AHM/Rivarossi UP FEF-3 4-8-4 Northern #836 Eight Coach Heavyweight Passenger Set

The Union Pacific Railroad bought 45 4-8-4s in three orders from the American Locomotive Company.

The first order of 20 locomotives (road numbers 800 through 819) was delivered in 1937. These were designated Class FEF-1 (“FEF” stood for four-eight-four) “Northern” and were designed by UP's Motive Power Group to have 77" drivers, 24.5 x 32 cylinders, a boiler pressure of 300 psi, and a weight of 465,000 lbs. resulting in a tractive effort of 63,611 pounds (63,800 nominal).

The second order of 15 “Northerns” (road numbers 820 through 834) was delivered in 1939. These locomotives were designated as Class FEF-2. They were designed to have 80" drivers, 25 x 32 cylinders, a boiler pressure of 300 psi, and a weight of 483,000 lbs. giving each a tractive effort of 63,750 pounds (63,800 nominal).

The last group of 10, Class FEF-3 “Northerns” were delivered in 1944 and were assigned road numbers 835 through 844. These FEF-3s were very similar to the Class FEF-2's. The FEF-3 class represented the epitome of dual-service steam locomotive development

Built and designed in a joint effort between the Union Pacific and ALCO, the FEF-3 class could safely handle 120 mph. On one occasion, one of the engines of the FEF-3 class pulled a 1,000-ton passenger train at 100 mph. All FEF classes were considered by the Union Pacific to be capable of producing between 4,000 and 5,000 drawbar horsepower.

The last of the class, #844. never actually left service. Its 1957-1959 stint of freight work was its last revenue work. Saved from scrapping in 1960, #844 was chosen for rebuilding and is now used on company and public excursion trains, Today, it is one of UP's oldest serving locomotives as well as the only steam locomotive never retired by a North American Class I railroad.

THE LOCOMOTIVE

AHM5098-02 LIMITED PRODUCTION RUN UNION PACIFIC FEF-3 4-8-4 NORTHERN LOCOMOTIVE #836

From 1979 until their original demise in 1997, Rivarossi produced standard and extra highly detailed limited production run versions of the Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 Northern in six different road numbers. Road Number 836, like the AHM5098-02 included in this set, was only produced between 1979 and 1983. Since AHM went belly up in the mid 1980's our super rare mint condition limited production run AHM5098-02 was certainly produced during that window and is very special indeed.

FEATURES

• Stunning C-10 Mint Condition with Excellent Original Box.
• Limited Production Run with Super Detailing.
• No evidence of run time..
• MRRHQ Locomotive Works serviced, tested and certified.
• Operating Headlamp.
• Upgraded w/MRRHQ Factory Quality Directional Back-up Light.
• 14 Wheel "Centipede" Long Haul Tender.
• One-piece locomotive and tender bodies of pressure-cast high impact plastic.
• Baker Valve Gear w/steel main and side rods, guides, hand rails and fittings.
• Many additional fine details.
• Powerful can motor w/sealed gearbox.
• Scale 77" Drivers.
• Easy rolling steel needle point truck axles.
• Upgraded with MRRHQ Custom rear Knuckle Coupler.
• Optional Upgrades Available:
  • TCS MC2-KAC Standard DCC Decoder Installed..
  • TCS T1KA DCC Decoder w/Keep Alive Installed
  • TCS WOWSound 101 DCC/Digital Sound Decoder Installed.
  • TCS WOWSound 101KA DCC/Digital Sound Decoder w/Keep Alive Installed.
  • Engineer Figure Installed in Cab.
• Made in Italy by Rivarossi. Production Year 1979-1983.

Dimensions: Locomotive 9" L x 2 1/4" T x 1 1/2" W Tender 6 1/4 x 2 x 1 3/8"

THE COACHES

In the late 1980's, Rivarossi produced "A" and "B" passenger sets in a variety of road names. In typical Rivarossi fashion, there was a certain inconsistency to some of the sets. Typically, the non-baggage coaches all came standard with full interiors. Oddly, perhaps, the Duplex Sleeper in the UP "B" Set came w/o an interior. Go figure. Anyway, not to worry, we added one of our Custom Pullman Sleeper Interiors to the Sleeper AND added tinted acetate to the sky lights. We also added our MagLED® MLM1 Evolutionary Model Railroad Lighting System and (expensive) McHenry Knuckle Couplers to ALL the coaches. Done and done.

• Rivarossi 6922 "A" Set Heavyweight Baggage Coach.
• Rivarossi 6922 "A" Set Heavyweight Combine Coach.
• Rivarossi 6922 "A" Set Heavyweight Pullman Coach.
• Rivarossi 6922 "A" Set Heavyweight Diner Coach.
• Rivarossi 6923 "B" Set Heavyweight Baggage P.O. Coach.
• Rivarossi 6923 "B" Set Heavyweight Passenger Coach.
• Rivarossi 6923 "B" Set Heavyweight Duplex Sleeper Coach.
• Rivarossi 6923 "B" Set Heavyweight Observation Coach.

FEATURES

• C-9 Mint Condition w/Excellent Original Set Boxes.
• 6 Wheel Trucks w/Metal Wheels.
• Full Interiors with Window Glass.
• Upgraded w/ our MagLED® MLM1 Evolutionary Model Railroad Lighting Systems.
• Upgraded w/ McHenry Knuckle Couplers.

Dimensions: 9 3/4-11 1/4" Long x 1 7/8" Tall x 1 3/8" Wide

HO Scale 1:87