Athearn Genesis HO G88312 FEF-3 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive, Union Pacific #835

In 1939, 15 FEF-2 class 4-8-4s, numbers 820 through 834, were acquired. They shared a family resemblance to the big Challengers and Big Boys. The FEF-2s were built as coal burners with single exhaust stacks, drop coupler pilots and “centipede” tenders that carried 25 tons of coal and 23,500 gallons of water. When they were rebuilt, they received double or triple exhaust stacks.

During the traffic crunch of World War II, ten more 4-8-4s of class FEF-3, numbers 835 through 844, were acquired. The FEF-3 boiler was slightly longer than the FEF-2; plus, the FEF-3 featured double exhaust stacks, cast pilots and cabinets on the tender. Within six months of delivery, they were fitted with “elephant ear” smoke deflectors. Several FEF-3s also received triple exhaust stacks.

All of the 4-8-4s were converted to burn oil after the Second World War. They also wore two-tone gray paint from April 1946 until the mid-1950s. While UP streamliners were all diesel powered, the FEFs worked the secondary trains such as the Pony Express and Overland as well as mail trains. At the time, those trains were usually quite long and consisted of heavyweight cars, requiring all of the power the FEFs could deliver.

Instead of retiring FEF-3 844 in the early 1960s, UP kept it for excursion service and renumbered it to 8444 to allow GP30 844 into the system by 1962. From the mid-1950s until 1987, FEF-3 8444 was painted in the black paint scheme. In September 1987, it was repainted into the two-tone gray scheme with yellow stripe and lettering. After returning to Cheyenne from the Los Angeles Union Station 50th Anniversary celebration in June 1989, FEF-3 8444 was renumbered back to 844. The two-tone gray paint lasted until September 1991.

#835
Solid Black
Oil Burner
Triple Stack
Smoke Lifters
Era 1952+.

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:
Illuminated number boards
Metal handrails
Builder’s plates
Adjustable cab windows
Non-operating classification lights
Blackened metal wheels
Oil burner
Accurate oil tender details
Feedwater heater per prototype
ATS cabinet per prototype
Swing coupler pocket
Double or triple smokestack per prototype
Single or double generator per prototype
Side rods colored to match the prototype
Illuminated red signal light except on 2016 version of #844
Boiler backhead with full details and printed gauges
Synchronized chuff, whistle, bell, blow-down, air compressor, dyno and pop-off valve sounds
User-controlled whistle, short whistle, bell, squeal, coupler crash, injector, water stop and light dimmer
Individually-applied detail parts, including brass-painted bell and whistle, piping, valves, generator, steps, air pump, air tanks, reverser and coupler lift bar
Front coupler pocket can be inserted to mount operating coupler
Minimum radius: 22″
Dual cube speakers for great sound quality
Lighted firebox flicker effect with see-through firebox door
Upgraded headlight lighting with brighter LED
Improved loco-to-tender connection harness for increased durability and serviceability

FEF-3 FEATURES
UP 835-844 came in 1944 as coal burners with 80-inch drivers, similar to the FEF-2’s but with dual smoke stack and different front end pilot.