The Challenger, Union Pacific's Other Chicago - Los Angeles Streamlined Operation

The Union Pacific’s Challenger was a more affordable option to the City of Los Angeles as both passenger trains operated over the same route, connecting Chicago with Los Angeles via the Southern Pacific between Ogden, Utah and Los Angeles and the Chicago & North Western (until 1955) between Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago. As with the other west coast trains like the Los Angeles and City of San Francisco the Challenger proved to be a very successful operation for at least 20 years although by the late 1960s the train had been combined with several others essentially ending its run.

The Union Pacific Railroad (UP), the largest and one of the most powerful railroads in the country, has been with us since 1862, some 146 years. The Union Pacific is far older than any other American Class I railroad today with the Kansas City Southern in a nearby second at 107 years (beyond that CSX Transportation ranks in third at 27 years). In that time the railroad has become not only one of the most highly respected institutions in the nation but also has seen nearly every major railroading event in our country’s history, and accordingly has a very long and storied history.

Perhaps what the UP is best recognized for is its appetite for large power, which perhaps matches its character to some degree! It holds the record for the largest diesel and steam locomotives (the steam issue remains up to debate) ever built in the way of the American Locomotive Company’s (Alco) 4-8-8-4 “Big Boys” (behemoth steamers able to produce some 135,000 pounds of tractive effort!) and EMD’s 6600 horsepower DD40AX “Centennial” diesel-electrics (which were essentially two SD40 models under one frame). These are not the only large units the railroad operated as they also owned Alco’s largest diesel-electric and experimented with a gas-turbine electric locomotive capable of 8500 horsepower!

The Union Pacific’s City fleet is credited with being the first lightweight streamlined passenger train to operate in the United States. In 1934 the City of Salina, the first in the fleet, debuted as a three-car lightweight trainset that the Electro-Motive Corporation named the M-10000. The Union Pacific was so impressed with the train, and the response it received from the public, that it purchased seven more sets and the City fleet was born!

Following the City of Salina, also in 1934 was the City of Portland, followed by the City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, and City of Denver in 1936. The City fleet became revered throughout the west and rivaled the Santa Fe’s legendary Super Chief, and every other western passenger train, in exquisiteness and fine traveling. Once the trains received their Domeliners in the mid-1950s they became the lavish way to travel for many in Hollywood.

The Challenger began operation in 1935 as a heavyweight train although its affordability made it so popular that soon afterward its equipment was updated (with rebuilt equipment) and featured diners, sleepers, and lounges. Interestingly, the Challenger was discontinued in 1947 due to lack of lightweight, streamlined equipment for the train, which allowed the entire City fleet of trains to provide daily services. However, the Challenger’s discontinuance was short-lived and by 1954 the train was back, this time sporting lightweight, streamlined equipment of its own including Domeliners and observations, along with the lounges, sleepers, and diners already provided previously with the train.

As with most of the UP’s City fleet its connection to Chicago for the Challenger was provided via the C&NW. This setup lasted until 1955 when the UP, dissatisfied with the services C&NW was providing handed the train over to rival Milwaukee Road, a partnership that would last until the train’s end.

The end for the Challenger began as early as 1956 when it was combined with big sister City of Los Angeles during the off seasons. As patronage and passenger rail travel continued to wane the Union Pacific began combining most of its passenger fleet until the Challenger itself fell victim in the late 1960s. In 1969, it, along with the Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, City of Denver, and City of Portland were all combined into one train, the City of San Francisco. When Amtrak took over intercity passenger rail operations in May of 1971 it chose not to retain the Challenger name or any other Union Pacific passenger train thus ending the railroad’s grand fleet of streamliners.

For more reading on the Union Pacific you might want to consider Union Pacific Railroad from noted author Brian Solomon. Of course, being that the Union Pacific is so well known and has been around for so many years, hundreds of publications (many quite good) have been written about it detailing various subjects of the railroad. However, this book will at least give you a general overview and history of the UP (filled with many, excellent, historical and colorful photographs) at which point you can decide if you are interested in further books of study on the railroad. Even if you are a historian of the UP and have not seen this book I'm sure you will enjoy it!

Also, for more reading on streamliners like the Challenger you might want to also consider the book Streamliners: History of a Railroad Icon from renowned author Mike Schafer who covers in detail most of the well known and remembered “classic” passenger trains to operate in the country. If you have any interest in such you should very much enjoy Mr. Schafer’s book.