Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive, by Smokebox

[mrennie]

I was wondering when we'd see some more progress on the engine, it's looking awesome.

I can't wait to get my copy of it coming up, well, at least sometime after you finish it. By the way, any progress beginning's on that tender?

Thanks John

It'll probably be a month or more before I start on the tender .... so many other details to do first (sometimes it's better not to think about it and just knuckle down and get on with the next part).

[GLRX12]

you really can't have the present day 844 without an auxiliary tender. Its just not right without one.

[5292nate]

you really can't have the present day 844 without an auxiliary tender. Its just not right without one.

He said he would do it...

[mrennie]

He said he would do it...

I said I might do it as a separate package. Otherwise it will take far too long to release the loco. In the meantime, as I understand it, there's a freeware one that will do, until I get around to making one myself, along with (possibly) some additional rolling stock.

[buzz456]

Who says it's a modern day rendition?

[mrennie]

Who says it's a modern day rendition?

I'm doing a variety. There'll be liveries in black with and without striping and white-walling, grey with yellow stripes (greyhound livery), the possibility to put different names on the tender, optional Mars light, 1944 variant without smoke deflectors or Worthington feedwater heater and with a slatted coupling door in place of the modern-day solid door, ....

[mrennie]

I have a question for the experts, about how the Mars light is activated. I've seen a video where the light is being tested, and it starts off steady, then is set to wobble (doing its figure of eight pattern). Is there a switch in the cab to activate it, like the headlight, or is it meant to come on automatically when the brakes are set to emergency?

[PapaXpress]

At one time it would have used a switch identical or similar to this:
http://www.trainweb.org/gyra/wiring.htm

Update... more info:
http://www.trainweb.org/gyra/specs/20385con.htm
http://www.trainweb.org/gyra/specs/20380con.htm

Here is a tube with a more modern gyra, but the switch is shown.

[mrennie]

Thanks, that's very useful information!

By the way, here's the video showing the Mars light on UP844 in operation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km6-nfvRiXU

[FourEightFour]

I have a question for the experts, about how the Mars light is activated. I've seen a video where the light is being tested, and it starts off steady, then is set to wobble (doing its figure of eight pattern). Is there a switch in the cab to activate it, like the headlight, or is it meant to come on automatically when the brakes are set to emergency?

The FEF does both. After an emergency application the light comes on. There is a three position Pyle National switch that controls the manual side of it ahead of the five position Pyle National headlight switch shown here:

[mrennie]

The FEF does both. After an emergency application the light comes on. There is a three position Pyle National switch that controls the manual side of it ahead of the five position Pyle National headlight switch shown here:

Thanks Justin, that's perfect!

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

What is the duct like contraption over the firedoor?

Fuel oil is atomized according to the fireman's controls. Was that ever so, even when she burned heavy grade in the past?

How does that compare with Santa Fe's 3765, another famous excursion engine and SP 4449?

[UP3985]

Duct like contraption? The little thing sticking up is a cover for the flue sanding hole. (Cab Garbage is also burned too)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7A94WMbKLo

[Ericmopar]

Wow. I haven't followed this thread for awhile. Looks mighty fine.

I love it.
My only comment is about the smokebox color. I've seen 844 in person years ago at the Sacramento Rail Fair, when it was still 8444.
When fresh out of the shop, that smokebox and other trim is a kinda "aluminum oxide" color. It's really quite bright in the sun when new, but seems to oxidize quickly with use.
When fresh, the silver is more like the bright silver on the front end of a Cab Forward.
The color was originally meant to help make the locos more visible at night.
I would say to make a weathered version more grey on the smokebox and make a shiny new example very silver.

Here's an older image showing just how silvery it can be.
http://images.wikia.com/locomotive/imag ... c_8444.jpg

Eric.

[Ericmopar]

And another showing a very silver smokebox.

http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7130/749 ... a29da5.jpg