U.P. #844 which one?

I've got both the lionel and MTH one. If you have a primary legacy layout - lionel, if you have DCS - MTH. If you have both and can't quite narrow it down - the lionel will most likely have a smoother lower operating speed (although my MTH does run very nicely at 2-3 smph), whereas the MTH with DCS will (most likely), allow easier lashups as the speed control between multiple locos seems to work better. It also comes down to price - an MTH PS3 will run you around ~$800-$1000, where a lionel could run more. Used deals pop up all the time as the 844 is a popular engine, and I'm sure it's a matter of time before a re-run occurs.

Just my 2¢ I go for the first Legacy release. If you prefer DCS then by all means go that route but as far as I’m concerned the 6-11131 is your best option (6-11161 for greyhound) the newer LEGACY releases have whistle steam witch don’t get me wrong is great and if you get a good price that isn’t bad but I simply love the sounds that the RS 5.5 put out.

@zhubl posted:

Just my 2¢ I go for the first Legacy release. If you prefer DCS then by all means go that route but as far as I’m concerned the 6-11131 is your best option (6-11161 for greyhound) the newer LEGACY releases have whistle steam witch don’t get me wrong is great and if you get a good price that isn’t bad but I simply love the sounds that the RS 5.5 put out.

I’d agree but for the fact that the first Legacy release smoke units were vulnerable to the AC regulator failing because the resistors were, I think, 6 Ohm and produced clouds of smoke - including rings - but eventually were re-specced to a higher value (8 Ohm). The second run Legacy smoke units are different and not prolific smokers, but I think that the sounds are just as good. I have the 8444, which is a fine looking model but I still mainly run 844 (after laying in replacement parts - its regulator has failed once). I’m taking a chance because I have not swapped over the resistor in it.

I have both first issues of the gray and black 844s.  I have replaced both resistors with 8 ohm.  They still do pretty good a smoking.

Below is my gray version before swapping the resistor.

Thanks so far for the great details. Appreciate the responses!

Hi, I have the mth version of 844 engine mine smokes and puffs much stronger and better have New York central 2 tone gray version and black verson both smoke perfectly !

Alan

I built my MTH engine from a parts donor. Lionel and MTH engines made in 2000-2012 or so will have big Pittman motors. MTH has bulletproof drivetrains. Both are well detailed. I am not sure you can go wrong with either one.

Pete

Glad to see and hear video feeds as well regarding my options!! Thanks.

I forgot I did this a couple weeks ago but the (6-11131) 2009 Black 844, with the 2014 VL Big Boy 4014, and the 2021/22 UP Veranda #65 all in a MU. 

Wow thanks for the video. That is really cool. Liked to see and hear the 844!!

Everyone is of course right with the smoke element, and the 8ohm element still does very well with smoke output. The older model is rock solid on it's own but you can also improve on it if that's your cup of tea. I added GRJ Super-Chuffer and LED head light with LED number board lights as well.

@MartyE posted:

I forgot I did this a couple weeks ago but the (6-11131) 2009 Black 844, with the 2014 VL Big Boy 4014, and the 2021/22 UP Veranda #65 all in a MU.

Marty have you had any "issues" with MU and your 844? on occasion I do have one that the 844 likes to be the one to go faster than just about an other locomotive. after a little playing around I can find a speed step that everything plays nice at.

@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:

If I was to look for a U.P. #844, which one would you pick? One from Lionel or one from MTH? I'd like opinions for future consideration.  Thanks

Just my opinion but, I always preferred the Sunset/3rd Rail versions of the UP FEF-3 class locomotive models, especially #844.

@zhubl posted:

Everyone is of course right with the smoke element, and the 8ohm element still does very well with smoke output. The older model is rock solid on it's own but you can also improve on it if that's your cup of tea. I added GRJ Super-Chuffer and LED head light with LED number board lights as well.

Marty have you had any "issues" with MU and your 844? on occasion I do have one that the 844 likes to be the one to go faster than just about an other locomotive. after a little playing around I can find a speed step that everything plays nice at.

SO far I haven't.  I ran it quite a bit with the 4014 last year with out issue.

I love my grey (6-11161) version.  I only wished it matched the catalog version where the bottom part of the smoke deflector was painted black.  Easy fix though!

@MartyE posted:

I forgot I did this a couple weeks ago but the (6-11131) 2009 Black 844, with the 2014 VL Big Boy 4014, and the 2021/22 UP Veranda #65 all in a MU.

