1. Origins

2. Models
    FEF-1  FEF-2  FEF-3 

3. Surviving examples

4. See also

5. References

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

Origins

During the late 1930s, 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 operations. One day, in 1937, with UP President William Jeffer's business car in the rear, a "7000" Class 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 sent to Alco in Schenectady, with a view of something better. The result was a superb class of forty-five locomotives.

Models

FEF-1

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 spoiled the basic simplicity of so many US locomotives, but UP resisted most of them, resulting in an elegant, uncluttered appearance. Despite frequently moving at speeds over {{convert|100|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, the forces and stresses on the coupling and connecting rods were kept within acceptable limits.(800-819)

There were thus excellent results, and there were many reports{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} of reaching the design limit of {{convert|110|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.

FEF-2

The second batch of fifteen was delivered in 1939. These had several improvements, including larger cylinders, better tractive effort, taller driving wheels, and smoke deflectors on the sides of the smokebox. The greatest change, however, was the provision of a fourteen wheeled “pedestal” or “centipede” tender, in place of the twelve wheeled ones of the first twenty locomotives. Thus, the first locomotives became known as "FEF-1," while these were known as "FEF-2."(820-834)

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 800s to oil burning, and a {{convert|6000|usgal}} 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. 844, the last of the FEF-3 class, is the longest continuously operating 4-8-4 engine in the world, and the only one never retired by a Class I railroad. Like many of the "late era" steam locomotives, their final design was cut short by the advent of new monarchs of the rails, diesels. "Although it is stated that the UP FEF series were designed to safely operate at {{convert|120|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, no one really knows how fast the final 4-8-4 could go" (Steve A. Lee, Manager of Union Pacific Steam Program)(835-844).

Surviving examples

See also

• Union Pacific Challenger
• Union Pacific Big Boy

References

• {{cite book

• {{cite book

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101230050715/http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/?page=up Union Pacific Northerns at steamlocomotive.com] maintained by Wes Barris

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