Union Pacific FEF Series

Infobox Locomotive
name = Union Pacific 844
powertype = Steam


gauge = RailGauge|ussg
railroad = Union Pacific
whytetype = 4-8-4
disposition = 844 operates in occasional excursion service, others on static display
roadnumber = 800-819 (FEF-1), 820-834 (FEF-2), 835-844 (FEF-3)
builder = American Locomotive Company
driversize = convert|77|in|abbr=on (80 in on FEF-2/3)
wheelbase = locomotive and tender: 98 ft 5 in (30 m)
weight = convert|465000|lb|abbr=on (483,000 lbs on FEF-2/3)
weightondrivers = convert|270000|lb|abbr=on (266,500 lbs on FEF-2/3)
locotenderweight = convert|830150|lb|abbr=on (908,000 lbs on FEF-2/3)
fueltype = coal (No. 5 fuel oil on FEF-3)
tenderc

boiler = 86 frac|3|16 in (2189.2 mm) diameter
boilerpressure = convert|300|psi|abbr=on|lk=on
firearea = convert|100|sqft|abbr=on
tubearea = convert|2204|sqft|abbr=on
fluearea = convert|1578|sqft|abbr=on
fireboxarea = convert|442|sqft|abbr=on
totalsurface = convert|4224|sqft|abbr=on
superheaterarea = convert|1400|sqft|abbr=on
cylindersize = convert|24.5|in|abbr=on bore (25 in on FEF-2/3) × convert|32|in|abbr=on stroke
tractiveeffort = convert|63600|lbf|abbr=on|lk=on
factorofadhesion = 4.18
deliverydate = 1937 (FEF-1), 1939 (FEF-2), 1944 (FEF-3)

The FEF was a series of three types of 4-8-4 steam locomotives owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railway. The classes were: FEF-1; FEF-2; FEF-3. "FEF" was an acronym for the wheel arrangement, "four-eight-four."

Origins

During the late 1930's, the rising trainloads started to exceed the limits of the then in use 4-8-2's, which were the mainstay of the UP passenger opeations. One day, in 1937, with UP President William Jeffer's business car in the rear, a "7000" Cass 4-8-2 demonstrated the lack of steaming power inherent in the type. Even when the train was waiting for rescue, dialog by telegram was sen't to Alco in Schenectady, with a view of something better. The result was a superb class of forty-five locomotives.

First Locomotives

The first twenty locomotives, numbered 800-819, were delivered by Alco in 1937. The "800"s as a whole followed - like Northumbrian 108 years earlier - the simplest possible arrangement of only having two outside cylinders. Fitting Alco's lateral motion devices to the leading coupled wheels eased the negotiation of curves. Complicated accessories often spoilt the basic simplicity of so many US locomotives, but UP resisted most of them, resulting in an elegant, uncluttered appearance. Despite requently moving at speeds over 100mph (160kp/h), the forces and stresses that the coupling and connecting rods were subject to was kept within acceptable limits.There were thus excellent results, and there were many reports of reaching the design limit of 110mph (176kp/h).

FEF-2

The second batch of fifteenwas delivered in 1939. Theses had several improvements, including larger cylinders, better tractive effort, taller driving wheels, and smoke deflectors of the smoke box. The greatest change, however, was the provision of a fourteen wheeled "centipede" tender, in place of the twelve wheeled ones of the first twenty locomotives. Thus, the first locomotives became known as "FEF-1," whilst these were known as "FEF-2."

FEF-3

Except for the use of some substitute materials, the final batch of ten were nearly identical to the FEF-2. After World War II, coal supplies were affected by a series of strikes. In order to safeguard operations, UP converted the "800"s to oil burning, and a 6,000 gallon (27m3) tank was fitted in the bunker space. Otherwise, few modifications were needed to insure years of mainline service. These were the last steam locomotives delivered for the UP. FEF-3 #844 is the longest continuously operating 4-8-4 engine in the world.

References

*cite book
last = Hollingsworth
first = Brian
coauthors = Arthur F. Cook
title=The Great Book of Trains
publisher = Salamander Books Ltd.
year = 1987,1996;
isbn = 0-517-18462-1
*cite book
last = Hollingsworth
first = Brian
title = The Illustrated Dictionary of Trains of the World
year = 2000
publisher = Salamander Books Ltd.
locaion = London
isbn = 1-84065-177-6
* [http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/up.shtml Union Pacific Northerns] maintained by Wes Barris