Now, that is a very serious "lash up" (whoops), Marty. I don't have any good video footage of my VL Big Boy + UP 9000 4-12-2 running together, but I once put a Lionel 844 with an MTH DDA40X Centennial and managed to co-ordinate the speed for a few loops around the track. However, nothing beats an all-Legacy combo including the new Veranda.

I've got a MTH Premier version. Like @Norton I cobbled mine together from parts. The tender on the MTH version is too tall. It's the tender used with 3900 class Challengers and 4000 class Big Boys. The Lionel one is correct. Maybe one day I'll put the correct tender behind it, but for now the tender it has is fine. I modified the PS3 sound file I used in it with the latest PS3 Big Boy whistle, which sounds pretty good.

And the Lionel version shows an enclosed cab which the 844 didn't have. I don't think the mars light on the Lionel operates correctly, but the sounds on Lionel's are great! And I like all the extra pick up rollers. Didn't catch the tender being too high on the MTH version.

@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:

And the Lionel version shows an enclosed cab which the 844 didn't have. I don't think the mars light on the Lionel operates correctly, but the sounds on Lionel's are great! And I like all the extra pick up rollers. Didn't catch the tender being too high on the MTH version.

One note on mine above Jeff. I model the current UP Heritage fleet. Last time I checked 844 has had the red warning light removed. Thats why you don’t see it on mine. Required a bit of filling and body work but it was deliberate and not an oversight by MTH.

Pete

I don't much care for smoke, etc., although a realistic chuff, bll, and whistle are nice on occasion.

I have the Lionel 844 in black, and it appears to be at least as accurate as my earlier USH model - and with way more detail.  It lost its main frame, drivers, side rods, and electronics, but it does rank as one of my most handsome models.  I shall look for a photo.

My impression of MTH steam is that it is quite good, but my Hudson needed a new frame, new drivers, and new cylinder block to attain the realism I expect.  My personal protoype for the Hudson is the Lionel 700-series, and they had round boilers, full size cylinders, and really good gearing.

I suppose the Lionel drivers are slightly better than these, but somehow I felt I could get away with the USH drivers.  The side rods were my first attempt at making patterns.  Main frame is over 80 years old, but the rest is pure 21st Century Lionel.  Forgive the crosshead rod - I just noticed it.

Lionel has done some truly spectacular work - I don't do plastic models at all, but the Lionel PA is simply among the best and most accurate ever done.  Trucks could be a hair short, but still, they look sprung, and compare well with the best in 2-rail brass.

Sorry to be slow off the mark but I just saw that this thread is in the 3rail scale forum! I have one other thing to contribute that might be relevant in that respect. Here's a side-by-side comparison of the fine 3rd Rail black 844 and the much more recent Legacy black 8444:

Not that you can really tell very much from this but the 3rd Rail model is of course brass and only has TMCC operating features. There are numerous differences in external detail such as Lionel combining blackened drive rods with whitewalls on the 8444 whereas the 844 is truer to the prototype in service. Operating features are different too but choice really depends on what you want out of a 3rail model.

Thanks for the continued comments on the U.P. 844!!

@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:

Thanks for the continued comments on the U.P. 844!!

OK, one more thing from me and then I'll shut up - as I have no business on a forum with expert scale scratch builders in metalwork, including gearboxes! Anyway, this 55 secs. is really in return for @MartyE posting his Veranda Turbine "MU" video - because I happened to have both my grey version #67 Veranda and my 1st run Legacy 844 on the same tabletop track.

At the start of this, you'll se the Mars Light feature on that 844, which is really just a "blinker" when the engine is powered but stationary. Not great/prototypical, and people with long memories will remember that these engines shipped with a clear lens and the red one had to be supplied later. Whoops - however, that's not the point of this engine - smoke and a deafening whistle sound is. I ran this setup with the forced air ventilation in the room briefly turned off as otherwise it suppresses the smoke output of both engines, which is huge.

The steamer has not been modified to the later 8 Ohm resistor spec instead of 6 Ohm so this is how it smokes plumes and even occasional rings from stock.

@MartyE posted:

I have both first issues of the gray and black 844s.  I have replaced both resistors with 8 ohm.  They still do pretty good a smoking.

Below is my gray version before swapping the resistor.

What track voltage Marty?

@BobbyD posted:

What track voltage Marty?

18 volts is what I set my track voltage per the ZW-L.

Thanks Marty. How much smoke does it produce at 16 volts?