In the book "Building Union Pacific 844 - The birth of the FEF-3 Steam Class" by noted author John E. Bush, you will find a complete explanation to the pilot issue on page 28. There are also several photos of these pilots. One in particular on page 26 is a very good side by side comparison of the original and modified pilots.
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eagle1030 7j43k I was surprised to find a shot of 3823 with switcher footboards on the front, however. Now that would be an interesting story. Super-goat for Bailey Yard?
7j43k I was surprised to find a shot of 3823 with switcher footboards on the front, however.
I was surprised to find a shot of 3823 with switcher footboards on the front, however.
Now that would be an interesting story. Super-goat for Bailey Yard?
I found several other Challengers in the 3800-3839 group with big ole footboards. Usually, there's a little mini-pilot between the boards. It looked to me that 3823 might not have the mini-pilot, either. Still sorta does.
My guess is that the footboards were installed because the locos were used as helpers. That would be "guess", as in guess.
The caption for 3823 says it was in work train service at the time. Again, another reason for those footboards.
Ed
7j43k I couldn't find any pictures that showed the "bump". And that includes Northerns up to 1954, or so. They were scrapped about 1959, so if the bumps were added later, I expect it would have been post-'54.
I couldn't find any pictures that showed the "bump". And that includes Northerns up to 1954, or so. They were scrapped about 1959, so if the bumps were added later, I expect it would have been post-'54.
That makes sense. This only affected 10 engines in a 45-member class, so even finding a picture of an FEF-3 in service isn't easy. And I also believe that not all the 3's got them. There's 838, and a picture on steamlocomotive.com of 842 shows what looks to be the old style.
up_842.gif
However, 844 does have the bump, and a close look at this photograph of 836 shows the left side door characteristic of the bumps (smooth metal plate to left of coupler). Coupler out, of course.
up836-1s.jpg courtesy of rrpicturearchives, collection of Chuck Zeiler
Don't know what to make of it. Guess 3's didn't spend enough time behind other engines to facilitate a full-on switch to the better coupler system.
On a side note, the Commonwealth pilot's purpose was to streamline the pilot in the case of a grade crossing accident, the auto wouldn't be speared on the front and potentially derail the engine. Apparently it wasn't worth the extra work for the crew, as evidenced by the saturation of coupler-out photos.
I just thumbed through the UP prototype photo books for the Northerns and the Challengers.
A whole lot of the shots showed the coupler stickin' out the front, especially the Challengers.
BUT, I couldn't find any pictures that showed the "bump". And that includes Northerns up to 1954, or so. They were scrapped about 1959, so if the bumps were added later, I expect it would have been post-'54.
In Kratville and Ranks' "Motive Power of the Union Pacific", there's a shot of 3714 with a bump dated April 1953. Which contradicts the previous sentence. Sort of.
I looked through Stagner's "Union Pacific Steam in Color" and found no bumps. But the majority of the candidates had the couplers stickin' out.
It's an interesting question, for sure.
UP ordered its last big engines (FEF-3, Jabelmann Challengers, Big Boys) with Commonwealth Pilots, which were big slatted affairs replicated in pretty much every model locomotive. However, at some point, UP replaced the coupler rotation apparatus, as can be seen on most preserved engines with a pronounced smooth "hump" on the pilot (only 838 retains her slatted pilot doors).
My questions are:
When did UP replace them? Who made the replacement?
Are there any detail parts for these pilots?
I don't know how to do photos, but here are links
ENLARGE-4000_Jabbleman_Omaha.Tif.jpg As built, 4002
alex_l_lg_p5.jpg Replacement Doors, 3985
naoyuki_watanabe_lg_p3.jpg Pilot, 844
These photos aren't mine, these are from Union Pacific Steam site and 150th anniversary site