Folks The Kato box shows consisting an ES44AC, with the FEF. They put the ES44 after the water tenders. Anyone out there, doing it, with the stock Kato connectors, on the water tenders? I have doubts about them, just pulling. Adding a potential push, seems like disaster. (I'll have to buy one, to try one, so...) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Marty, I have done it with using KATO heritage SD-70 Ace's SP or Rio Grande. I put the diesel behind the second water tank and had no problems. I run DCC so I did down tune the diesel some so it would perform as equal as possible with the FEF. BTW, I failed to mention that I have z scale 905 couplers on both water bottles. I really think the KATO coupler would work also. Try it, you may like it but always have fun, Carl
I haven't done consisting/helpers with my FEF, but have never had a problem with Kato couplers on non-powered cars in between two locos in push/pull mode. One caveat -- I only do this with speed matched locos, so as Carl says, that needs to be done first. Of course, as my recent "Big Banana" 25-car train shows, the FEF has plenty of pulling power. You could easily put a dummy ES44AC in, if you want it to look like the modern excursion!
I can go Z, if needed. Between the tankers, I'm already considering unimates. Kato to Kato, I usually like Kato couplers. These are a bit fluky Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Here is a short video showing the helper. Hope you enjoy and always have fun, Carl PS: I totally agree with Rick regarding the pulling power of the FEF, it is phenomenal.
Thanks Marty. That layout is The Southern New Mexico N Scalers located at the Dona Ana County Fairgrounds in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Every member has done an outstanding job of making this layout very nice and one of, if not the favorite, display during fair time in October. Carl
Here is another very short video. Please excuse the background discussion. I love to show off the very fine KATO FEF. Carl
