent in the process.

Enjoy!