December continued on the mild side with only two days below zero and most above freezing. Occasional snow flurries and rain made travel dangerous on some days for our volunteer commuters from Anchorage. The shift in the gulf stream just keeps bringing warm wet air into our area and then pushes all that cold air down into the Midwest. We had no snow on the ground here in Wasilla as of December 30, 2015.

In sharp contrast here is a photo by Dave Blazejewski of the last passenger train to service the Christmas Special in Palmer, Alaska on December 13, 2008 when it was minus 11°F.

Peter Ann Stenberg provided a view of 557 standing at the same Palmer Depot on September 5, 1959 with the first Alaska State Fair Special. This was also the last scheduled trip for 557.

Secretary Treasure, Dick Morris and Board Member Maria Keffer offered a fund raising match challenge donation of $5,500.00 for the month of December, 2015. The response was total donations of $29,000 +. Plus because some donations were still coming in after January 1, 2016. Of note: $8,466 came from outside of Alaska and $200.00 from Germany. Thanks to everyone who made this our most successful short term fund raising effort for Engine 557 Restoration Company.

Recognition of major donors is always tricky as some prefer to remain unheralded. Among those was a very generous personal check in the amount of $3,000 from Scott ….. a local valley resident.

Supporters William "Wiggie" Shell and Chris Aadnesen of Georgetown Railway Equipment Company, GREX, are right up front with a $5,000.00 contribution. Mr. Shell is President & CEO of GREX. Chris is Executive Chairman of the company and former President and CEO of the Alaska Railroad. They posed with the portrait of Engine 557 Returning in their Georgetown, Texas office. Check out GREX.

Dave Snyder and his son Logan dropped by on December 30th with a $1000.00 check for 557. This is the second year that Dave and Judy of Diversified Tire have made a major donation. Their company is literally where the rubber meets the road in supporting a wide range of community organizations.

John and Joan Gray of Bethesda Maryland sponsored 20 tubes in our fund raiser with a major contribution. There are a few tubes left available after their names appeared on the sponsor list.

Some Christmas creativity by 12-year-old Griffin Obeso of Palmer. It looks edible, but is too nice to eat!

After a trip through the sand blast tent and a coat of primer, the tender fuel bunker came in from the cold. There are several hot rivets that will be replaced in a forward baffle. The emergency fuel shutoff and water drain shut off valves salvaged from another tender have been reconditioned and are being installed. The bottom of the fuel bunker had some pitting that was welded up but the remaining area passes muster. Before long we will be able to finish paint and then drop it in the tender well.

Dave Lucus using an orbital sander started the process preparing for a second coat of finish paint. While it looked good, the first layer was applied outdoors in the wind over a month ago. This paint only allows three days for additional top coats so several of the crew have pitched in to do the prep including Lynn Willis.

New safety hand rails were fabricated on the acorn table by Dave and John Mielke. This was old fashioned blacksmith work bending 1" rod around a pattern and then striking while the "iron" was hot.

Jeff DeBroeck, our Chief Mechanical Officer in a teachable moment with the crew describing the unique application of rings on the valve spool. They need to be aligned properly on the rod so the two rings properly travel across the bridge in the valve cylinder liner.

Jerry Peters, continues reconditioning brake valve and other components of the air brake system. We are replacing all the seals and gaskets and stocking spares for the future. Kelly Anderson at the Strasburg Railroad has been a real help to us providing manuals and parts list for our old brake components. His cooperation is most appreciated. The Alaska Railroad air shop in Anchorage has also provided assistance by lapping components for the valve assemblies when requested.

Oil delivery plumbing from under the tender has also received attention by Jerry Peters. Cleaning, sand blasting and a new coat of paint with fittings replaced as necessary bring these pieces back to life.

Steward Sterling provided several images as a year end bench mark to demonstrate where Engine 557 Restoration Company stands in the process of bringing 557 back. The North end of the shop displays the tender status. The machine shop to the right includes two lathes, milling machine, power band saw and a drill press. A pipe threading machine and pipe benders are out of sight. Small parts storage is inventoried in the filing cabinets against the wall.

All tooling, storage cabinets and work stations are either on casters or pallets so they can be moved around as work demands. This keeps the 5,000 sq. ft. of space flexible. An additional 1,500 sq. ft. of vertical storage is provided by 13 sections of pallet shelving to accommodate such things as super heater assemblies. The lower level of each section has air, power and lighting to create work stations.

To the South end of shop, the locomotive is paramount, lined up for a future escape out the South door. In front of the loco is our 400 amp welder on a four wheel rail cart that can be moved in and out the door. Out of sight behind the locomotive is our dirty iron corner with cabinet sand blaster, acorn table, plasma cutter, wire feed welder, belt sander and post grinder. All these items are portable.

The palatial offices of the Engine 557 Restoration Company consists of the former smoking shack from Providence Hospital in Anchorage. It came our way from my son, Shane Durand at Central Environmental along with all the pallet shelving. Yes it is built on a pallet. The roof displays our headlights and bell collection.

On December 30th, Randy Bjorgan, "BJ" called to tell me that members of the Military Society of Model Engineers had collected $1,014.00 for 557. I asked about the odd amount and was told, well that is just twice the $557.00 the Northern Lights Model Railroad Club ponied up. This friendly rivalry, which we quietly promote, has been going on since September of 2012 when these two model railroad groups in Anchorage provided much needed kick off funding to match the Rasmuson Foundation Grant. Their individual members in coordination with the clubs are approaching $20,000 in total donations. I will find a way to say thank you in sufficient volume!

At years end, we look back on many accomplishments, ever appreciative of the business community supporting us through in-kind services and product donations. They gain recognition on the wall overlooking our lunch break area, and occasional mention here. Please employ their services when you can and say thanks.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the financial requirements of the restoration in the last year. The Matanuska Electric Association Charitable Fund provided a $10,000 grant from their Round-UP program. If you are an MEA rate payer you helped out. Atwood Foundation provided $30,000 in grants. The John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust supported 557 with a $10,000 grant. Total cash donations came to $120,000. in 2015.

Three legs of support keep Engine 557 Restoration Company on course. I have mentioned IN-KIND donations and the major financial contributors. The third leg is the 557 Mechanical Department made up of dedicated volunteers. In 2015 the following people have done the hard and dirty work bringing 557 to life. These folks find a way to spend from one to four days a week on the job. We usually have a crew of 5 to 8 hardy souls four days a week.

My right hand is Jeff DeBroeck serving as Chief Mechanical Officer.
My left hand is Richard "Dick" Morris as Secretary, Treasurer.

Finally, please recognize the volunteers who ensure the management of our project moves forward in sound business practice with focus on the restoration of 557.

Engine 557 Restoration Company Board of Directors

Patrick Durand, President
Scott Hicks, Vice President
Richard Morris, Secretary/Treasurer
Maria Keefer, Board member and Grant Writer
Dale Wade, Board member representing The Alaska Railroad
Doug Engebretson, Board member representing the Alaska Railroad
John Combs, Board member and Webmaster alaskarails.org
Jim Posey, Board member

Join us in making 2016 a great year for Engine 557 Restoration Company.

Patrick J. Durand, President

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

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