Reporter Greg Johnson, and Photographer Robert DeBerry from the Frontiersman interviewed members of the Mechanical Department Crew on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Their work produced a well done feature in the Sunday Edition on page 10. The media coverage is much appreciated.

557 Mechanical Department volunteer crew members completed removing the tube stubs from the front tube sheet and started on the the rear sheet. The tubes and flues were safety welded inside the firebox sheet making removing stubs a far more delicate and complicated task. Jeff DeBroeck, Jerry Cunnington and Ron Dudley are engaged in that job.

Larry Erickson has been repairing the tender buffer mount where a coupler had been added during the tenders service behind Locomotive Crane 56. Still looking for photos showing the proper location and size of the safety chain mounting on the tender. If anyone is in the neighborhood of Fort Eustis, VA we could use some photos of the tender/locomotive buffer connections on the 601. The loco is currently on display under the train shed there in the Army Transportation Corps Museum. The 601 photo was taken by Don Worthley while she was being moved at the base.

Darrel Greenstreet, in a meeting at the 557 Engine House, evaluated the task of lifting the boiler and frame off the drivers and blocking it up. Greenstreet Construction in the person of Darrel, is THE house moving heavy lift operation in the area. His observation was that four 30 ton jacks, some steel I beams and cribbing will do the job when it is required. Lifting the tender frame off the trucks, and the tanks off the frame, will by comparison, be a piece of cake. Another piece of the puzzle just fell in place.

A lunch meeting was held at Table 6 in Anchorage on March 19th. In attendance were four Engine 557 Restoration Company Board members. Pat Shake VP, Dick Morris Sec/Treasurer, Dale Wade and myself as President. Dale called the meeting to review some new fund raising stratigies and proposed tools to pursue larger donations. Tim Sullivan, public information manager for the ARRC helped further the discussion which covered a range of topics, including proposed completion date, consists required and configurations for long distance trips for locations like Seward and Fairbanks on special occasions. A new promotional piece drafted by Porcaro Communications was reviewed and Pat Shake came forward with "Dream Steam" to complement "Dream Big".

Retired ARRC Master Mechanic, Jerry Peters, delivered a brand new copy of Operation, Inspection and Maintenance of Steam Locomotives and Locomotive Cranes TM55-201 Department of the Army Technical Manual 1957. Jerry is home briefly in Anchorage between winter trips. He will return in warmer weather and take up his position as 557 Master Electrician to begin rebuilding all the electrical equipment for the locomotive. His trade in the ARR shops was as an electrician. He also has a set of class lamps and is the fellow who has been saving the 557 number plate for years.

On Thursday, March 21, 2013 Alaska Roteq Corporation President Bob Schmidt, Repair Coordinator Philip Cole, and Shop Manager Jerremy Ring, received a tour of the Engine 557 Engine House. Their facility is a half mile away here in Wasilla and they have already provided in-kind services. Bob offered consultation on services they could provide, from Thermal Induction welding and machining for bearing brasses, to the use of their sand blasting equipment for large components using the media we supply such as walnut shells. They offer non-destructive testing using several techniques. Repairs for the lead truck bearings are within their capability. We value their experience and professional advice.

Lynn Willis took on the job of setting up the blast cabinet on loan from Larry Erickson for sand blasting and cleaning small components. In 20 degree temperatures icing in the gun was a problem so an air dryer and filter have been added to the system. We now have a work station dedicated to another fall back job when priority tasks are stalled or completed.

Casey Durand has painted heavy equipment with Rodda Paint products and recommended their Barrier III high solids primer. Upon meeting Justin Larrabee, store manager for Rodda Paint in Wasilla, he concurred that would be the right choice for priming parts for 557. Justin was so sure that he donated a gallon can for our evaluation. It can be sprayed with an airless or dabbed on by a monkey with a paint brush. After 30 minutes at 60 degrees it is tack free, self leveling and really stuck on. As small parts leave the sand blaster they are dusted off and treated with Barrier III primer.

We will also be testing a gallon of Rodda All Purpose Equipment Enamel donated by Casey. Justin advises getting a factory packaged black which has much more pigmentation than product mixed in the store. To quote the literature "Hard Durable Enamel Finish...excellent gloss and color retention, good impact resistance ... can be sprayed, brushed or rolled. One more decision out of the way, we now have a paint specification for the project. Rodda Barrier III primer with Rodda Equipment Enamel top coat. Black with a gallon of fire truck red for all the appliances and trim, please.

Peter Millar, President of Alaska Industrial X Ray provided training introduction and the loan of Ultrasound equipment for use in measuring the steel in the boiler shell and firebox areas of 557. This was a very timely contact development as our alternative loan was in use on another project. We hope to complete those measurements soon.

Jeff DeBroeck and Ron Dudley are removing a full floating brass bearing from the main rod. The cold hard grease provided a little resistance. While cleaning we found that the left front connecting rod was marked for #556 a sister locomotive from the Alaska Railroad.

Corey Brause and Dick Morris produced the components and I put together a donation sight glass for the engine house. Graphics still need to be added showing the Rasmuson Foundation matching challenge of $350.000, and the portion encumbered to date. Value of in-kind donations and accumulated cash value of donations will be posted as well. Your check of $25.00 or more will help fill the sight glass. Dream Big, Dream Steam!

Patrick J. Durand

President, Engine 557 Restoration Company

As a bonus for reading all about 557, here is an S-160 as built drawing you might like to post. Erection 2