{"product_id":"mth-20-3273-1-o-gauge-4-6-6-4-z-6-challenger-steam-locomotive-prototype-w-ps2-0-vg","title":"MTH 20-3273-1 O Gauge 4-6-6-4 Z-6 Challenger Steam Locomotive Prototype w\/PS2.0 VG","description":"This is a Pre Production Prototype of the MTH 20-3273-1 Northern Pacific 4-6-6-4 Z-6 Challenger Steam Engine w\/Proto-Sound 2.0 (Hi-Rail Wheels). In the early part of the twentieth century, most freight moved in relatively slow \"drag\" freight trains, and speed was secondary to just getting the goods delivered. The introduction of \"super-power\" steam technology in the 1920's, however, enabled builders to create freight locomotives that combined speed and power. Perhaps the zenith of the fast freight engine was the 4-6-6-4 Challenger, first conceived by the Union Pacific Railroad and American Locomotive Works in the mid-1930s. The Northern Pacific liked what it saw taking shape at Alco and ordered its own, even bigger Challengers. One reason the NP engines were larger was the railroad's use of large fireboxes to burn low-quality Rosebud coal mined online in Montana - coal that at least one fireman described as \"damned close to dirt.\" The first dozen Z-6 Challengers arrived in 1936, just months after the UP received its own first Challengers. Like 4-6-6-4s on the UP and the Western Maryland, the articulated Z-6s replaced older, slower rigid-frame engines - doubleheaded Mikados in the Northern Pacific's case. The Z-6s spent most of their careers hauling reefer trains and fast freights on Northern Pacific divisions in Washington State and Montana's Big Sky country, with occasional passenger stints leading the crack North Coast Limited. Sixty-nine inch drivers allowed a Z-6 to maintain 60 mph on the plateaus between the Northwest's mountain ranges. The Northern Pacific was pleased enough with its new articulateds to order nine more Z-6s in 1937. The same year, an additional six engines were ordered for the Spokane, Portland \u0026amp; Seattle, a jointly-owned subsidiary of the NP and the Great Northern. The SP\u0026amp;S engines were oil burners, but virtually identical to the NP Z-6s in every other way. Two of the SP\u0026amp;S engines were later sold to the Great Northern for use in Washington and Oregon. For a time in the late steam era, the thundering Z-6 was indeed the Northwest's own articulated. Features include Diecast Boiler and Tender Body, 1:48 Scale Proportions, Diecast Metal Chassis, Authentic Paint Scheme, Metal Wheels and Axles, Constant Voltage Headlight, Diecast Truck Sides, Engineer and Fireman Figures, Operating Firebox Glow, Metal Handrails and Decorative Bell, Decorative Metal Whistle, Operating Marker Lights, Lighted Cab Interior, Locomotive Speed Control, Synchronized Puffing ProtoSmoker System, Precision Pittman Flywheel Equipped Motor, Proto-Scale 3-2 3-Rail\/2-Rail Conversion Capable, (2) Remote Controlled Proto-Couplers, Wireless Drawbar, Proto-Sound 2.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring: Freight Yard Proto-Effects, Unit Measures: 30 3\/4\" x 2 1\/2\" x 4\", and it Operates On O-72 Curves.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe Believe this is a pre production prototype due to this item being unpainted and undecorated and having the underside markings which other similar pre production prototypes have. This item appears to be from the MTH warehouse sale.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis item has been graded per TCA standards C-6: Very Good based on visual appearance. This item functioned when tested. There are severe rub marks and scratches on the surface of the shell and chassis. There is significant tarnish spotting the body of this item. Heavy fading can be seen on some areas of the surface of this item. There is writing on the underside of the tender. The instruction manual is not included. The original box is not included. Please check the photos for a detailed look at this item. Overall condition is Very Good.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good (\u003ca href=\"#\" title=\"C-6: Minor scratches and paint nicks, minor surface rust, no dents. Minor parts replaced. Standards for all toy train related accessory items apply to the visual appearance of the item and do not consider the operating functionality of the equipment. Condition and Grading Standards are subjective, at best, and are intended to act as a guide.\"\u003eC-6\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOperational Status:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"#\" title=\"This item has been tested and operates as expected.\"\u003eFunctional\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Box:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e MTH\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel Number:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20-3273-1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYears Manufactured:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2007 - ????\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoad Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Northern Pacific (NP)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScale\/Era:\u003c\/strong\u003e O Modern\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steam Loco\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Trainz SKU for this item is 6392259. \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"MTH","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44198147719290,"sku":"6392259","price":989.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1260\/4747\/files\/U6392259-5872687C.jpg?v=1787865530","url":"https:\/\/www.trainz.com\/products\/mth-20-3273-1-o-gauge-4-6-6-4-z-6-challenger-steam-locomotive-prototype-w-ps2-0-vg","provider":"Trainz","version":"1.0","type":"link"}