HI GIZ,
Yesterday picked up my Lionel UP FEF with Legacy. I choose the black one number 844. I got it home unwrapped it, and sat it on the tracks just checking what it had. The first thing that caught my eye were those elephant ears. I am a big fan of them and that is probably the biggest reason I bought this engine. Next is the mars light, neat light. Then the drivers with there spoked wheel look. Then its back to the tender which is an enclosed tender nice detail in the hatches and the back 3 do lift showing the volume control and a switch for the sounds. A On the tender are dust covers for the wheel bearings that are painted silver. Also painted silver is the UNION PACIFIC name sort a looks cool, not a shiny silver sorta dull.
I then took my engine to the engine cradle and gave it a good oil job to all the linkages and added grease to the grease hole. I allowed a little time for all to soak in and then wiped any residue off before placing on the tracks.
I placed the engine on 0-54 tracks. I have been reading another forum and GIZ were asking if it would run on 0-54 tracks? So I figured why not try it out? So on the 0-54 tubular track she went. I changed the prog-run switch to prog. Powered up the layout and got the lagacy out, switched the engine number to 84 then set new number, shut down power put switch to run, turned on power, placed module in Legacy downloaded module, all is good. Powered up the FEF and first thing I noticed was the Mars lite flashing, cool look all be it wasn't red like the real ones but oh well. Then adressed the tower, clear dialog with tower, back and forth nice and clear. Turned on smoke to low, started out at a crawl great plumes o smoke one at a time coming out of the double stack. Nice 4 chuffs per revolution, good volume and steady sound. Next hit the bell nice sharp clang. Now for the whistle,first a quick push to hear what it sounded like, was floored. DEEP THROATHY,rubust howl, is how I describe it. Even with the quilling, it sounded totally awesome. Ran it at a crawl for about two laps no problems on the 0-54 track. Increased the speed to medium still no problems went to limited and still running great. Went a little fast still no problem on 0-54 track, so it will run on this track. I also ran it on the 0-72 as it is suggested but ran it the rest of nite on 0-54 track for three hours without any effect on the engine. Engine was pulling 19 cars, tankers, coal cars with loads, and box cars. NO problem and could of pulled a whole lot more. No troble in forward or reverse. Ran it in reverse from slow to moderated speed for a few laps.
When in operation the Mars light and cab light goes off. When engine is stopped it comes back on. The engine cab is enclosed with giz in side. Smoke unit like I stated before was great at all levels low medium and high lots o smoke had to shut down the FEF and BB too much smoke for a while. Nice detail on this engine with valves on engine and dust covers on wheel bearings.
I tried to run this UP FEF with the BB as a lash up, with the Legacy. I made the lashup through Legacy, very easy thing to do. I started them out with the FEF in front and the BB in the rear followed by 7 George Washington passenger cars. I did not change to an O gauge coupler in the BB just kept them apart to see what would happen. Started it out at a crawl and took it all the wat around layout. I noticed the FEF was gaining about an inch at a crawl speed. So I pumped up the speed and it was gaining another 3 inches per lap. Then at a faster speed more of a gap. I don't know if I should couple them or not? I don't want to overload the FEF motor. I just figured it would look cool seeing this two behemoths on the same track.
At the end of the night after 3 hrs of having fun, I am really glad I bought this unit. Also that it and the Legacy controls worked fantastic. Thank you Lionel and keep up the good work.
Here are some pics of the Lionel UP FEF on my layout.....
HOPE YUZ GIZ enjoyed my review?
laz57
Very nice. I have the FEF in HO and the Rivarossi excursion cars. I want to put together an excursion train in O but haven't come up with the passenger cars for it yet.
Layout looks cool.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Since you said you had no trouble running it one 0-54 curves, I can run one on my layout!!! Thanks for sharing with us.
Give me steam locomotives or give me DEATH!
Berkshire Junction, bringing fourth the cry of the Iron Horse since 1900.
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Hi Laz 57,
I also just received my UP FEF-3 in grey. I'm VERY happy with it. I did not get the Legacy command set also with it, yet. (I just ordered it). Tell me, Is it normal for it to have a very basic whistle with just having the TMCC remote control? Because I can't play with the whistle, it's just basic. Will it act different with the Legacy control? And second, does your engine have a light in the cab where the engineers are at? Mine doesn't. Thanks,
Reuben
Train Memories wrote: Hi Laz 57, I also just received my UP FEF-3 in grey. I'm VERY happy with it. I did not get the Legacy command set also with it, yet. (I just ordered it). Tell me, Is it normal for it to have a very basic whistle with just having the TMCC remote control? Because I can't play with the whistle, it's just basic. Will it act different with the Legacy control? And second, does your engine have a light in the cab where the engineers are at? Mine doesn't. Thanks, Reuben
REUBEN,
As KOOLJOCK stated you'll need the Legacy handheld to do the quilling of the whistle. When your FEF is stopped your Mars lite should be fashing and the interior lite in the cab should be on. When the engine is moving the mars lite and interior light goes off. Hope you like yours? Mine is just great, like TONY the TIGER would say.
fjerome wrote:"I have been reading another forum and GIZ were asking if it would run on 0-54 tracks?"as one of those giz, i appreciate your work, laz! :)btw, the lettering is not silver, but (according to UP specs) bright aluminum.am surprised about the results of your "lash up" attempt. thought legacy was supposed to keep them together.
Thanks FJEROME, yes I was suprised at the lashup difference during my running the lap test. At YORK they had the FEF and a GP30 running together. I don't know why this occured. Might have to get in contact with JON, from Lionel.
Hi Laz 57 and Kooljock. YES! I'm very happy with it. In fact, I can't keep my eyes off it. When I was into HO 28 years ago, I bought an inexpensive AHM (remember those?) plastic grey UP northern FEF. And ever since I've liked those. NOW I GOT THIS. Just like a kid on Christmas morning. THANKS you guys
I have a thought on the lashup I think they need they need to be coupled together. I tried a small test with a Lionel with Od and a Atlas with EOB. Uncoupled the Lionel Od ran faster than the Atlas EOB. Coupled together they did not seem to be fighting each other. Also the speed difference was much greater before I set stall. Just some thoughts I had.
Jason
B&O = Best & Only
fjerome wrote:laz, another favor to ask. i am still concerned that this guy might be too big for my layout, despite its ability to negotiate O54 curves. could you please measure the distance between the front driver axle and the rear driver axle? i would appreciate it. thanks.
FJEROME,
From the axles its 5.5 inches center to center. From front driver to rear of back driver it just shy of 7.5 inches. Hope this helps.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Laz, that's one great looking locomotive.
Stan.
THE SOUTHERN SERVES THE SOUTH.
Thanks GIZ, it really runs and sounds great. Thinking of getting a red LED for the front Mars lite? But going to wait on that.
jmkk wrote: I have a thought on the lashup I think they need they need to be coupled together. I tried a small test with a Lionel with Od and a Atlas with EOB. Uncoupled the Lionel Od ran faster than the Atlas EOB. Coupled together they did not seem to be fighting each other. Also the speed difference was much greater before I set stall. Just some thoughts I had.Jason
Some of the newer Atlas engines have the feature that will prevent the Atlas from "fighting" with Od engines. Sences the "fight" and adjusts. These engines come with NO on/off switch for EOB. I talked to the Atlas Tech about it. Really a great feature.
Laz 57, Yes I am thinkig of later on getting a red LED for the Mars lite. I'll be waiting on your information on that. I'll be reading your Posts here. Again, thanks for the report. I really like this engines. I got mine pulling freight now even though it's grey, but it looks great.
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