KatoUSA Model Train Products 1260401 N Scale Union Pacific FEF-3 Steam Locomotive Train 844

This train runs slowly and smoothly and does not derail or jitter when running very slow. We recently returned the big boy version from KATO because it worked intermittently and continually derailed.

Awesome steam engine, great color design at a great price. If you buy Kato you will be very happy with this one.

Great product. Excellent workmanship.

The FEE wheel rods keep coming apart. Fortunately have been able to find the pins and put back together. This is happening with the N scale Big boy too. Aesthetically they look great but for the price I’d rather have functionality. Yard boss steam locomotive is still going after 3years. Sticking to n scale diesel locomotives from now on.

It’s nicely detailed, Lots of pulling power at a great price, Kato Locomotives run very smooth.

Received the package 2 days early, engine ran smoothly on 15" elevated radius but kept derailing on an 11" flat radius even though it states that it'll handle the tight 11" flat radius. The drive wheel flanges are not that deep which causes it to derail going into a turnout coming out of a slight curve,so if you can avoid having a turnout coming off a slight curve and take the turnout slow it'll do just fine. Which is why I'm only giving 4 stars, I just laid down a big layout with an elevated figure 8 with the 15" radius curves and have 11" radius flat curves just to check out how this engine would do before I decide on a layout to do in a table, note I also have a kato big boy that has no problems running this quick laid layout. If you've got room for a longer/wider radius than a 12 3/8" then this FEF-3 will do just fine for you.

Runs like a champ

The media could not be loaded. Took me four tries to get this on the track correctly as there are five sets of wheels. It has a smooth motor and can run very slowly which is neat. It's running right now behind me using a Kato M2 track set just laying on a rug. I can only attach two cars without the third or fourth derailing, due to the rug I assume, but this train easily pulls all seven cars in the Kato UP excursion set. Reverse works perfectly. All is good. The front four wheels are held by a weak spring which is disconcerting but I'm not going to worry until a problem develops.SInce this is expensive, I should say Spark Deals shipped very quickly and it arrived in fine shape.