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

[Ericmopar]

Not that this engine would be used for freight...

This is going to be the equivalent of the A-4 to the Brits.

Speaking of which. Who did the A-4?

[PapaXpress]

Why wouldn't it be used for freight?

[johnmckenzie]

Speaking of which. Who did the A-4?

Sorry, Eric - in which respect do you mean "did"? The RW model(s) or the real thing?

[buzz456]

Why wouldn't it be used for freight?

"After diesels bumped the big oil-burners from passenger service, they turned their 80" drivers to freight work. The first was retired in 1954, the last in 1961."

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/?page=up

[PapaXpress]

Yup. My question was rhetorical.

[Ericmopar]

Speaking of which. Who did the A-4?

Sorry, Eric - in which respect do you mean "did"? The RW model(s) or the real thing?

At or for DTG.

[johnmckenzie]

I believe the A4 published by DTG was an in-house development; there is also an A4 addon available from Just Trains. The JT one also has two expansion packs available to give you a wide choice of locos / liveries and some period coaching stock. The actual modelling however, in my opinion, is not as accurate as the DTG version.

[ozinoz]

Mike...

Now that your FEF's are fledged and have flown the nest, what's next? I know you are heading / or already there, to the UK again, but what are your plans after you have settled. Are you looking to rejoin the wage slaves or are you planning on sticking with locomotive creation - do you have another project in mind?

What ever you decide to do, good luck and thank you (from me atleast) for bringing such quality add-ons to our hobby...

Cheers from Down Under...

G

[mrennie]

Mike...

Now that your FEF's are fledged and have flown the nest, what's next? I know you are heading / or already there, to the UK again, but what are your plans after you have settled. Are you looking to rejoin the wage slaves or are you planning on sticking with locomotive creation - do you have another project in mind?

What ever you decide to do, good luck and thank you (from me atleast) for bringing such quality add-ons to our hobby...

Cheers from Down Under...

G

Hi Grant,

I arrived yesterday, with my son, but most of my stuff, including the desktop, is in storage somewhere in Madrid. It'll be sent over to London as soon as they have five more loads to transport (no idea when that'll be) and then it has to be transferred to a van and sent on up to Scotland. So I might be without my computer for a while.

As for life after the FEF-3, well, I started another project for TS2014 in January, but it's been on hold for months. I hope I can resume work on that one soon. All I can say at the moment is that it's not a loco, although it might lead to more locos. It's also a team effort.

I'll definitely be staying with train simming and I sincerely hope that I can contribute to the next gen TS (crossing my fingers that the new tools they say are going to be packaged and made available to third party devs will indeed allow me to continue with this in the future).

Cheers from bonnie Scotland,

Mike

[mrennie]

Nice article on Engine Driver:

http://www.engine-driver.com/article/show/4658/union-pacific-s-fef-as-in-4-8-4

[JohnTrainHead]

Nice article on Engine Driver:

http://www.engine-driver.com/article/show/4658/union-pacific-s-fef-as-in-4-8-4

Another good one from Gary.

[ozinoz]

Excellent article.
My only concern is the lack of mention of being able to produce others in the class or remove the smoke deflectors that had been previously discussed. Seems they would rather promote selling us a box to stick behind it for "excursion service". Speaking personally, some of us are just not into the modern box scene. Will be disappointed if we find that the other FEF 3 class members will be in another DLC pack

That aside, looking forward to its release.

[Noel]

Mike already said there is a script in the loco numbering where you can remove the smoke deflectors.

[ElphabaWS]

Excellent article.
My only concern is the lack of mention of being able to produce others in the class or remove the smoke deflectors that had been previously discussed. Seems they would rather promote selling us a box to stick behind it for "excursion service". Speaking personally, some of us are just not into the modern box scene. Will be disappointed if we find that the other FEF 3 class members will be in another DLC pack

As mentioned in the closing paragraph of today's article, Mike himself will be following up with an Engine Driver article about the development and many remarkable features of the FEF-3. This first article was primarily to share the history of the FEF-3 and highlight the queen of the class - 844 - of which so many are familiar. I'm quite certain you'll find out your concerns are unfounded.

[ozinoz]

Mike already said there is a script in the loco numbering where you can remove the smoke deflectors.

This is true; there was also talk of different livery lineouts, weathered versions etc. This does not negate the fact that those features could quite easily be disabled, in lieu of just providing 844 and a box for excursion service on Sherman Hill. This would then provide another revenue steam when a "complete" FEF 3 series was later released. Unfortunately, have learnt from experience never to trust business.