Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report Sept 4, 2012
by Patrick Durand
President 557 Restoration Company

Co chairmen of the Company fund raising committee, Dale Wade and Steve Silverstein, conducted their first meeting on August 31st. Wendy Lindskoog facilitated the meeting call and Silverstein and John Combs attended by conference call, while Jim Posey, Mike Porcaro, and Dale Wade were present. Also in attendance were Anne Remick, 557 Project Manager for The Alaska Community Foundation and Patrick Durand, President of the Engine 557 Restoration Company. As a result, the company now has a fundraising plan to pursue major financial commitments to the restoration project. Anne Remick also reported that sufficient cash and in-kind donations have been received to make the first request of a $20,000 match from the Rasmuson grant.

Volunteer time cards are still coming in, but best guess is that 700 volunteer man hours were lavished on 557 in the last 14 days of August. Long days were spent preparing for the initial inspection by Robert Franzen of Steam Services of America. Then the work turned to removing excess baggage such as the front coupler from the Tender and removing excess from the locomotive.

The challenge of collecting tools, and up-fitting the 557 Engine House with adequate electrical service continues. 557 Friends have loaned or donated outright, air compressors, arc welders and machine tools but they all require electrical service that is not yet in place.

September got off to a big start. Thanks to Secretary Treasurer, Dick Morris, working with Jerry Cunnington we now have a volunteer time card in excel or as a PDF hard copy. On Saturday Sept 1st, 24 hours were logged, while the initial abatement inspection was conducted by Mike from Central Environmental Services. The crew rested on Sunday.

Labor day was celebrated by 10 members of the growing 557 Mechanical Department laboring all day to get 557 undressed for her next inspection round. All the appliances and plumbing are being removed, tagged and stored to facilitate access to the boiler jacket, back-head and cylinder block. The goal is to have the cab off the locomotive and be ready to turn it over for asbestos abatement after September 16th.

Jeff DeBroeck has taken annual leave from his job at the Alaska Railroad so he can lead the effort with his years of experience working on steam locomotives for the Mt. Rainier Scenic RR. Work calls will be on short notice with the next scheduled for Thursday, September 6th at 8 a.m. For people coming long distance there will be an extended work party September 14, 15 and 16. I can smell a Saturday night barbeque and pot luck dinner already.

More good news, Volunteer Larry Erickson has just secured a Caterpillar 3 ton warehouse fork lift on loan from Independent Fork Lift of Alaska. Larry is arranging transportation for a boom truck that is also on loan for the project. Thank these folks at every turn.

557 controlled deconstruction is taking place behind Door #3 at the Engine House in Wasilla, Alaska

557 Mechanical Department volunteers, Kirk Waldhaus, Ken Elmore, Dick Morris, Joe Coe, Jerry Cunnington, Lynn Willis and Jeff DeBroeck were inside the boiler.. September 3, 2012 A Labor Day Celebration.

Tagged parts and pipes litter the floor waiting for a container to store them in. Each piece is double tagged and color coded.