The Alaska Railroad's last operating steam engine was Locomotive Number
557. The s-160 class Consolidation 2-8-0 locomotives built for the United States Army Transportation Corps (USATC). between 1942 and 1945, became the largest
single class of locomotives ever built in America. Of the 2120 units
built, twelve found their way to Alaska. Known as GI Consolidations,
or Gypsy Rose Lee locomotives (they were striped down for action) S-160's
eventually found their way to every continent, but for Australia and
Antarctica. There are only five examples left in North America and none
are currently operational. The following links speak of Number 557's
long and proud history.
Heritage Stories
From the National Archives
Technical Information on Engine 557 and Her 2,119 Sister USATC Consolidations
Selected documents from historical Alaska Railroad business records were copied and are available in the "Before
the Door Closed" section. There are already a few links to archives documents and this could be combined with them.
Technical Information on Engine 557 and Her 2,119 Sister USATC Consolidations
For more information contact us.
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