The Northern type locomotives on the Union Pacific were built by Alco Schenectady Works in 3 classes between August 1937 and December 1944. The first class, designated FEF-1, for Four Eight Four, comprised numbers 800-819. Fitted with 77-inch drivers and a 300-pound boiler pressure, UP was impressed by their performance and took delivery of 15 additional 4-8-4 locomotives in Aug-Oct 1939, numbers 820-834. These locomotives were equipped with 80-inch drivers and larger 14-wheel centipede style tenders with a 23,500 gallon capacity and were class FEF-2. In Dec 1944, 10 additional 4-8-4 locomotives were delivered, these equipped with low-backpressure double stacks, numbered 835-844, and designated FEF-3. All three classes developed 63,800 lbs of tractive effort.
Throughout their service careers multiple modifications were made, including conversion to oil, feedwater heater systems, addition of smoke lifters (designated Wind Wings on UP drawings) and a Mars light, and replacement of stacks from singles to doubles and even triple stacks. UP 844, the final steam locomotive delivered to UP, has been in continuous service on Union Pacific since it was built in 1944; renumbered from UP 844 to UP 8444 between June 1962 and June 1989.
In this production, BLI is modeling the FEF-2 Class and also the #844 with its Mars Light. Notable features are listed below:
Accurately modeled FEF-2 double stack and triple stack - prototypically accurate for each road number
Accurately modeled turret casing
Individual side rods
Centipede-style oil tenders with finely detailed oil inserts. #844 has the Heritage Fleet containment dam, other road numbers do not.
Options for Worthington and Sellers FWH
Wind Wings on models where prototypically accurate
Prototypically accurate FEF-2 front end and pilot (except #844)
Walschaerts Valve Gear
#844 as it ran from 1989-2013, with Mars Light
Industry-leading Model Features:
ALL-NEW Paragon4 Sound & Control System
Synchronized Puffing Smoke with Chuff Sound
Variable Puffing Smoke Intensity and timing
Separate Whistle Smoke Feature - smoke streams from whistle area when whistle is blown
Integral DCC Decoder with Back EMF for Industry Best Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC
Precision Drive Mechanism engineered for continuous heavy load towing and smooth slow speed operation
5-Pole Can Motor with Skew Wound Armature
Heavy Die Cast Boiler, Tender Body, and Chassis for Increased Tractive Effort
Premium Caliber Painting with Authentic Paint Scheme
Prototypical Light Operation with Separately Controllable Headlight, Reverse Light (where applicable), Cab Light, Mars Light (where applicable), Front Numberboards, Front Marker Lights, and Rear Tender Deck Light
Factory-installed Engineer and Fireman Figures
Prototypically Accurate Details for Each Road Number
Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Ladders, Piping, Whistle, and Brass Bell
Equipped with Rubber Traction Tires for Increased Pulling Power
Recommended Minimum Radius: 22 inches
Accurate Prototypical Sounds for the UP FEF Northern
Broadway Limited Imports is proud to introduce Paragon4: The new benchmark for premium HO sound-equipped locomotives. These DC and DCC-Sound equipped locomotives feature the ALL-NEW Paragon4 sound and control system. Each Paragon4 locomotive comes with BLI's own integral DCC Decoder factory installed. Paragon4 locomotives offer Dual Mode DC and DCC operation with superb back EMF motor control, improved DC motor control, built-in capacitor pack for more reliable electrical pick-up, industry best on-board sound with Rolling Thunder functionality, Pro Lighting Mode for prototypical light control, Switcher model for precise low speed control, recordable DCC operation for automated playback, and the same excellent detail level as Broadway Limited's Paragon3 Series models.
Paragon4 Sound & Control System Features:
Operates in DC & DCC with improved DC speed control (use DCMaster for DC Sound)
Built-In capacitor pack to navigate imperfect track
Capacitor Pack automatically disabled on program track for full compatibility with JMRI Decoder Pro
Pro Lighting Mode offers individual control of all lights on model
Switcher Mode for precise low speed control.
Record & Play Operation - Records and plays back sounds and movements once or repeatedly for automatic operation
High Resolution Audio
Quillable Whistle for various whistle lengths and patterns
Choice of 3 selectable Horns
Alternate Whistle / Horn where applicable for locomotive with air horn and steam whistle - both the main whistle and alternate can be easily played
Adjustable bell ringing interval for faster or slower bell
Numerous user-mappable functions with available keys
Johnson Bar Sound at Direction Change
Multiple realistic passenger and crew sounds play on command
Grade Crossing Automatic Signal
Automatic Forward / Reverse Signal - When activated, stopping triggers and stop whistle toot. When moving forward from a stopped position, toots twice. When moving in reverse. toots three times.
Chuff sound intensity varies with load
Individually adjustable sound volumes for each effect
EZ Reset Button for quick return to factory default settings
