N FEF-3 4-8-4 UP #838 Steam Loco/Freight Version

The Union Pacific FEF (Four Eight Four), along with the GS-4
is easily one of the most recognizable US steam prototypes still in
operation today. The FEF-3 series of steam locomotives was delivered in
1944 and were the last, and some of the largest, steam locomotives
delivered for use by the Union Pacific. Operated solely by the Union
Pacific, the FEF’s (sometimes referred to as “Northerns”, due to the
NP’s being the first to build steam locomotives with the 4-8-4 wheel
arrangement) were intended primarily to be passenger locomotives but
the UP’s large fleet of available diesels meant that the FEF’s were put
to work in secondary passenger and fast freight service.

The Kato N Scale FEF-3 follows in the footsteps of its
Southern Pacific 4-8-4 cousin, refining the basic concept of a
high-power, flexible steam locomotive which is easily upgradable to DCC
by coupling a special, isolated coreless motor drive system with heavy
duty flywheels and a flexible cross-braced suspension system that gives
the locomotive a high torque, high traction grip that ensures constant
and consistent pressure spread across the primary drivers. Another
benefit of the coreless motor system is that the locomotive will have
an extremely low starting voltage, giving the locomotive slow creeping
speeds that will allow modelers to appreciate the complex arrangement
of moving side rods that make steam operation so exciting. Other
features, such as the locomotive’s unique “Centipede” style tender
being fitted with special articulation mechanisms that appear seamless
when observed but will bend and flex to allow the locomotive to
navigate tighter corners than should otherwise be possible!

Model Features
• All black drivers
  and a dark graphite smokebox
• Semi-modern appearance is appropriate for modern layouts
  behind UP Excursion trains as well as historical layouts operating
  freight and UP passenger services.
• Coreless motor design with dual brass flywheels for
  silky-smooth performance at all speeds, even slow crawls.
  Special cross-braced shock absorbers equalize the pressure on the
  locomotive drivers to maximize traction.
• Illuminated headlight and locomotive numberboards. The FEF
  tender does not have operational lights, but lighting kits are
  available for the special Water Tender cars (sold separately)
• DCC friendly design, allowing for easy drop-in installation
  of DCC. This locomotive is also available with DCC pre-installed from
  Kato USA!
• 11″ (282mm) Minimum turning radius on ground level track,
  15″ (381mm) Minimum turning radius on Viaduct track.
• All detail parts installed.