Cheap, Derailing Bachmann UP FEF Steamer | Unboxing & Review 

Fun fact: The FEF loco that's operating right now No. 844, has never been officially retired by Union Pacific. No other steam engine can claim that distinction.

my biggest gripe with this model is the fact its not even an FEF. Its just a New York Central Niagara repainted into the Union Pacifics greyhound scheme and given a CSA Challenger tender.

Despite the fact that Bachmann have just repainted a NYC Niagara to resemble a UP FEF, in real life the Niagara was based off of the FEF’s design (both were built by ALCO), with several improvements and alterations per Paul Kiefer (CME of the NYC). Interestingly enough Bachmann used to offer this model in a New York Central black livery. I guess they couldn’t settle for a NYC themed set and had to go for Union Pacific. Glad you got to review this one. Great review as always Sam!

As everyone else has said, it's a repaint of a different locomotive from the New York central, the "Niagara", with a different tender. I'd definitely bend that drawbar to try and rectify the issue. I look forward to more American reviews!

Honestly, the Locomotive is just a recolor of the Bachmann NYC Niagara. If you want a proper FEF, get an Athearn one

fun fact: fef stands for 4-8-4 for the 4-8-4 "northern" steam locomotive class

This thing makes the Hornby 0-4-0 look like the most detailed model of all time

I'd say it might be having derailing issues because of how long it is, these models are built for 22Inch Radius curves. Not sure how that goes into OO and Metric

I must say, one of my joys in life is coming home from work, seeing you’ve uploaded and watching your video whilst I prepare my evening meal. Thanks for all the entertainment Sam, and here’s to the future.

It’s another stinker for the end of the year… I love how even you know that you are now going to get requests for this… Maybe this is actually a perfect candidate for one of your “can I fix” videos? You could look at 3-printing a better coupling and re-soldering / routing the wires? Best

The steam engine Sam actually came from a Bachman’s starter set called the overland limited

Sam, I have this engine (bought the whole Overland train set new) I have a layout w large curves and it does fine. I converted it to DCC , removed the stock smoke unit and added a Seuthe brand one controlled via DCC function.Also added metal wheels to tender trucks and firebox flicker lights(drill out the fake holes in the firebox door and LED behind it ,decoder set to flicker it). Not a huge powerhouse or speed demon but she runs smooth and quiet. And it was a cheap loco to learn modifications on.

This was my first ever loco and ever since I stayed far away from Bachman.

Broadway Limited Imports and Athearn Genesis are where it's at when it comes to American Steamers, a fair amount of £££ though compared with Bachmann, as always, you get what you pay for. :)))

My friend Jack actually has one of these engines with the same wiring issue. He had me fix up the wires on it, and it works way better now. I last ran it on my layout three months ago, and it handled very nicely after I fixed the wires. He actually relettered his for the New York Central as number 6002, and fitted it with a TCS WOW-sound dcc sound decoder not long after I fixed it, and it actually has the prototypical New York Central a200 air horn and air-activated bell. It’s a beautiful engine, and it looks beautiful next to my Bachmann J3a. The grey contrasts beautifully with my standard black roster.

As per Bachmann's usual practice, this is a rancid representation of a UP FEF-1. It's just their NYC Niagara 4-8-4 repainted. At least the tender is correct, but a retail price of somewhere near $300 USD is pretty abhorrent; $100 USD is even a bit high if i'm being honest. Edit: has the logbook given us a hint as to what your next review is?

The running number would indicate it to be one of the Union Pacific FEF-1 class, though Bachmann used a slightly modified version of their New York Central 4-8-4 shell, missing the smoke lifters, with a decent enough tender. The final 4-8-4 design on the Union Pacific was the FEF-3’s built in 1944.

A cheap one? This better be interesting lol!

Great review Sam's Trains. I've been thinking of buy one for ages but now you've changed my mind for the better. Thanks😄👋.

