Kato N GS-4 Southern Pacific Lines Daylight #4449 4-8-4

In September 1987, a dream long held by steam enthusiasts came true when Union Pacific approved to re-paint their FEF-3 #8444 (built as #844) into the two-tone gray 'Overland' colors that were applied to 800-class locomotives beginning in 1946. These made the locomotives more aesthetically pleasing with the 'Overland Route' passenger trains. This livery scheme only lasted a few years, but the post-WWII color scheme made a lasting impression!

The Union Pacific FEF (Four Eight Four), along with the GS-4 is easily one of the most recognisable 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 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!

FEATURES

• 'White wall' painted drivers to match the locomotive's excursion appearance
• Coreless motor design with dual brass flywheels for silky-smooth performance at all speeds, even slow crawls. Special cross-braced shock absorbers equalise the pressure on the locomotive drivers to maximise traction.
• Illuminated headlight and locomotive number boards. 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 an EM13 DCC decoder.
• 11" (282mm) Minimum turning radius on ground level track, 15" (381mm) Minimum turning radius on Viaduct track.
• All detail parts installed.