UP Steam Power at Speed Pack
—–===== HISTORY =====—–
In the 1920s, the Union Pacific Railroad ordered the TTT-6 Class, a 2-10-2 steam locomotive with the uncommon Young valve gear, which was used to pull heavy freight trains up the demanding 1,14% grade of the Wasatch Mountains. The locomotives were quickly overcome by increasing train length and weight, and doubleheading became frequent. The UP, not keen on the added costs of maintenance and operation, decided they needed more. One solution was an articulated locomotive, with 2 sets of driving wheels, one of which was hinged. While these locomotives were strong, they hammered the tracks heavily at high speeds, so they had to be run slow.
The railroad instead went with a rigid frame locomotive, the 9000 Class, delivered in 1928. Although successful on flat country for the most part, its 4-12-2 wheel arrangement could not handle the tight curves of the Wasatch grade or Sherman hill.
In the mid 1930s, the UP was still looking for powerful locomotives capable of tackling the harsh grades of their Overland route, so they, along with ALCO, returned to the articulated type. While the ‘Mallets’ of yesteryear reused the steam from the rear set of cylinders to the front set at a lower pressure, this new locomotive would use the steam once in each of its 4 sets. This breakthrough, along with their 69 inch (1.75 meters) diameter wheels, meant they could run at high speeds without as much damage to the track. The resulting locomotive was denominated ‘Challenger’. The UP, and several other railroads, would order several Challenger types. Suitable for both freight and passenger service, they were considered by some to be the ultimate steam locomotive.
But even this was not enough power to conquer the Wasatch grade, so the railroad would order something even bigger. They chose to enlarge the Challenger type, from a 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement to a 4-8-8-4. This locomotive, nicknamed Big Boy, was one of the largest successful steam locomotives ever made. Their massive size, strength and speed made them well suited for the heavy freight trains carried over the Overland. The 3rd, 4th and 5th order of Challengers were also based on their design.
The 800 Class of steam locomotives were created with a similar goal, power at speed, albeit for passenger trains. The first order of 800s, the FEF-1s, had smaller drive wheels, thinner rods and a smaller tender than the FEF-2s and FEF-3s.
Although all of these locomotives were successful, they were all retired in favor of cheaper diesel locomotives, except for one. the last FEF-3 (UP 844), was kept in the Cheyenne shops for snow melting experiments, until it was chosen for excursion service in the early 60s. The locomotive had an extensive excursion career, and holds the unique title of being the only steam locomotive never retired by a Class I railroad. It was joined by the late Challenger 3985 in 1981, and by Big Boy 4014 in 2019.
While the early Challengers were all scrapped, one TTT-6, one 9000 Class, 2 late Challengers, 3 800 Class (one from each FEF series) and 8 Big Boys still exist, with one 800 Class and one Big Boy in operation. The last remaining TTT-6 (5511) and late Challenger 3985 are currently being restored by the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America foundation.
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—–===== MOD CONTENTS AND FEATURES =====—–
UP Big Boy and tender (Black lining [BL], White lining [WL], Greyhound [GH], Two Tone Gray [TTG], Excursion version [EX])
UP Late Challenger and tender (BL, WL, GH, TTG, EX)
UP FEF-3 and tender (BL, WL, GH, TTG, EX)
UP Early Challenger and tender (BL, WL, GH, TTG)
UP TTT-6 and tender (BL, WL, GH, TTG)
UP 9000 Class and tender (BL, WL, GH, TTG)
UP Big Boy: Lights, custom animated wheels, steam particles, 3 step whistle, bell, custom sounds. Marker lights (L+1), Wind wings (L+2), Smoke deflectors (L-3), Extra handrails (SHIFT+1)
UP Late Challenger: Lights, custom animated wheels, steam particles, 3 step whistle, bell, custom sounds. Marker lights (L+1), Wind wings (L+2), Smoke deflectors (L-3).
UP FEF-3 Lights, custom animated wheels, steam particles, 3 step whistle, bell, custom sounds. Marker lights (L+1), Wind wings (L+2), Mars light mesh (SHIFT+1), Mars light (L-3).
UP Early Challenger: Lights, custom animated wheels, steam particles, 3 step whistle, bell, custom sounds. Marker lights (L+1)
UP TTT-6: Lights, custom animated wheels, steam particles, 3 step whistle, bell, custom sounds. Marker lights (L+1)
UP 9000 Class: Lights, custom animated wheels, steam particles, 3 step whistle, bell, custom sounds. Marker lights (L+1)
UP Big Boy, Late Challenger, FEF-3 tender: Main light (L), 2nd light (L+1), Marker lights (L+2)
UP Early Challenger tender: Main light (L), Marker lights (L+1)
UP TTT-6 tender: Main light (L), 2nd Light (L+1)
UP 9000 Class tender: Main light (L), 2nd Light (L+1)
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—–===== ADDITIONAL INFORMATION =====—–
All items have livery support. Feel free to make liveries with these mods, however, please do provide a link to the original mod, and don’t just reupload them without making modifications or claim them as your own.
Unfortunately, some custom liveries others have made are included in this pack after a few updates (I did not add them). I apologize to the original livery creators, but I couldn’t find a way to remove them. Sorry!
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My biggest project yet is completed. I intended for this pack to be out a little earlier, but life got in the way. However, it is out, and these items are my best work yet. Here’s a rough order for what I want to release next (I probably will still make trains after these items, but these are the ones I really want to make/release.)
1. NYC Ghosts of the Rails Pack (various NYC Hudsons + Niagara redux)
2. AC-12 Redux
3. USRA Standard Light Pack (ideally light 2-8-2, light 4-6-2, light 2-10-2, light 4-8-2 + 0-6-0 and 0-8-0
4. USRA Standard Heavy pack (ideally heavy 2-8-2, heavy 4-6-2, heavy 2-10-2, heavy 4-8-2 + 2-6-6-2 and 2-8-8-2)
While I will have a lot of free time until late january, these packs are very large projects, so they will most likely take a long time to complete. So, I will ask you all to PLEASE be patient. Do NOT keep asking me about them, they will be out as soon as they possibly can. It is also very likely that the last of these will come out after january. Thank you for your comprehension.
