Chrissy Holden, sent us this 557 slide image dating back to June 1959 when the locomotive pulled 8 coaches to Whittier and return on a charter for the California Nevada railway historical group. Chrissy's parents, Ronald DeViaene was the station agent and his wife the postmistress in Whittier until moving to Seward in 1959.

This March 1, 2015 status view of 557 tells the story of what 30 months of effort by volunteers working 4 days per week can accomplish. Starting with a bare floor, no pit and no overhead crane, the shop has been equipped and components are all cataloged and inventoried. Cramped conditions are obvious in this Shop bird's eye view. Maximum use of the space is made by having most of the tools and storage on pallets that are rearranged as needed with the little cat fork lift provided by Independent Truck Lift of Alaska on an In-Kind loan.

Major assemblies like the drivers were prepared and sent off to be overhauled. The drivers are shown here loaded for the return trip to Alaska after being machined at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Shops.

The week of March 8th, winter finally arrived in Wasilla and we had several sub zero days but there is still no snow accumulation. Volunteers came out in spite of the cold and a number of sub assemblies were pulled from container storage, taken apart for inspection, re-bushed, sand blasted and painted. Throttle handle and quadrant show the starting point and the Starter Valve Handle is shown after cleaning.

Machinist Lavern Buller delivered the fabricated hand brake hardware for the tender, built to drawings obtained from England.   Here is a photo of the raw fabrication before it was turned over to the paint crew. Hear are components in breakdown for painting.

Yes there is a free lunch of Roundhouse stew on Saturday. Here is part of the Mechanical crew on March 14, 2015. From left to right, Mike McKerrvey, Laverne Buller, Dean Sawyer, CMO Jeff DeBroeck, Jerry Cunnington, Ron Dudley, Jerry Peters and George Fellers. Not pictured were Pat Durand and Rod Hansen.

Work on prepping the firebox continued thanks to Jerry Cunnington, Ron Dudley and Welding Rod Hansen. This exterior mud ring seal weld is an example of the work being done. All the new firebox components are on hand and installation will begin as soon as final inspection is made by Robert Franzen our Professional Engineer.

Keith and Georgia Barkwood of Northwind Leather and Survival have taken on the task of rebuilding the engineer's seat and the fireman's seat box. The original seats were strictly utilitarian and covered with hides of many little naugas. The Barkwood's I am sure will surprise us with a superlative finished product. Visit them on Facebook.

When the weather warmed up the crew used the 721 loader to roll the tender tank up to provide access to the bottom. This also provides tender bunker access for needle scaling and eventual sand blasting. Here I am making a work list with Jeff DeBroeck. Workers can now stand inside the baffles to do cleaning rather than work on their hands and knees or bellies in the confined spaces.

The fuel oil bunker got similar treatment as Mike and Stewart Sterling provided extra blocking. The tender and bunker also shed weather when on their sides.

Visitors come in a variety of shapes and sizes but none thinner than Flat Stanley. We hosted Stanley representing Leo from Oak Grove Elementary School in Graton, CA.   Here are comments from Leo's great aunt and photos she took of Flat Stanley at the Engine 557 shops.

"Flat Stanley has come to Wasilla from a First Grader at Oak Grove Elementary School in Graton, CA.  His story begins when a young boy, flattened in a bulletin board mishap, his parents mail him to California and his adventures begin.

He arrived in Wasilla mid March 2015 and will only be staying for a month.  One of his adventures was to visit the Engine 557 Restoration Project.  Mr. Durand welcomed Stanley with open arms and put him to work as a volunteer. Part of his journey he will never forget. Thank you Mr. Durand

Leo's Great Aunt Linda  and
Flat Stanley"

We do take the education component of our mission statement seriously. I do not recall a more engaged and excited visitor than Clarence, who asked for an autographed copy of our recent brochure. He was elated with the gift of a preserved piece of an official 557 fire tube.

On March 1, 2015 Alaska Airlines joined the ranks of 557 in-kind supporters with donation of 6 unlimited system wide round trip tickets to be used within a year. This will allow us to bring our Professional Engineer, Robert Franzen up from Atlanta on Alaska Airlines to do his inspections and work with the volunteers. We thank, Alaska Airlines for recognizing Engine 557 Restoration Company as a worthwhile project restoring Alaska Railroad's last operating steam engine.

Now I am asking you personally for financial support for Engine 557 Restoration Company. If you have been generous before, maybe it is time again. If you are a gambler invest in raffle tickets for the Denali Business Car day trip. All the prizes are great! Share the offer with your friends and family.

Check out the contributors who have already sponsored new tubes and flues. Jaffa Construction purchased the entire heart of the boiler for over $7000.00. I sponsored a tube in memory of my step father, William T. Stewart a long time retired ARR Engineer. Karl Haddow has purchased tubes for his grand sons. I am sure you have a railroading friend to commemorate with a tube or flue sponsorship.

Yes, we still have fine art for sale in support of Engine 557. “Extra 557 Returning” by J. Craig Thorpe, can be in the mail to you for a contribution of $115.00.

557 restoration can only proceed as fast as the funding comes in. We currently have grant requests before the National Railway Historical Society and the Daily Foundation. If not you and I, who will fund this project?

Patrick J. 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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