MTH premier fef 844

Put down a curve of O-54 and see what happens. 

It's not the first time the catalog said one thing and the manual said something else. 

Not familiar with the engine, but check the catalog.  If this is available in both high rail and scale wheels, the minimum radius is different.  I'm looking at a GP-35 in the catalog, and under the "Features" listing, it says that high rail wheels operate on 0-42 curves, and scale wheels operate on 031.  Both me and my LHS dealer missed that one when I bought the C & O Kanawha.  My high rail version ran on 054, but we misread it and saw the 042 number.  I had to tear up my 042 curves and replace them with 054 and reconfigure the layout.  What a pain, but it was worth it.  What a beautiful engine.

The 20-3044-1(2000) and the 20-3078-1(2002) came out well before the scaled wheel versions started to appear in 2005-2006.  

The later versions minimum curves are expressed in terms of diameter(O-54) for hi rail, and radius(36") for scale wheels. 

Don't let the student engineer do to your model what the person did to the real 844!

Thanks for all of your input. I have the 20-3044-1. I kind of knew the tender was going to be the issue with all of those sets of flanged wheels. The two center wheelsets on the engine don't have flanges so I'm assuming it shouldn't have a problem negotiating 054. I'm going to try to borrow some 054 track to see if it will tun in that tight of a radius. If not, I'll have to re-think and re-build my display. Right now it's a two level 6 x 12 L shape. I should be able to add another foot without blocking the room entrance, maybe, I hope.

Another alternative would be to replace some of the flanged center wheelsets on the tender with ones that don't have flanges. Are wheelsets without flanges available from MTH? I considered grinding off some of the flanges but I really don't think I could keep the wheels true using a bench grinder.     

Right now I'm running it back and forth on about 10' of straight just to listen to it.  I'm like a kid in a candy store for the first time. Every time I fire it up I can't help but grin. Beats the heck out of PW air whistles! Can't wait until next month when my 2 year old grandson comes in. He loves his trains already and I want to keep it that way. 

Hi Bill a good friend of mine has this engine but its the lionel version

and it handles O54 with no problems.

I have the lionel pennsy J1A and its even bigger and it handles 054 curves

all day with no problem's. It's rated for 072.

THANKS, ALEX

Thanks Alex, that's encouraging. Guess there is only one way to find out, buy some 054 and try it out instead of trying to borrow. I'll be ordering tonight. Our LHS went out of business last year so I'll be ordering online. If it doesn't work I can use it on my lower level inner loop.