August brought the expected wet weather associated with upcoming hunting season and the Alaska State Fair. Progress continued on several fronts with some welding being done in the newly installed firebox sheets. A concerted effort to get the tender tank, frame and trucks prepared and finish painted before freeze up began. The original friction bearing side frames were adapted to allow installation of axles with the new Timken Roller Bearings recently purchased. Mike McKervey is working here so the side frames will maintain their original appearance with journal box covers in place.

Terry Douglas and Jerry Peters assembled the front coupler after inspection so it can be stored complete outside until needed. The first primer paint on the tender tank was applied by Jerry Cunnington. All of our finish paints are being provided by Rodda Paint here in Wasilla where Justin Larabee is the manager. We are finding the Cloverdale two part epoxy system ideal in our applications and give the product our highest recommendation.

Visitors during August included Bob Thompson and Tom Swanson. Tom is manager of the the Haist Gallery in Anchorage and provides the beautiful Giclee prints of Engine 557 Returning which we offer for sale at $175.00 in support of the Restoration Company. Call direct at 907 350 4340 for special order information. Giclee are printed on demand.

August 18, 2015 was the third anniversary of the founding of Engine 557 Restoration Company, and also the date of our annual board meeting. Members of the board convened at the 557 restoration site to experience the project first hand. Jeff DeBroeck, 557 CMO briefed board members, Scott Hicks, Maria Keffer, Dale Wade, Doug Engebretson and Dick Morris on the recent installation of the new firebox. Not pictured are Jim Posey and John Combs who were unavailable for the meeting.

Durand, Morris, Wade, Engebretson, Posey and Combs were all elected to additional three year terms on the board. Since moving to Portland, Oregon, organizing Board Member Steve Silverstein continues to work in support of the restoration, but has stepped down from the board.

Maria Keffer was elected to a new three year term to replace Steve. Maria, has provided invaluable service with our grant writing team. She wrote and presented a discussion of Talking Points (MS Word or PDF) Development to the Board in support of grant writing and fund raising. This will be a touch stone for board members and volunteers in fund raising efforts.

The question of when and where will 557 operate has been answered by referring to the Alaska Railroad’s original business plan from 2011. Many changes in traffic density, equipment utilization and the advent of PTC (Positive Train Control) implementation have over taken that plan. As a result representatives of the Alaska Railroad, including Dale Wade and Doug Engebretson and 557 volunteers CMO Jeff DeBroeck and Terry Douglas are involved in a working group to make recommendations once all the options are reviewed.

Two resolutions were passed at the annual meeting. 2015-29 giving the President authorization to continue spending available funds and contract services as necessary of the restoration of Engine 557. A resolution expressing board concurrence for nomination of 557 to the National Register of Historic Places was proposed but withdrawn pending further review of the potential impacts of registration. (For the purpose of the program, locomotives can be a “place.”)

Our sincere thanks goes to the John H. Emery trust for the vision of perpetuating the memory of the golden age of passenger rail travel.

We are excited to announce that the John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust selected Engine 557 to receive a $10,000, 1:1 matching grant. Engine 557 is one of 11 projects that the Trust is supporting during 2015 and 2016. Dick Morris and Pat Durand celebrated with an enlarged version of the $10,000 check which arrived promptly after we provided verification of matching contributions.

We encourage friends of Engine 557 to join the Trust in returning 557 to do what she was made to do - pull passenger trains on the Alaska Railroad! The John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust has suggested that we apply with a new request for a matching grant in 2016. To make your on-line or mailed donation and help capture the Trust's contribution, go to http://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former-loco/557/support/index.html.

Thanks to Denise Statz of Nonessentials in Palmer for donating the use of part of her Fair Exhibit booth at the Alaska State Fair. There were many visitors including Garison Keeler who stopped in prior to his performance. Pat Durand was joined by the Cabbage Fairies to celebrate 557 participation. The 11 day run of the fair is labor intensive, please thank the following volunteers Jim Keene, Lynn Willis, Jerry Christiansen, John Mielke, Gerry Keffer, Jerry Peters and Dave Lucus.

Each day in the summer the north bound Denali Star goes by the 557 Engine House about 9:45 a.m. bound from Anchorage to Fairbanks. The 557 crew usually breaks to greet the passengers with a wave as they pass by. Recently Jimmy Luper, one of the guest supervisors on board the train, gave us a frantic wave from the vestibule and pointed toward a paper air plane trying to make a landing in the turbulence alongside the tracks.

Upon inspection we found this paper airplane with a $25.00 cash donation neatly folded inside. Maybe we could turn that into a tradition for passengers cruising by. Let us see, 8 to 10 trains a day, 150 to 300 passengers per train would come to $$$$$$. The 557 Mechanical Department promises to clean up after each train so there will be no claim of littering. Thanks, Jimmy for the most creative donation delivery to date.

When in Wasilla, stop by the restoration facility and pick up a little 557 bling, prints, pins, patches, hats and the latest progress report..

Patrick J. Durand, President
Engine 557 Restoration Company

Click here for some of the ways you can help out.

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

Or donate on line here: