Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive, by Smokebox

[mrennie]

I've taken up the suggestion to start a new thread to keep you all informed (especially those of you who don't do FB) about the work in progress on the UP FEF-3.

Here's a shot of the left-side driving wheels, in the Asset Editor, albeit with a temporary all-over glossy black texture (I use it just to be able to export quickly and view the geometry in the editor).

ScreenShot017.jpg

The right-side driving wheels will be rotated 90 degrees with respect to the left side, but I need to find out if it should be 90 degrees clockwise or anti-clockwise. Does anybody know for certain?

Before doing the texturing properly, I'll change the glossy black for glossy red. It's great for showing up anything that hasn't been textured properly

[1225fan5358]

BOUT TIME! YEAH BABY! WHOO HOO

[FourEightFour]

The right-side driving wheels will be rotated 90 degrees with respect to the left side, but I need to find out if it should be 90 degrees clockwise or anti-clockwise. Does anybody know for certain?

The engineer's side is 90° ahead of the fireman's side in forward motion.

[Bananarama]

http://home.roadrunner.com/~trumpetb/loco/cbal.html

[PapaXpress]

Here is another neat site that MadMike told me about:
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/appliances/valvegear.php

[jpetersjr]

Looking good.

[mrennie]

http://home.roadrunner.com/~trumpetb/loco/cbal.html

Interesting ... I didn't know about the counter-balancing (moment arm).

[mrennie]

Here is another neat site that MadMike told me about:
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/appliances/valvegear.php

Yep, this one is in my "favourites".

[CSX2057]

I love steam

These RW steam details are so realistic. You can't beat em! One of my favorites steam engine I've been on the ride at the Walt Disney World is....The 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" That smokestack design tops them all! This one would be nice to make in the future!

[OlPaint]

Way to Go, SmokeBox! We need a good 4-8-4 Northern as a standin for C&O "Greenbrier" repaint. Since G-Trax pulled their SP&S Northern we have been lacking this important "Super Power" Steamer.

OlPaint

[philmoberg]

The engineer's side is 90° ahead of the fireman's side in forward motion.

Just an added note to this: if you're ever looking in the contemporary North American literature, such as the Cyclopedias, you'll find this referred to as quartered drivers with a right-hand lead. The MEs back then took it as given that the valve gear would be in the forward position. Most of this vocabulary, along with its underlying assumptions, have long since been out of common knowledge; and this has caused a great deal of confusion to later generations trying to figure it out.

I'm told that right-had lead was not universal, but I don't know enough about it to quote you any exceptions to it. At least in North American practice, right-hand lead had become standard by the 20th century.

[mrennie]

I love steam

These RW steam details are so realistic. You can't beat em! One of my favorites steam engine I've been on the ride at the Walt Disney World is....The 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" That smokestack design tops them all! This one would be nice to make in the future!

Now there's an idea .... but I'd have to get permission from Disney.

[mrennie]

Way to Go, SmokeBox! We need a good 4-8-4 Northern as a standin for C&O "Greenbrier" repaint. Since G-Trax pulled their SP&S Northern we have been lacking this important "Super Power" Steamer.

OlPaint

I'm wary of saying how long you might have to wait to see this one, but the Consolidation took me about 10 months. This one is bigger and more complex, but on the other hand, I now know better how to go about it.


Mike

[mrennie]

Just an added note to this: if you're ever looking in the contemporary North American literature, such as the Cyclopedias, you'll find this referred to as quartered drivers with a right-hand lead. The MEs back then took it as given that the valve gear would be in the forward position. Most of this vocabulary, along with its underlying assumptions, have long since been out of common knowledge; and this has caused a great deal of confusion to later generations trying to figure it out.

I'm told that right-had lead was not universal, but I don't know enough about it to quote you any exceptions to it. At least in North American practice, right-hand lead had become standard by the 20th century.

Apparently there was at least one notable exception ... the PRR K4s, that had left-hand lead.

[philmoberg]

... Apparently there was at least one notable exception ... the PRR K4s, that had left-hand lead.

I have to admit I was greatly surprised to learn this; but on second thought, perhaps I shouldn't have been. The Pennsy had its own take on most things, even if it was different from common practice in the rest of the industry. It leaves e wondering whether this was a digression on their part, or whether other classes (particularly the L-1) were set up that way.

Back to the main point, I'll be waiting patiently for this one. There may have been other more graceful Northerns around, but I have to say the FEF-3 was a remarkable locomotive in that it packed that much power in a machine that was built out to the then-practical limits of the loading gauge, while still being a well-proportioned design. We are fortunate to have one of them still serviceable, and doubly fortunate to have one in the simulator in the foreseeable future. Thanks for tackling this one.