The flood light over the entrance to the Engine 557 Restoration Co. is a very efficient 18 watt LED. At 9:00 a.m. on December 31, 2014. it was 37°F at the Engine house and raining. The little accumulation of snow had melted and the weather channel announced that our little banana belt portion of Alaska had not experienced a single day below 0°F for the entire year of 2014. That's what happens when the jet stream jumps track and brings us the pineapple express due North into South Central Alaska. How is your winter weather?

With the irregular holiday schedule volunteer crews continue to show up for even the dirtiest of jobs. Stan Bissonette, Mike McKervey, Jerry Christensen, Lynn Wilis and Russ Rudolph suited up to assist in cleaning the soot and rust from the old super heater assemblies preparing them for inspection. Stan, Lynn and Russ are all members from the Military Society of Model Engineers a long time group of model railroaders who have provided significant financial support to 557.

A friendly competition with members of the Northern Lights Model Railroad Club members has resulted in these two groups contributing more than $12,000.00 to the restoration effort. Their contributions during November and December were matched personally by Dick Morris. All of which was then matched again by the Rasmuson Foundation. Kirk Waldhaus, Jeff DeBroeck, Pat Durand and Corey Brause are all long time members of the NLMRR Club.

Fund raising is a constant ongoing project headed up by Dick Morris and myself. On very short notice RR Joe Davis got us an invitation to make a 20 minute presentation to the Anchorage Downtown Rotary on December 16, 2014. The luncheon for 140 Rotary members was held at the Anchorage Convention Center. The fastest 20 minutes of my life, allowed a heartfelt thank you to Mr. Ed Rasmuson, The Rasmuson Foundation and the Alaska Community Foundation, all in attendance. Our mission and vision for 557 Restoration Company were clearly stated with the help of a power point presentation. Dick helped me with exhibit space set up and greeting those folks with questions. I managed to stress the importance of all three pillars of support for 557, Financial base lead by the Rasmuson Foundation, the endless generosity of our in-kind business donors and finally the tireless effort of the 557 Mechanical Department volunteers.

On December 17th I enjoyed the hospitality of the Alaska Railroad Retirees Christmas Party at the Royal Fork. John Farmer provided the invitation and 557 Volunteers, Gerry Christensen and Jerry Peters (both ARR retired) helped with the set up of the 557 display. We shared an update on our funding and mechanical work.

Lynn Willis, Ron Dudley and Mike McKervey arrive day after day and keep the cleaning process moving forward. Several of the superheater tube assemblies are badly warped and will need to be rebuilt along with most of the band clamps. Cleaned assemblies are labeled with metal tags identifying their original position in the flue nest.

This is a multi stage process of first cleaning, conditioning the ball ends so the hydro test manifold will seal, and setting aside those assemblies in need of overhaul.

Super heater ball ends are being reconditioned using abrasive pads in an oak mandrel created by Corey Brouse of Small is Beautiful. When we need wood parts we call on Corey or his friend Mark Stearns at Alaska Wood Moulding Co. Jim Keene and Ron Dudley are using the mandrel in the second stage of cleaning the ball ends.

Following up on the brake rigging inspection last month each of the brake beams was given loving attention with preheat and filler welds to replace worn material on the business side of the beams. They are consolidated on a pallet for storage along with other brake system components. Trial fitting components of each brake hanger and shoe revealed some component wear such as the worn springs that have now been repaired.

Jerry Peters, 557 Master Electrician displays one of the two end of train markers for the tender that have been totally rebuilt in his home shop. Several of our volunteers take home work assignments and come back with excellent results. Doug VanWingerden prefers to take some of the more complicated pieces to his home machine shop. These before and after results are obvious proof of production. On the left is a new valve stem for the main turret valve crafted from 4140. On the right is an original spring hanger pin that was case hardened steel when new. Its position under the fire pan did not favor it and after 70 years this was the result. The new replacement is 4140 and will be induction hardened before going into service.

Fire Tubes and Superheater Flues arrived on Christmas Eve and took up space under the 557 tree. Alaska West Express (http://www.lynden.com/awe/) came through again with a freight free shipment of this 11,000 pound package from the TVRM facility in Tennessee. Thanks to Scott Hicks and the entire AWE crew!

Steelfab of Anchorage (http://www.steelfabak.com/) produced the replacement crown sheet and side sheets for the firebox under the careful design and management of Dan Demarco. Jeff DeBroeck consulted closely with Dan during the entire process and with templates and the old fire box components for comparison the job was done in time for Christmas. These components join the replacement rear tube sheet and Door sheet manufactured by Robert Franzen of Steam Services of America. Staybolts are in production and tooling is on order. Our goal is to have Robert on site and be installing the new firebox by May of 2015.

We appreciate our visitors. From around the world or down the street, stop by and visit 557.

Retired fire Chief, Mark Schmitt, from River Ridge, Louisiana was in Wasilla visiting family on December 30th. He obviously follows these Progress Reports and asked all the right questions during a personally guided tour.

Joe Johnson of Viking Fence in Wasilla stopped in for a visit and left with a $30.00 commemorative piece of original 557 boiler tube. More on that opportunity to support 557 next month.

Debbie Chapman of Wasilla Air Maintenance came in to purchase a 557 hat for husband Grant. When the hat was delivered on New Years eve, payment was accompanied by a $100.00 donation for 557.

Dave and Judy Snyder own Diversified Tire (http://diversifiedtire.com/) here in Wasilla. Dave visited earlier in the month with his buddy, Robert Kenneson. Dave caught me at the engine house on December 31st at closing time. He handed me a donation of $1000.00 from Diversified Tire to close out the year with a bang!

Very best wishes for the New Year of 2015! From the entire crew here at the 557 Engine House.

Patrick Durand, President

Make all donations to: Engine 557 Restoration Company at the above address.
An Alaskan 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation, EIN 46-2663256

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