Painting of the tender has raised some interest in the paint system we have employed on the project. Cloverdale products came to us on recommendation by my son Casey Durand who rebuilds rock crushers and industrial equipment which is subject to sever abrasion and abuse.

The tender has become the focus of our effort for several reasons. The most important one is conservation of financial resources until some additional major contributions materialize. The tender work hones the skills of our volunteer mechanical department and sets the standards for work to be done on the locomotive.

When the tender is complete it will be a billboard demonstrating the commitment our crew has to seeing the restoration finalized. When the local dealer RODDA PAINT of Wasilla was approached with the specifications, Justin Larabee stepped up and beyond the call and committed to providing the exterior finishes for the 557 Restoration. This major contribution is yet to be documented in dollar terms.

Specification for the paint we are using:
Clovedale Industrial Protective Coatings. VOC Compliant Lead Free

Clovaprime 21 Two Component Epoxy Primer Use C70 Thinner for cleanup.
83021A Gray Primer
83021B Hardener
Overcoat in 3 hours up to 3 months. Touch dry in 1 hour hard in 24 hours.
We have experienced pot life of up to 5 hours.

Top coats
Armour Shield High Performance Aliphatic Urethane uses C760 HAPS FREE Thinner
83703A Aliphatic Urethane can be tinted to any color
83ARMB Activator B
Overcoat in 15 minutes up to three days.

These products have our highest recommendation in this application. This is tough stuff when applied on clean sand blasted surfaces.

Last May, missing buffer components were recovered from locomotive #556 in Anchorage. The receiver on the tender was fabricated from a piece of 13" pipe donated by Central Environmental Services.

One of the final steps in preparing the tender buffer receiver was done by Jeff DeBroeck and Terry Douglas drilling the hole for the center retaining bolt. Components were all greased and the assembly of spacers, springs and the buffer were lifted into place. Then the compression bolts were installed. When the tender and locomotive frame were moved together, the buffer mated with the chaffing plate and success was recorded in smiles all around.

Before we could mount the tender tank, we needed to replace two broken wood sleepers. Mark Sterns of Alaska Wood Molding Company provided clear white oak planed to 1 3/4 inch thickness and 9 inches in width to replace two of the old fir sleepers that go between the frame and tender water tank. These should last forever. The rest of the fir sleepers had been painted and are in excellent condition for another 70 years use.

Moving a 24 foot tender tank through a 14 foot door takes some accommodations. It was set on wood sleepers on top of eight of the old superheater flues, perpendicular to the door and rolled inside. Then using a fork lift and 721 loader the tank on rollers was slid around 90 degrees to set next to the prepared frame.

A three step process then moved the tank from the floor to blocking, then to the loader setting the tank on spacers atop the frame. Then a frame skirt was placed to protect the finished frame from dirt and overspray as the tender tank is outfitted to completion.

Volunteers in the 557 Mechanical Department continue to show up in force as evidenced by this view of our parking lot on October 10, 2015. Bad weather is expected by the end of the month and that will cut into the crew size as there are many bad road days for the 55 mile trip from Anchorage to Wasilla.

Eric Sowl of Channel 2 KTVA in Anchorage, spent an entire Saturday morning with the crew in the 557 engine house and produced a very entertaining and informative segment for Assignment Alaska. The program was broadcast on October 22, 2015 and is linked here for your enjoyment.

The oil fuel bunker required some attention and then sand blasting so it was moved into our sand blast tent. The process was akin to stuffing sausage using our 721 Case loader but it did fit in the tent. Emergency fuel shut off and condensate drain plugs were missing from our tender but replacements were found at the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry in another USATC tender stored there.

Six broken rivets were found on an internal baffle and those are being replaced as some of the minor tin canning of the tank is corrected. A new sand box has been built to be mounted on the front of the fuel bunker to also serve as a step and a seat.

Mr. Chris Cedarberg works for the Alaska Railroad and arranged a tour of 557 for Scout Troop 229 of Eagle River, Alaska. 557 Chief Mechanical Officer Jeff DeBroeck conducted the tour for the the group who were very attentive. As required during public visits the 557 Mechanical Department Crew took a stand down while the troop was here and explained the individual projects they were working on. The importance of an active fund raising program was explained and the scouts were introduced to our many in-kind donors recognized on the shop wall.

The story of the three bells, and their history related to 557 is always part of the tour. We have the original USATC cast iron bell that was mounted just to the left behind the stack on the smoke box. On arrival in Alaska, where overhead clearance was not a factor, hand me down brass bells from the 200 and 600 class moguls were mounted just behind the sand/steam dome. 557 savior, Monte Holm, being a Northern Pacific fan, installed a large 1890's era NP brass bell that we retain as our ceremonial bell in Honor of Monte. As you might imagine the cast iron goes "clank clank" and the others make beautiful music.

Although the restoration takes the bulk of our resources and will continue to do so until 557 becomes operational, an important part of our mission is education. Our Facebook posting of this visit got the following response from another Alaska Railroad employee. "Rick Leggett Very cool. The railroad industry has been and will continue to lose an enormous amount of experience in the coming years and getting young people excited about a potential career in railroading...is very encouraging. Good job guys."

Mr. "DUPLICATOR" machinist, Laverne Buller does work in his home shop reconditioning and creating new parts for 557. Here he is holding an original water bung coupling and its new twin needed to connect replacement water valves which will eventually feed the locomotive injectors.

Laverne also produces some 557 limited edition (we will run out) sections of old 557 superheater flues. The original patina of rust and boiler water scale are preserved on the outside along with the soot inside the flue sections. We double dip them in clear sealer so they are clean to handle. These are handy paper weights and desk organizers of course. Lavern has a computer driven plasma cutter that does a beautiful job on cutting the 557 signature through the tube. These are available for just $45.00 plus postage. You can order them by email or call 907-350-4340 with lots of time for Christmas delivery.

This offer should not be confused with our on going tube and flue sponsorship fund raiser. There are now only 9 superheater flues and 67 tubes left available for sponsors. Select from those left available and you can pay on line with PayPal or by mail.

Your financial support at this time is very important to keeping Engine 557 Restoration Company on schedule. We need to bring our professionals back to start the stay bolt installations and train the Mechanical Department volunteers in this process.

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday.

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: