MTH FEF #844 (20-3532-1) on 054?

I'm afraid it is in fact O72 only on that particular engine, which is weird because my GS6 and my Wife's GS4 are good for O54, and they're both comparable sized Northerns, but then again, that IS a Centipede tender, so that's likely why the need for O72. 

Tom,

Thanks for the reply.  Not the news I was hoping for but at least I didn't build something and try it and then get disappointed.  The only aggravating part is I know the MTH site said 054 at some point.  I have a T1 which I haven't put side by side but like your GS6 and wife's GS4, I believe they are similar in size.  The T1 operates fine on 054 but it does not have a Centipede tender.

Thanks again for the reply!

Tony

I would assume it can run on O-54.  I have a friend with a Lionel FEF that can handle O-48, even though Lionel lists the minimum as O-72.  I would slowly run the engine through your O-54 curve to see if it works, if I were you.

I'm going to try it for sure.  I really just wanted to know what to expect.  I think what Tom said will hold.  The tender wheel configuration will be my issue.  I am wondering now if there is a way to swap out the tender wheel sets.  Time will tell.  I am hoping to build a new layout that I can convert from Halloween to Christmas.  So I will know in about 6 weeks!  :-)

Thank you all for the responses!

Tony

I asked this same question for the same reason years ago.  I bought an MTH Premier UP FEF (20-3044-1).  I believe the catalog it said it would operate on O-54 curves.  When  I received it, the box said it needed O-72 curves.

I was told not to worry and it would run on O-54.  It does!  I have not had any problem on O-54 curves.

R. Hales posted:

I asked this same question for the same reason years ago.  I bought an MTH Premier UP FEF (20-3044-1).  I believe the catalog it said it would operate on O-54 curves.  When  I received it, the box said it needed O-72 curves.

I was told not to worry and it would run on O-54.  It does!  I have not had any problem on O-54 curves.

Well, I hope this is not false hope!  I have a question for you.  My tender has flanges on all wheels.  Your's is a few years older.  Are all the wheels on the tender flanged? Or are some blind?  

Thank you for the response.  Like I said, I already own this but I don't have space for an 072 layout at this point.  I am building an 054 layout and will test it.  It would be great if it works on 054.  

My ultimate goal is to get a UP freight set with some diesels.  Then add the 844 passenger set I have as the rescue train that actually assisted a UP freight train back in '96.  I want to run them all as a lash-up with smoke off on one of the diesel engines to simulate the disabled diesel.  It's a really neat story to me that I think would be fun to run.

Tony

Good news Tony, I fired up my fef 20-3044 to confirm what I'm about to tell you here. It does run on the 054 curves and all the tender wheels have flanges. Happy Holidays!

GHD posted:

Good news Tony, I fired up my fef 20-3044 to confirm what I'm about to tell you here. It does run on the 054 curves and all the tender wheels have flanges. Happy Holidays!

Happy dance!!! :-)

Thanks for the info!!!!

You're welcome. Plan accordingly for some engine swing  clearance especially if you have portals on the curves. Enjoy.