Finally, an engine that You and I both have! 🤣 However, I got mine from the Overland Limited set. That loco is similar in almost every aspect to the one you have (which is 807), except their road numbers (mine is 806) and the fact that 806 has a built in smoke generator. Also, On the tender of 806, it has plastic wheels, hence, no tender pickups. Everything else externally and internally is practically the same in both engines. My example derails in a similar fashion to yours, and I’m pretty sure it’s because of the size of the curves on my layout. Some of my curved sections of track came with the OL set, hence is 22” radius (best suited for the locomotive). The locomotive worked fine, with barely any derailments. However, when I introduced 18” curves to the layout, it started to derail more. The pilot wheels would jump the track first, followed by the driving wheels, which as you can imagine is extremely annoying, yet inevitable. A little fact, this locomotive is based on a New York Cenrtal ‘Niagara’, not a Union Pacific FEF. The real 806 and 807 were FEF-1’s, and not Niagara’s. This was possibly an idea from Bachmann to show how a UP Niagara may have looked.

The basis of the Bachmann UP 807 is a New York Central Niagra class (FEF-1s never had what I called "binocular headlights"). The tender is I believe a Vanderbilt tender. That paint scheme is called "Two-Tone Gray. " Athearn sells FEF models for various prices, and I own an Athearn UP FEF-3 #844. I would suggest looking into getting an 844 in the future.

Next running session I expect to see this pulling some Dapol egg vans.

If you want a good bachmann product, you have to pay a premium for their spectrum line.

That is a colossal Loco. It may not be very good at staying on the track, but I think I still want one. Big American locos are really nice lookers (if not average performers in reality) great vid Sam. Thanks :)

This was the locomotive the first proper model train set I ever owner around 2011. The locomotive in mine was numbered 806. In case you didn’t cover it, the number would have belonged to a FEF-1. The grey Union Pacific schemes were also known as Greyhounds. They and Southern Pacific had passenger cars in gray liveries that bore minor resemblance from the the New York Central’s two-tone Lightning Stripe grey. Thanks for reviewing this Sam. It can provide you footage of my barely operable 806. Another tidbit, the FEF-3 was the final series of Union Pacific Northern Types. FEF-3 844 was never formerly retired by Union Pacific and is still in a service that is considered active. Later FEF northern were often built with smoke deflectors.

This was my first model locomotive I ever got. I got it for my 5th birthday. It came with about 10 cars and an oval track. After 4 months, I played with it so much the piston rods broke😂

The Bachman FEF-1/ NYC Niagara ( the actual engine modeled) is basically a train sets locomotive that's been reboxed for individual sale. Bachman's lowest price series of locos, but it's not alone in it's wiring problems. In a decoder install video, a new spectrum series 2-8-2, the client complained that when properly connected the tender wheels were lifted off the track. Inspection showed that the stiff wiring was the fault, and this was one of Bachman UA's premier series of locomotives.

Nice video! Like everyone has said, yeah, it is an NYC S1 type Niagara with a UP 9000 class (4-12-2) oil tender. A little insight, this locomotive originally was released by Bachmann in a starter set called the Overland. It was one of their largest starter sets and cost about $150 to $200 if I remember correctly. I remember seeing these sets available almost everywhere but they just never sold well. Because of that, I think that is why TrainWorld was selling the locomotives separately for a great price. Compared with your Birkshire and GS-4, I would say it is not the best comparison since our standard of starter sets is near the bare minimum and the other two locomotives are of higher quality. Overall, it's a great video, and I think you gave a fair rating since it is a cheap locomotive. Thanks for sharing, and happy railroading!

I got mine for Christmas 2019 and I loved it my second ho locomotive

Haven't watched the video yet so idk if this is mentioned, but I just always found it funny how its actually an NYC Niagara with an SP tender in UP paint

I've known of this model for years as part of Bachmann's "Overland Limited" train set, a true monster of a cheapish train set with a massive number of wagons, just straddling the line between being too expensive for children or beginners and too cheap, both in price and quality, for hardcore modellers, and yet being part of the Bachmann catalog since at least the late 1980's. Thinking about it, it's kind of a bizarre set; none of the rolling stock is particularly high quality, yet it sells for between $250-400, yet you can buy it at WalMart.

The smokebox look like a New York Central Niagara FEF, but the paint job is reminiscent of the UP FEF’s. Very strange!

Ahhh Union Pacific. Having a lot of my favorite steamers from years past. Another great review there Sam :) You are definitely my favorite model train RU-vidr :D

A note on U.S. steam loco cabs: what you said is true regarding the detail on many HO models and in real life. Many American steam locos built after 1900 had black cabs that weren't as colorful and ornate as a lot of British cabs. The most detail I've seen on American cabs is some controls painted in red. So it does look very basic and cheap, but it is fairly accurate. Great review as always!

In the past 10 hours I been trying to figure out what UP train are you going to review finally there is an answer.

This was my first model locomotive. Came in a big train set when I was little, and frustrated me to no end with the detailing trailing wheels (not to mention BEING A NIAGARA NOT AN FEF1)

My cousin fired 844 as the engine toured for two years. This was back in the late 70's had the Rivarossi set that was a good runner . BTW Big Boy is going on tour next month.

Hey Sam! I want to clear up something. That Union Pacific FEF locomotive is actually a New York Central Niagra!

FEF #844 is our Evening Star. Before it was completed plans were already made of preserving it. It's the last steam locomotive ever built for the Union Pacific Railway and stopped revenue service in 1959 before switching to excursion trains and it's the only steam locomotive here in the U.S. to have never been formally retired from service.

it sure is cheap looking. that locomotive is officaly a Repainted NYC niagara locomotive. the smokebox even shows the numplates from the NYC

This loco can also be found in a train set called Overland Limited. A few of the reviews left on the item do point out the derailments from the locomotive, so it seems this is an all around problem with the Bachmann FEF-1.

I have this Union Pacific FEF aka New York central Niagara in the dcc fitted version and it runs like a dream I did have trouble with the drawbar but after I bent it down it has great tork and decent high speed I love running it at my local club

You have to have larger larger radius for monsters like that. The larger layouts have 30 inch radius +.

Liked my Kato N UP 844... saw the real thing about 5 years ago. Kato is hopefully doing a Big Boy in N soon. Get to see that one in the flesh later this year too hopefully.

Loved the review Sam have a good day

Hey Sam I know the problem with this engine. It requires 22" Radius curves (Bachmann EZ track). I have a Bachmann Daylight Locomotive and it won't work unless you have 3rd Radius Curves. If the drawbar is effecting the way the tender is sitting on the tracks, I have a solution! Just bend it down a bit and it should make it better. Same situation happened with my Daylight engine.

That's not even an FEF. It's a Niagara that's dressed up as an FEF.

This particular model is a NYC Niagara Bachman painted it to represent the UP FEF. These locomotives were equipped with centipede style tenders. I believe they were coal fired throughout their careers. The 844 was refitted to burn oil, so it could run the entire UP system. 3985 a restored 4-6-6-4 Challenger has also been converted to oil and the restored Big Boy 4-8-8-4 has also been converted. Look at a photo of 844 and see the differences.

I have the version of this from the “Overland Limited” set and it’s a split chassis and out of quarter wheels. The engine in this video is just a repainted Niagara with a Vanderbilt tender. I have a Niagara with this newer chassis and they have decent pull power but only to a certain point. Keep up the American videos. I recommend a Pennsy K4 soon. Bachmann is making a new run of the freight versions and I recommend pre-war as they look a bit better.

Great video sam can't wait for the next live cause you know someone will ask for this loco with egg vans lol keep up the good work

Again a big beauty steamer! Also a good video as always.

By the way sam the 4-8-4 wheel arrangment was very common in the US during the 30s and was used on most passenger trains

That’s a huge train! Good video Sam

This could be an amazing project video for you to tackle. As others have suggested, perhaps you can create a better drawbar system with your 3D printer and add some springs to the bogies? I wonder if it is possible to create either side play on the centre wheel sets or grind down the flanges on the centre drivers? All insane of course but perhaps entertaining for us and satisfying for you to triumph over Bachman. Perhaps just a Siding Of Shame for your worst locos to sit sadly in hahaha! As for the motor? Can that be replaced as well? By the time you are done, it will be your first Sam’s Trains Loco hahah!

So, I got my FEF in the Overlander Bachmann set. It's a specifically DC set, completely locomotive powered, which means no annoying wires to the tender. Detail is identical to yours. Now for some reason, the torque issues aren't present with mine, I can put it up to a wall and the motor and wheels don't slow. Now, the drawbar and bogeys caused derailments all the time for me, mainly because it was either so low that the tender would jump out, or so high that the front of the tender left the ground. Like you, I bent the drawbar into a proper position to actually work, and since I didn't have pesky stiff wires in the way, it more or less fixed the problem. I do still have issues with the bogeys from time to time, but on a flat layout, they usually sit well. I do get a little anxious running it at high speeds though. The main issue is that, because of the way the bogeys and wheels are set, it doesn't take sharp curves. Like at all. That's not so much an issue with length, as it is that the wheels don't slide enough one way or another. Very rigid housing. However, it runs fine with the track that came with the set. Moral of the story, if you want this locomotive, just get the whole Overlander set. It's the only way you'll get something that guaranteed works

Great review , Sam.

Well done Bachmann you have done it again. Single-handedly you are keeping the Plastic Recycling Business busy and maybe the metal may be worth a bob or two or it could be weathered and left in a siding to rust away back to the dust it came from. Value, two stars too many when taking into account the RRP. Martin. (Happy in Thailand as it is not an LNER)

This was my first bachmann locomotive a good few years ago, i regretted buying it within weeks due to it derailing on curves and switches! It hates track that isn't flat, and the smoke unit had to be removed due to it almost melting the plastic shell around the chimney! Also! be very careful of the tail-light, steps, plow, and the shield on the front, fore they all broke off mine..

I'll just put this out there from my experience with american steam is that the most consistently good machines i have come across are usually Athearn or BLI, detail is next level (usually) and i have a 4-6-6-4 challenger from Athearn that probably still runs from their first run (thinking 2006 for some reason) aside from sitting for the last 8 years and me having NEVER done any kind of service. I also have a PCM (BLI before they were BLI) 2-8-8-2 N&W Y6b that may be one of the most impressive models i've acquired. It would run although the electronics have something wrong that i haven't had the time to deal with (i say this because i have seen it run but it definitely has electronics issues). So moral of my paragraph there is, in my view at least, Bachmann is kind of the budget brand that you get for a kid or a "beater" for your layout. High value for what you get, but not something i'd normally be proud to show. I'd use harsher words but i do hold a bit of love for them as they were among my original models as a kid. All in all, don't expect much from them, follow the money and you'll usually find a (drastically) better model.

You are in fact correct Sam. More specifically, that loco is an FEF-1. Essentially, the first of Union Pacific's 4-8-4 Northerns if I'm remembering correctly.

13.25 Those driving wheels are Boxpocs. The Bulleid-Firth-Brown or BFB design used in the UK is similar in appearance but uses a different principle -- open instead of closed or 'box' castings.

At about 16:10 you see the reason why it derails... no sideplay on the driving wheels. Add RP25 wheels with low flanges to the mix and everything is set for a derailment. For a comparison of UK and Euro size limits, take a look at the Class 66... Most continental operators have the horns and HVAC relocated to the roof

Love your videos keep up the good work

I have one of those locomotives, and it's actually a pretty good model. It has a smoke unit, good pulling power, and is not a bad runner at all. Yes, the locomotive itself is clearly a NYC Niagara, but the tender is an oil tender. In real-life, the Niagaras were coal burners, and used "centipede" tenders.

Ah, I have a slightly older version of this loco. I got it 10 years ago as part of a train set. The issue I have with it is that it has the wrong smoke box cover. These models use the smoke box cover from the NYC Niagara 4-8-4. Great review as always!

This locomotive was designed in the 1980's and the original release I believe had a smoke unit, the loco was redesigned for a train set and then again for the DCC capability, I take it that's the reason it is not designed well

Though you purchased that loco by itself, there’s a 9 piece freight car set with 22.5 radius curves that loco comes in called Overland Limited, and is also quite expensive as well. Tip: Anything below 22.5 curves and turnouts, that loco will immediately derail. Bachmann also released a DCC ready version as well, though I don’t know the exact price

Try relocating the tender wiring to a position through the tender floor in front of the lead tender truck so that it runs between the tender steps. This will allow you to move the tender closer and relieve the upward stress that the wiring exhibits in its existing location.

You should get a challenger in ho scale they are very big locomotives. They are done in several different companies. They have two sets of driving wheels and they have a 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement. Some have sound as well. Broadway limited makes them really well. They also have two places were smoke comes out. The main smoke stack and the whistle.

I enjoy your videos. I don't often comment, but I do remember to hit the 'like' button. As for the featured loco, I had a little think! Surly if you removed the flanges from the two centre axle wheels might improve the run through the curves?

Fun Fact: Bachmann's Overland Limited deluxe train set uses a similar type of loco (#806). Unlike the 807 that you have, the train set's loco has no tender pickups, crazy wire configurations, or metal tender wheels, but it does have an operating smoke unit, and no drawbar issues!

You should definitely get a Big Boy. It is so much fun to see such a large locomotive going around curves on any layout

Union Pacific FEF-4 8444 (844) is The only steam locomotive to never be retired during dieselization. On July 21, 2018, Kelly Yarish was taking photos too close to the tracks. UP 844 was thundering down the line and ended up hitting and launching the woman. Kelly instantly died as her body was flailed off the tracks. This is an example of why you never stand on or next to the ballast. Trains are wider than the rails.

Owning my own version he runs very well I did get him in a starter pack so that might be a few differences between the one you have and I have but if you do find it I would love to see you do a review on it

It is a good train I just got mine today but I had to remove the pony truck from the back of the loco under the cab but runs great now

This locomotive is actually a starter set loco, from Bachmann's biggest starter set, The Overland Limited. It's actually a modified version of a New York Central Niagara (especially the front at 11:20 is New York Central details instead of Union Pacifc ones) which was similar to Union Pacifc FEFs. This tooling apparently dates back to 1983, according to info I found on a website dedicated to documenting the history of many model train products and toolings. Also something to note is that the last FEF, number 844, was never retired by Union Pacific and is used for their excursions across the system. I've seen 844 five times in person. This locomotive is also intended for a minimum radius curve of 22-inches. 22-inch radius is similar to Hornby 4th radius, but it's the 3rd standard radius of American HO track (15 inches being the 1st radius, and 18 inches being the 2nd radius and the most common, 24 and 26 inch radius curves also exist)

As far as I’ve seen, this is from a big train set and I read a lot of reviews mentioning that it derailed a lot in the sets. “Interesting” find for you regardless Sam haha! I hope you can fix it and enjoy it in some fashion. I wish you could justify a Canadian Pacific Selkirk. A beast. 2-10-4 and the trailing bogie on the real one was steam powered as well. They were designed to get trains up over “The Big Hill” in the Canadian Rockies. There’s two preserved, one in my home city but it’s outside and sadly looking the worse for wear

Great review sam I picked up one cheaply also and now it's parked up forever, rubbish 😄

Hi Sam! This model is more correctly a New York Central Niagra 4-8-4! The tender is not even close to correct for either steam locomotive! Both the FEF 's and the Niagara's had Centipede tenders! I have one example that is just like yours, but I altered it to look more like something that the Wasatch Range would operate. I also put a Centipede tender behind it!

Great Vid. Whens the next salvage or scrap video coming out?

Ah the bachmann Niagara’s, as beautiful as they are it’s clear as to why they were discontinued. I have one in the same livery as yours, and one of the crankpins no longer fits and I had to try and fix it myself. Even still, it’s a beautiful model, even if a little bit simple

Question: both this and the class 14 have been described by you as "not fit for purpose " yet they score over half marks. If a rubbish loco gets over 5, and the best locos get around 8 or 9, that only leaves 4 or so marks between top and bottom. Wouldn’t recalibration of the scale so rubbish locos get 1s and 2s make the rating system more fit for purpose as the whole of the range could be used?

Being from America myself, this kind of model is what I was used to growing up and never knew models could be as detailed as UK models! Even our most expensive models don’t come close to the detail levels as your locomotives!! You should try and get your hands on a MTH or Broadway Limited steam loco to review. They are our top of the line models for HO/OO scale. Would love to see your thoughts on them!

So one of my friends brought this in my hobby club one day and we also happened to have an NYC Niagara at the time and funnily enough, it’s the same body. Pretty sure this is based of that Niagara model

Unpainted cab details allow for people to custom paint the cab to their own style of painting and preferred paintjob for the cab and is great for practicing detailing. The drawbars are often too short between the loco and tender are pushing the tender off the track because of how short the drawbar is

Cool locomotive do you have any plans to get any Norfolk and western steam locomotives Broadway Limited? (my recommendations are the Y6b and the class A’s)

I have a couple older Bachmann Northerns with split chassis, one doesn't work anymore and I haven't run the other one much, but I've also had problems with their leading trucks derailing. Maybe it's because I don't have a permanent layout or I don't have high quality track, but I suspect it might also be a design flaw that makes them derail more easily. They don't use the same chassis as this one, but I wouldn't doubt Bachmann used a similar truck design and didn't fix the issue. It didn't derail constantly, but it derailed most likely more frequently than it should've on my ovals of track even if the track wasn't that great in quality.

My work just fine. It only time it derailed when I didn’t put it on the track probably, or the Track was to sharp for it. But, my is the overland limited starter set version. It don’t have the wires that connect the engine to the tender, there no tender pick up, and my have a smoke unit. The front bogie going, it probably that you got a broken one. But the less of the problems of the locomotive I don’t know, I didn’t took it apart yet. One of my friends own the locomotive and said that it a good loco. I think you should pick up the overland limited starter set to see if you just got the Wong version of it.

nice review, might be worth trying to upgrade and mod it for improvements. Bearings/motor and better tender coupling, if it's worth it

Bachmann sold a set that had this locomotive in it with a smoke unit equipped. As per usual with Bachmann smoke units, it ended up melting the plastic case of the locomotive. If you buy other Bachmann locomotive with smoke units equipped, I recommend removing them before you run the locomotive for extended periods of time.

My Bachmann 4-8-4 used to have the same derailing issue, and I was able to fix it by replacing the front spring with a stronger one. They used to put their stronger, faster black-capped motor in these, so that’s a shame that they downgraded to the slower, weaker gray-capped motor.

I suggest trying out the sound-value 4-6-0 in DCC. I love mine. They are solid runners, but don’t necessarily have a lot of pulling power because they are so light.

A cheap bachmann loco that looks good from the thumbnail? What a video this is going to be :)

I have a Hornby Flying Scotsman that also derails due to the tender coupling, so to solve that I simply removed it and just got a slightly longer piece of card to use in its place and that solved that issue. My front bogies are still derailing so I need to sit down and figure out what to do about that

The GS4 Daylight is a very old model from the Bachmann Pluss range.

Well Boxpok wheels were very popular here in the States. And they've been around before Bulleid decided to use them in the UK.

Hello Sam, long time viewer and follower. There are some pretty high quality north American units available for a reasonable price on the second hand market. Especially diesels.

I’d love to see an American diesel locomotive review. Specifically one in a B&O livery. Maybe an F unit? Those are some of my favorites! EMD F-units have tons of other cool paint schemes too. Love your videos hope you’re doing well.

Like many said this is the nyc Niagara series in a different paint scheme with a different tender. It was also offered in a train set from Bachmann as one of their top sets. It is one of the cheaper built locos which is why the daylight/Berkshire/j series run a hell of a lot better on tighter curves. It is built for 22 inch curves or 4th radius minimum. I would not run it on anything less then 24 inch curves with the tender draw bar connected. In the states this is considered a toy. Broadway limited FEF is a way better runner but will cost you 550 or so dollars.

Since you are keeping it, how about making it an improvement project, like adding springs, sorting out the tender wire problem?